Uncovering everything today

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:16 am

I decided to take the risk and uncover everything today. I put my needle in the ground today and will be putting two palmettos in the ground this week. I know I am crazy and I will have to go to great lengths to keep the palmetto alive. If it take me putting a cold frame around each one then thats what Ill have to do. You only live once. I was told I couldnt keep the butia and it is thriving. Its back breaking work but I love it. I dont drink or smoke so this is my only outlet lol. I have been waiting for this all winter. Heres a few pics

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:30 am

Awesome job macario.

What was your low for the winter?

Regards,
Jay

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:12 pm

Thank you very much! I try hard. We got down to zero in feb a few nights. Mostly 20's and 30's this winter. I didnt get damage on my filifera till this month because of the humidity. My whole yard is about a zone 7 micro climate. The complete southern sun exposure is insane and no wind. My trachys suffer though in the winter because when its in the 80's and 90's its in the 90's and 100's in my yard, but my butia loves it and put out about 9-10 leaves its first year. This year im putting that to my advantage by putting all kinds of agave and yucca in the sunniest part of my yard.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:41 pm

macario, those are huge and beautiful...wow, no wonder your back's sore. Man, you just need a couple o' white columns and it'd be ITALY...

Magnificent pics. How heavy was that huge one laying on its side? It's gotta weigh 200 pounds at least.
Time for a winch to save your back!

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:29 pm

Lol I have 2 sabals one skinny one and one fat one the fat one weighs 900 lbs the skinny one weighs 500. The fat one is 13 ft the skinny one is 11 ft. Heres a pic of the skinny one I just finished putting in the ground lol. I need to call a friend or two to help me with the fat one tomorrow. I never been to Italy but maybe one day. When I put my mediteranean palm out in its 31 inch pot it will look more like Italy. That is almost 200 lbs lol.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:55 pm

900 pounds, and 500 pounds!!!! Holy cow! You need to call a friend or two...or 5 Hulks!

I was kidding about the winch, but now think it's a good idea (to save all your backs). Or a come-a-long, at least.
Sorry but I'm kinda new here...have you posted a pic where these plants are in the winter?

Looking at all those fabulous huge and healthy plants in your pics, I'm reminded of a man who was featured on a gardening show years ago...might've been the Victory Garden...? He was growing a couple of 20 foot tall FIG trees in his yard (in a really cold area). The entire program was him and his garden and how EVERY FALL he digs up the fig tree roots, lays it on its side (into a very long "ditch" that he also digs) then the tree's trunk and roots are covered with burlap, insulation.... before being topped off with soil and leaves and insulation. Then in the spring he reverses the process and stands the tree up again.

You remind me of him (please take that as a huge compliment). I greatly admired his gardening passion.
He was determined to have a bearing Fig Tree, and he did!

If I ever get through all my bookmarks (aaargh!) and find the background on the TV program/his story, I'll send it along.

Your skinny sabal looks very healthy and ready to burst forth. If we lived in the same city, I'd help you...just to be around those beautiful palms!
Keep pics coming, please, as they grow.
Barb

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:45 pm

Your palms look great! Do you heat the greenhouses?

macario · Post by **macario** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:30 pm

Thanx lucky1. I do the same thing I go to the extreme to get what I want.

Turtile I didnt heat with a heater but I did have lots aof 300 watt halogen lights pointing right at the palms trunks. I didnt try to heat the house I just wanted to keep stuff around 20 degrees. That way they wouldnt grow much and wouldnt need watering.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:29 pm

macario, atta boy!

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:13 am

Looking good.

Please post pics when you are done.

Allen

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:09 am

How exciting Macario. Looks like you have a busy schedule, but like you say it is SOOO much fun.
BTW, the Butia, do you leave in a pot or do you dig up every year? Reason I ask is I am thinking of planting one of mine and since they are such tough trees when it comes to transplant and digging up, I thought I would just dig it up every year. Whats your thoughts??

macario · Post by **macario** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:38 am

Well I am not on expert, but I planted mine out doors in the ground in one of my sunniest spots and had a halogen work lamp shine on it all winter. ( 300 watt ) I think you could do the same. Even if its zero outside the halogen lamp shinning on the palm was all the heat it needed. The winter sun will shine through and warm it during the day. I would use some type of clear or almost clear plastic as a cover, to let sun through and keep it dry.
All winter I was thinking of what needed to be done now all of a sudden I can actually do those things. I have alot to do lol.

ryan · Post by **ryan** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:42 am

Your palms look great macario. I can't wait to see the end of year pics to see how much bigger they will get.

Cheers

Okanagan desert-palms · Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:07 pm

Maccario those palmettos are huge. What would one of those monsters cost with shipping?You are definitely an inspiration to all cold hardy palm nuts.
John

macario · Post by **macario** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:11 pm

Guys thanx for the encouragement. It helps me get things done. And for the palmettos well the shipping is outrageous. If you could shop around maybe you could find someone cheaper then I found. Assume the weight is 500 lbs. lenght 10 ft and demensions 48inch by 48inch. I was quoted around $650 dollars lol. The palm itself was $160 bucks each. I was going down south anyway for other stuff so I rented a trailer ( double axle ) and brought them back.

tropicman · Post by **tropicman** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:14 pm

Man you have inspired me!!!!!!!
You have earned the title as master of the cold hardy palm!!!!
I hope to learn from you as well as everybody else here!
Well done if I could reach you,I'd pat you on the back for a job well done!!!!

Don

macario · Post by **macario** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:22 pm

Thanx but I think there are other people on this board who deserve that. I see so many beautiful palms in canada and other places. I love coming to this board becuase they are always full of ideas and advice. Anything I do I probably learned , heard or saw it from some one else on here.

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:13 pm

I don't want to discourage you, but I hope you understand that you are going to need some huge protection for those Sabals. They will not take repeated cold in the winter. Good luck with them, but you are in for a very large task keeping them alive in Chicago...

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:20 pm

Thats actually what the told me about the butia. I have never had even a burt leaf on it. I know its a monsterouss task, thats what I live for. My mico climate I have going is great. This wont be the first time I over winter palms and I am 100 % ready to go to what ever extreme I need to protect them. I think I might use a hoop style cold frame for these guys.
Today I put down edging around the needle and skinny sabal I also put the fat sabal in the ground today.

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:52 pm

More power to you.

It is nice to have someone who is as much in Zone Denial as I am.

Allen

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:07 pm

After a -1F Winter, my Robusta looks great with using just a couple of old windows, plywood and a small heater.

If you enjoy growing what you have - that is all that matters....

Steve

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:10 pm

Did the robusta in the ground? and did it loose its leaves?

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:11 pm

I've been waiting to see your palm photos all winter Macario..

Very impressive..Please remember to post more photos as you get things up and running..

Palmettoman z6-Ajax, On

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:16 pm

I sure will.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:23 pm

It's the one in this thread,
http://www.palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtop ... 6&start=30

One frond browned out but it also opened one more. Everything still looks great!

I'm going to build a quantity of 3' x 3' x 4"wood squares this Summer. (Some will be covered with plastic and others solid)
Next winter all I'll have to do is stack them up like Legos around my outside stuff, connect them together, seal them up and I'm good to go

macario · Post by **macario** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:36 pm

Thats very interesting. What type of wood you use and what size? Dp you staple the plastic or glue or nail? I may just do that for my 2 filifera.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:02 pm

For last Winter,used 3/8" OSB Sheathing, (The cheap stuff) a coat of paint did seem to seal it OK.
Other than that, nails, screws, and whatever else I had laying around.

The wood squares for next winter will just be basic 2" X 4" construction with a plywood covering. The clear ones will be plastic stapled on both sides.

With the winds, hail, and storms we get here I use a lot of plywood. If your weather is more moderate, then plastic on each side of a 2" X 4" construction would probably be all you would need.

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:06 pm

Used a 1500W heater on the low setting last Winter ( 750W), Calibrated the t'stat to about 38*F
A couple of spot lights would probably have done well too.

You have some nice Palms! Don't forget the Photos

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:50 pm

I was always under the impression that "zonal denial" is a close match for your zone but not quite in some or many cases.
I grow a number of zone 9a and 9b palms in my 8b climate. Beyond those boundaries (a zone or half zone) it's not zonal denial but more like zonal insanity. At least it's a not criminal offense.

Cheers, Barrie.

macario · Post by **macario** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:16 am

And Barrie you do have beautiful palms. I want what you have thats for sure.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:11 pm

You have obviously found the secret to keeping palms alive in your area.
I felt so excited to see my needle survive the winter totally unscathed and then I saw yours and it is awesome. Mine is much smaller but what a hardy palm.
In it's first winter it survived -7C, wind, heavy rain, and heavy frost without any damage at all.
I have a robusta that I want to plant outside and you have really motivated me into doing so. I should be able to protect it enough for it to survive our winters until it grows too large.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:17 pm

Here is a pic of my Rhapidophyllium Hystrix taking yesterday. It has put on growth over the winter. I really notice the growth on the sucker.
I bought this one from Broadway last year.

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macario · Post by **macario** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:03 am

You will be needing to move that bird bath very soon. It looks very healthy. Do they have many needle palms up there?

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:47 am

Wes, thats EXACTLY how I want my Hystrix to look. Is it much trouble keeping it trunking like that, or is it just a matter of cutting the old leaves off as they die off?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:22 pm

Hey macario, I just showed your pics to my husband.
He was absolutely gob-smacked (to use that delightfully descriptive English phrase). He was wondering if we should do that, too.
I just smile and say, "yes, in our next house, but not here."

Who would'a thought it would take a 900 pound palm lying on its side to get him to talk about selling/rebuilding. I should have seen those pics years ago, macario. I could kiss you!

Wes, that's already a beauty. Nice!

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:27 pm

macario, they are impossible to find here. I ordered mine from a nursery in Ontario which is 4000 miles away from here. I plan on ordering more soon from the same nursery.
Kansas, I only remove a frond when it turns brown and that has only happened once with this palm and that was last summer. I guess I didn't water it enough.
It has put growth on throughout the winter so you are right I will have to remove the bird bath soon but right beside the bird bath is a good sized chamaerops humilis. They will probably grow into one another one day.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:03 pm

Be warned...this is nowhere NEAR Macario's or any of your achievement(s), but hey, this is BIG for me.
I planted my 30-year old (stunted) Trachy out today. No big news for you, but I had to do it by myself and the begger was soooo heavy, then I couldn't get it out of the pot, so I got the saw out and had to cut the pot apart, then I had to dig to China through what seemed like concrete and big bloody rocks .... I'll quit ramblin' and here's the pics.

Notice it's new made-in-the-USA coat on the last pic!

Why did I plant it...we're not gonna move.

I have a read-made frame, and an outdoor electrical plug, all ready to go next fall, just have to cover everything in 95 blankets.

It almost killed me, I ache all over. It was a 3-bandaid day!
But it's in the ground...yippeeeeeee, and all because you folks are doing so much more than me to push the zones! Thks.
Barb

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:21 pm

That's great Barb. Looks like you got a workout planting it. Hope it does well for you.

Regards,
Jay

macario · Post by **macario** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:15 pm

Yes it looks great ! I cant believe that trachy is 30 yrs old. I feel sorry for you I know that sore feeling very well. I am sure your palm will do well. I wonder if it will start growing faster now?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:00 pm

Thanks, guys.
Yup I wonder if it'll really take off now, as someone said earlier. The two spears that have been just sitting there all winter while it was in the building have really started to move. One's almost open and the other one is up another 5 or 6 inches, thanks to Barrie's utter surprise that I hadn't watered it for 4 months (so I watered and fertilized the hell out of it).

No matter how you guys push your zones, or deny it, I simply cannot envision having this plant outside in one of our bone-breaking winters where it hits -30C. It's rare but it happens. We were at, I believe, -21 or so in November.
I doubt it would have made it, no matter how many Christmas lights I could wrap around it.

Anyway I'm glad it's planted, but my shoulders are sooooo sore I can hardly type

Macario got all yours in the ground? Don't forget to post your new pics?

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