Uncovered Palms this afternoon

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:08 pm

The winter lows reached -17.8 C (0 F). I had protected the palms using a lot of mulch, surrounded by leaves, and then covered with recyclable bags which were stuffed with leaves. I then surrounded these bags again with mulch. I used this method to protect trachys, b. capitatas, and w. filiferas. They are in a sheltered, south-facing location.

I was prepared for the worst when I was uncovering them, but to my surprise, everything survived except for 1 small b. capitata

! The other capitata even put on another leaf ! The 7 trachys lost around 1 leaf each. Even the w. filiferas made it. I didn't use any heat at all, but made sure to cover each bag with lots of snow. I know that some damage may show later on after uncovering, but none of the leaves seem to have any of the usual discoloured looks.

I'll try to take some pics and get them posted over the weekend.

serj · Post by **serj** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:56 pm

Cameron, i'm waiting for pics. It is so interesting to see it.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:36 pm

Nice!

Can't wait to see your pictures! Warm weather here so I'm sure it's headed your way

Bill

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:41 pm

Nice to see Nova Scotia has got the palm bug.Some pics please. Especially the W. filifera.

John

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:51 pm

Amazing to hear a Washy made it with no heat.
One word of advice, protect it from moisture at all costs,until it is warm enough for it,they can be very finicky
coming out of winter cold.

I really think keeping palms around 35f all winter in dark is an amazing way to get them through,
very easy and very gentle on the palms.
I have one Trachy I used no heat on that stayed around freezing all winter in a 2" thick
styro cooler-it has yet to spear pull but.....it looks like shite,because it saw much lower temps.

serj · Post by **serj** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:39 am

Cameron, i see that your winter was pretty warm.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:13 pm

Here are a couple of shots. Sorry for the bad quality, I was using my Blackberry.

<a href="http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1406.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1406.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is the area where the palms are planted (they're basically 1 year old seedlings). It's in between my house and my fence, so it is fairly sheltered. Also, it's in a south-facing location.

<a href="http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1405.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1405.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is basically all I did for protection. I forgot to take pics of the protection before I removed it, so I had to set it up again (minus the mulching at the sides)

I put around 4 inches of mulch at the bottom of the palms' trunks. Then I piled some dry leaves up to the top of the palm fronds. I then stuffed the recycling bags full of dry leaves, and placed them over the palms. I followed this by mulching the sides of the bags to keep any moisture out.

<a href="http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1405.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1405.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is my row of small trachys (I still haven't cleared out some leaves and mulch). The trachys lost around 1 leaf each, but other than that they look fine.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:18 pm

<a href="http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1404.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1404.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is the b. capitata. The leaf on the right is damaged slightly, and the palm has a couple of brown tips. However, the leaf on the left wasn't even there when I covered the palm up.

<a href="http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1404.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u192 ... 8-1404.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is one of the w. filiferas (sorry for the quality on this one). I think they both fared alright since my dad (thinking they were blades of grass) mowed them over in the summer

It has slight browning on the tip. In the picture it looks like it is yellow near the base, but it is actually very light green new growth.

serj: Yes, we have been having a fairly mild winter. There was one week in February where the temps were -15 C every day, but that was the coldest week.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:29 pm

Hi Cameron,

Hey, congrats on those successes!
...and we always heard more mature plants would survive better than 1 year old seedlings!
Your photos show that's not true.

You do definitely have a microclimate between the fence and the house, but -17C is still -17.

thinking they were blades of grass) mowed them over in the summer

Thank goodness he wasn't holding a can of Roundup.

Nice job!
Looking forward to pics of how much they grow this season.
Barb

serj · Post by **serj** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:01 pm

Take my congratulations, Cameron! All palms look very well.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:03 pm

Wow man. I had a feeling some palms could survive in NS. But when you said 1 yr old seedlings i though " Aw man their so toast ( not to be a pessimist seedlings are usualy way less hardy hen older specimins). But after seeing the pics, im very happy for ya, and pleasently surpised. I also thought " well they might look good now, but wait a few weeks..." , but once again, they look VERY good dude. Congragulations. Its always nice to see other canaidans crazy enought to try this kind of thing.

My Fargesia bamboo was multched exactly like yours ( i think its here in a thread). The lowest temp was -31C here. I uncovered my bamboo, and its 100% exactly the same as it was before i buried it, with a new leaf or 2. Just friggin amazing....

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:07 pm

Thanks everyone

Barb, I'm glad it wasn't roundup either

Serj, do you have any palms planted outside in the Ukraine?
Canadianplant, thats good to hear, as I'm planning on getting some Fargesia later this summer !

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:03 pm

Get Fargesia Rufa or fargesia Maurele. I say the Rufa, cause thats what I have. If it survived here, you wont have any problems whatsoever, even without protection there.

The maurele gets bigger, and is hardier then the rufa. Check that out.

I would reccoment looking at Pseudosasa Japonica, or most Phyllostachys. The japonica may need some protection, but tons of they phyllostachy can take -25 or lower easily.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:04 pm

Good job Cameron!
How about this weather we've had this last week unbelievable! 70f here the last two days YES

You should have a real good shot at long term survival of those palms since they will get more and more
established as the years go on, bumping there hardiness too.

Keep us all posted on your bamboo project to come.

Bill

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:10 pm

Thanks Bill

Yeah, the weather's been great! It's supposed to drop down to -5 C though next wednesday, so the covers might have to go back on

I'm also planning on trying some zone 7 hardy citrus (Citrumelo) from a place called Logee's in Connecticut.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:36 pm

you shouldnt have to many problems growing citris, or grapes. Id try bamboo, and musa basjoo. You can grow passiflora there, but they might be a weed there. There is someone growing yucca there, trunking form. Id even check canna lily and eucalyptus. English ivy grows there too. Look up Jubea Chilensis. They grow in scotland. Hardiest pinnate palm.

Id check ou some aroids too, you can push your zone 1 or 2 zones with the right area, and the right protection, without heat even. Apples will grow like mad there, peaches might work too, ive seen some zone 5 or 6 peach trees. Ginko biloba will grow excellently there too. I might even try a cordyline australius too.... hell why not you already have palms hahaha. WHy dont you have a needle palm? R. Hystrix?

Did you start these plants from seed? Or did you order then..... check this site out dude.... bambo heaven, and palms, some seeds, canna, musa...... and its 100% canadian....

http://www.bambooworld.com/bamboo%20catalogue.htm

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:39 pm

Cameron,
That's to funny I was there 2 days ago, it's 45 minutes NW from here. Really cool place to visit.
I didn't see that they had that variety. Is that the one that comes from the unheated greenhouse
in Newport?

Bill

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:14 pm

Canadianplant: My "grand plan"

is to be growing the following by the end of the summer:

Citrus trifoliata x "Swingle Citrumelo"
Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. debeuzevillei
Sabal minor var. "McCurtain"
Passiflora incarnata "Maypop"
Magnolia grandiflora "Edith Bogue"
some zone 7 colocasia
some Fargesia and Phyllostachys
I also want to expand my cacti collection. I've been growing opuntia humifusa for 3 years now without any protection.

I don't grow needle palms because they need a lot of summer heat, which NS DOESN'T HAVE

Sabal minors can stand a little less heat than R. hystrix.
I didn't actually grow these palms myself. Another forum member, Paul, was able to send me them last year.
thanks for the link, but I've known about it for awhile

Bill: That's the one

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:42 pm

Bill may have heard of that place.

I think he works there!

Okanagan desert-palms · Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:00 pm

Nice to see all those seedlings surviving Cameron. That protection has worked well. My 20 gal W.filifera`s will be going in the ground in a couple of weeks after watching Bill and yourself succesfully overwinter Washingtonias.

John

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:13 pm

John,
I gave mine a nice lime bath before I fertilized, the soil must have been acidic

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:21 pm

Jim,
I didn't get the job actually.
I might have intimidated the guy for a 15 dollar an hour job

To nice of cloths, car, picture album? Maybe he though I wanted to
buy his 109 year old business. It was to far anyways, all I wanted
was free green house experience, maybe that was it

I never worked so hard to get a 15 dollar an hour job

I must of saw cheap plants along with that experience.

Bill

serj · Post by **serj** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:00 pm

Cameron, i'm growing the fortunei and phoenix dactilifera now. But i'm going to plant sabal minor, r. hystrix, butia capitata, brahea armata this summer. This palms survived in my greenhouse without extra heat at all. I have my own web site (similar to this) where you can see all my plants a my friend's plants too.

Cameron, you should grow needle palm in the greenhouse and you will able to plant it after when needle becomes large!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:18 am

okanaIve been looking for Passiflora Incarnata. I did find some seeds of Passiflora CAurulea, which im trying here.
|Everything else looks good man.

Check out my thread " Pshing the limits of cold hardiness", I have a list of things that im going to try, and eventualy try.

FYI, The R Hystrix grows well in BC, and New jersey, and ive read some good success in briton, you shouldnt have any problems growing it there. Put it on a south wall. Thats what I would do

AS for the Colocasia, go to the grocery store, and purchase "Taro Root". It is actualy a colocasia. GEts about 4-5 feet tall. I spent 2 bucks an a large "bulb" or root of it. Yopu can do the same with common ginger.

As fer cactus, talk to PaulOnt, which i bet you already have. You could aslo grow Mimosa well there ( sensitive plant), but these can get really invasive.

Okanagan - Arent the Washys tough to grow where there is high humidity?

Serj - Once again, ive read that the Phoenix DActilfera, and brahea, need dry climaes to grow properly. Of course, information isnt 100% right all the time. From what ive read Ukraine is a bit humid in the summer is it not? ANd I agree, get a needle palm * very evil laugh LOL

Im starting with bamboo, then going to musa basjoo, then i if all goes well with the basjoo, im stepping it up to a needle palm............

serj · Post by **serj** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:28 am

canadianplant, you are right. We have the humid climate in summer. But our summer is more dry and more warm than it in England (and other Gulfstream countries).

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:51 am

AH ic...... You have more of a continental climate. We have huumid hot summers here too, but not as humid as say, south carolina. If your looking to try a phoenix, try Phoenix Theophratsiii. Hardy to zone 7A, stays about 15feet tall. Looks like a cross between theDacty, and Roebellenii. Its from crete, so it does like ti dryer, but its more humid there, then say, jeruselem, or North africa, where the Dactys are grown like crazy.

On a side note, my grandma is straight fromt he Ukraine.... nice to meet someone from there

How are the trachys handling it? Did you have as bad of a winter as poland, and the rest of europe?

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:19 am

Cameron

Your Magnolia virginiana "Edith Bogue" is in fact Magnolia grandiflora "Edith Bouge"

Cheers, Barrie.

serj · Post by **serj** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:32 am

My winter was very cold. Our minimum was -25 C. During a week the temperature was in range between -20 -25 C in night.
There is the new picture of my fortunei.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:25 am

Wow man... it doesnt even looked touched. What did you use as multch? It looks like you uses styrofoam. Is the small palm in the middleish right of the pic your phoenix?

serj · Post by **serj** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:35 am

You are right! I have used styrofoam. I have not used any multch. And i havn't used any extra heat! The small palms are fortunei from Italy and Bulgarians.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:37 am

John: I figured with your profile pic that you already would have had washies in ground

I would love to have some 20g filiferas !

Serj: You have a great website! I especially like the Citrus section. What do you use to protect your palms outside? I might try a needle palm in a few years. Your fortunei pic looks great !

Canadianplant: for cacti you should also check out the website of "Beaver Creek Greenhouses" in BC. They have many different kinds at reasonable prices.

Barrie: Thanks, it was a dumb mistake

. I must have researched m. grandifloras 20 times, but was thinking about another plant at the time that I typed that in

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:17 pm

Serj,
That Trachy looks fabulous, like you just planted it outside!
Good job.

Barb

serj · Post by **serj** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:57 am

Thanks a lot, Barb!

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:31 am

I really love the look of those Bulgarian Trachys!

It looks like somewhere down the line they were blessed with some Waggie blood!

Looking forward to getting some seeds from Kiril this week

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:08 pm

jim, thanks for the advice about protecting the seedlings from the rain ! I had to cover everything back up today, because its supposed to rain for the next 2 days, followed by a day of snow, followed by 2 days of -5 C and -7 C

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:56 pm

I looked at you weather, i seen the rain... looks like 100 mm or so in the next week :S. But I didnt see the -5C at all, loswet daytime high seemed to be about 0C.... not that much better .... but LOL

We had the same thing here, except we had 2 weeks of warmth, followed by a week of recordbreakin temps...... My fargesia is on its own this week. Itll be fine, even with the small amounts of precipitation were gonna get. It was a really odd winter here :S

WEll Cameron... be glad your getting the rain..... from what I here youve already had quite a problem with forest fires this year... and winter only ended yesterday... Im not sure what the summer entails fer us here. Enviroment CAnada says average summer........ I say dry, and hot.... were probably going to have a big problem with forest fires here :S Not good

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:32 pm

Daytime of 2 C, but overnight at -5 C

. Luckily the forest fires were in the country, so they didn't affect me. However, they came within about 100 m from my uncle's house.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:55 am

Hows the rain buddy?

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:56 pm

you mean freezing rain/snow

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 3:46 am

thursday morning here... -25C with the wind.. it was onlu-10C before it:S