W. Robustas in their foam boxes

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:08 pm

Boxed up my robustas last night. I remove the foam side panels during the day to let the sun in on the south and west exposures. It's 34F outside right now and 42F inside the enclosures without the heat even on!

It also snowed today for about 15 minutes.

ronbruce · Post by **ronbruce** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:46 pm

They sure look sturdy. Nice work.

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:24 pm

Good job !!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:38 pm

Good job wx,definitely a labor of love!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:12 pm

And the stone facing on your house reflects heat back out, creating a microclimate.
Nicely built boxes.
Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:59 am

Looks like that will do the trick very nicely!

Bill

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:23 am

Hey Wx-
I wonder if you would get the same insulation(R-value) with bubble wrap?
You could wrap the sides with the large(bubble) bubble wrap and add a layer of plastic over it,that way you would not need to keep putting the foam on and off-you could just wrap your E-W and South sides.I am going to try this on my Butia and Washy.

Okanagan desert-palms · Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:33 am

Looking good with those foam boxes for your Washy`s. What are you using to heat them this winter? Did they get any natural light last winter in your enclosures?

John

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:42 am

The R value of the foam is 7.5. I don't think bubble wrap would maintain that. I am heating them with a 750 watt space heater. It seems to run for a few minutes then its off for about 30. Last year I didn't have the foam and they saw sun through the plastic. This year I remove the foam during the daylight hours. Last year it was a pain keeping them warm during the coldest part of winter, so that's why I went with the foam, also to lower energy costs.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:14 am

More mulch

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:49 pm

Built my boxes today wax, Three more weeks at least before I put them on, I'm hoping longer! My washys took 8 hours plus below 32 last night with a low of 28 and look flawless. Time for them to toughen up! How are yours doing? Do you take the enclosers off when it gets warm? Looking at your boxes with are very nice! I think you should put plastic down around them and then mulch to keep the cold off before you get your snow cover. This will also help when the snow starts to melt in spring. Your doing a awesome job just to let you know!

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:50 pm

By the way all my nanas are unscathed!

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:46 am

I have plastic on the inside, under the foam. I don't mulch. Plenty of winter time snowcover keeps the ground temperature up here. I plan on not uncovering until spring, but I remove the lid on warm, sunny days. I don't let my washy's see below 32F. I want them to come out perfect in spring. Worked good last winter!

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:09 am

Hey Wxman.. Since we live in similar climates and see roughly the same tems and snow, what will your watering schedule look like for your washies?

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:42 am

I will probably water once a month until December and then not again until March sometime. Melting snow seemed to give them enough water during the winter.

ScottyON · Post by **ScottyON** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:07 am

Cool, Thanks!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:29 pm

Hey wx, I had snow on my washys last night!

Not much but it was cool to see on them, they still look the same. I should have taken a picture I guess.

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:07 pm

Was 65 here today. Keep the snow over there.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:23 pm

It was 62 here today and not looking cold for awhile! All my nanas are still out and green! Only one has damage, I have found the week link! I'm going to keep them out as long as possible wx, there still pushing out leaves, big ones too. I'm shooting for Nov. to cover them.

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:25 pm

Actually My super dwarf Cavs are in but there about to fruit so cold wouldn't be best for them.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:28 pm

25.6 last night for the washys wx, they turned black and then back to green

Hard freeze with frost AOK!!!!
There tough buggers, I was scared though! High 60's today!

Bill

wxman · Post by **wxman** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:08 pm

Be careful! They take awhile to show damage. The one in my backyard that saw 19F took a month to go from green to brown.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:27 am

Yeah I know wx! I didn't do it on purpose actually, the weather men missed the forecast by 11 degrees they said low 36. Nice work! I would have covered them with something, even a sheet would have been fine. When I say they where black they weren't all that bad looking. 30% maybe, they'll grow back anyways but I think there ok. Trust me I'll keep a better eye out for that type of event. I'm gonna spray them with the freeze-pruf today, I might as well I bought it.

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:48 pm

Freeze pruf applied! 77 here today, I miss summer! One gallon goes quiet along way I was surprised, spraying with the manual pumper my forearms where burning. Lot of area to cover front and back on those washys.

Bill

W. Robustas in their foam boxes

W. Robustas in their foam boxes

palms

Washy`s