Well, had a zone 5b winter

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

Moderators: lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van, Laaz

Post Reply
yuccaman
Seedling
Posts: 298
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:59 am
Location: zone 5b

Well, had a zone 5b winter

Post by yuccaman »

Not long ago we had -26C in outside where I was while toronto was at -16C!! But spring is coming. Some warmer temperatures are coming possibly with some heavy rain.

My palm seems to be doing well in the basement so thats an okay start. We do
not have much snow on the ground but the drifts are high.

Anyone seeing warmer temperatures?


User avatar
Alchris
Moderator
Posts: 877
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: Edmonton, Zone 3a;3a;3a

Post by Alchris »

I've got my fingers crossed. So far I have had a zone 5a winter and it is getting close enough to spring that it shouldn't get below -29 C.

It was nice here while we were in Vegas but we got off the plane to -14 C and a brisk wind. It is supposed to get warmer by a few degrees and add a few more inches of snow for this week. I still can't see any leaves on my yuccas, rhodos, bamboo or Kolkwitzia as they remain buried in the snow.

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
yuccaman
Seedling
Posts: 298
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:59 am
Location: zone 5b

Post by yuccaman »

Hope your plants survive and do well. My rhodo is still not doing good after a number of tries and the rabbits had bitten some stems off.

I saw a broken twig. It was dry and had no life and put in the wood stove where there was not coals or embers and
In 6 seconds it exploded on fire because it was so dry. It was extremly hot in the stove but very little embers.

Other rhododendron around my area are doing well but mine is not :(

I have got to keep my fingers crossed as well. My palm is doing great.
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

temps/rhodos

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Yuccaman,

Try dropping a nice lukewarm pail of water around your rhoddies..works for me during a cold snap..

More wind than snow here in Ajax...shovelled only one time this year.... I'm lucky compared to some folks across in Niagara and up in Barrie..

Temps are constant and just plain cold...palms and hardies are ok...


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
yuccaman
Seedling
Posts: 298
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:59 am
Location: zone 5b

Post by yuccaman »

I tried the warm water pail and it looked a bit better the leaves are not rolled up.

I think its working :D

Thanks Palmettoman.

Im lucky that we do not have much snow so
it will melt soon.
User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa »

Last year the lowest temp in Toronto was -15.2c we smashed that this year with a low if -21C/-5.8F that puts us over into a 6a. Toronto Island is slightly better off -18.9C/-2F zone 6b.

Regards,
Phil
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa,

Yeah..that was some stretch of cold eh?

We didn't even get close to a thaw...well...everthing looks up (slowly) from here...

Where did you house your needle palm? How as it done?

Yuccaman, good to hear your rhoddy responded to the moisture treatment..

Palmettomanz6-Ajax, On
User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa »

Hi Palmettoman,

I have my needle, Trachy F, Cordies, fig, and Oleander plants tucked away in the corner of my garage. I also have my Super drawf cavendish banana hiding out in my cold cellar. I agree with you that it was a very long stretch of cold weather. Hopefully, our plants took well to it. Even though we have had colder lows in the past 5 years, it the length of the cold snap that worries me a bit.

Regards,
PhilMusa
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa.

Sounds like you have quite a collection...!

I found despite the lows temps (even in the garage) the hardies have faired ok..

What is the lowest temp for your fig?


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa »

Hi Palmettoman,

Once the temps drop below -2or-3C I bring it in the garage. My father has a couple in his backyard that we bend back into a trench for the winter. His largest is 12ft high. Mine is only a few feet tall therefore I'm able to bring it in. When it does get big I won't have the space in backyard for it.
User avatar
Wes North Van
Moderator
Posts: 903
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:14 pm
Location: North Vancouver BC Canada
Contact:

Temps

Post by Wes North Van »

It was +17C here today. I hope this means spring is here to stay now.
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

figs and mild bc air

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa,

Yeah I heard that from a friend down in Niagara about that process of bending the branches...Seems the old ways work?

Did you get over to Vandermeers for the Musa Rojo's?

I'll be at the Valleyfield Nursery tomorrow and let you know about those cordyline tree's..

Jay..+17C..sweet!..send it our way...


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

figs and mild bc air

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa,

Yeah I heard that from a friend down in Niagara about that process of bending the branches...Seems the old ways work?

Did you get over to Vandermeers for the Musa Rojo's?

I'll be at the Valleyfield Nursery tomorrow and let you know about those cordyline tree's..

Wes..+17C..sweet!..send it our way...


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Post by PhilMusa »

PALMETTOMAN,

I wasn't able to go the other weekend and this past weekend I was up near North Bay drinking...I mean icefishing. Please keep me posted on your findings. BTW, plus 12C for today and tomorrow is going to feel nice. Enjoy it while it last.

Thanks
Phil
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

musa rojos

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa.

Hope you boys were lucky and enjoyed the ice fishin..

Yeah..Vandermeers has a good stock of the musa zabrina's rojo's..It's a good thing because the longer their left in their greenhouses the bigger they'll grow...

Valleyfield farms has some Cordy tree's...Their stock will be arriving early April so I'll keep an eye out and let you know...

Hope this is the end of the cold...

Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
User avatar
PhilMusa
Seedling
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Vaughan Ontario

Broadway nursery

Post by PhilMusa »

Palmettoman,

I was on the Broadway website today and saw that they posted of their 2007 Hardy Tropical listing. They have some interesting stuff. I will visit them later next month as the temp warms up.

http://www.broadwaygardens.com/products ... icals.html
PALMETTOMAN
Seedling
Posts: 351
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

Broadway

Post by PALMETTOMAN »

Philmusa,

Thanks..

I seen the site...By the sounds of it...its quite a place...

I'll be headin down that way soon...

I like his selection of Trachy's...


Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On
Post Reply