Uncovered the Washies

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:38 am

You'll recall they almost died from fungus because I used leaf-filled bags INSIDE the enclosures.
Dumbest thing I ever did.

But leaf filled bags do work on the outside to keep soil from freezing.

Anyway, uncovered them yesterday 66F 19C in my yard (a couple of hours in p.m.)

Pardon the mess...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8598388254/" title="001 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8598 ... cb31_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="001"></a>

Another month inside that protection and they would've been toast, but the spears are moving:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8597293127/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8597 ... 1b9a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="002"></a>

This one's a little "iffy":

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8597291699/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8597 ... c05f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="003"></a>

The bases seem to have expanded too:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8597288671/" title="005 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8597 ... 512a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="005"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8597290115/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8597 ... 80b6_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="004"></a>

And the yucca rostratas...I swear they grew all winter

because it was hard to get the Christmas lights out of their bases.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8598391124/" title="006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8598 ... a063_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="006"></a>

The only one still protected is the Brahea armata...you know...the "tough love" one I planted in cold ground 3 weeks ago:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8597286019/" title="007 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8597 ... 1883_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="007"></a>

Everything's getting fertilized today.
Yippeeeeeeeee....spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I know where all the birdies is...pooping on my roof.

Barb

GlennKing · Post by **GlennKing** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:47 am

Yes Barb I remember the leaf bag disaster BUT.....they seemed to have pulled through for ya!!
I'm going to wait a few more weeks until i uncover mine,early April in Wisconsin can get very ugly quick,I'll just give it some air on the nice days.....

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:02 pm

They actually look pretty good considering the attempted homicide.

miketropic · Post by **miketropic** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:19 pm

I went past my neighbors house today..they had little greenhouse covers over there 2 washys but I knew there was no hope. they were uncovered today with no fronds just 2 stems sticking out on each side of the driveway..oh well maybe they will try again...I would like to know where they got them at though.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:04 pm

"Pardon the mess... "

your yard looks great!.....no pardon needed.

Your Washy's look pretty good.......I wonder how many leaves they will grow this season??

Your Y. rostratas look great too.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:42 pm

Everything looks so good! That's going to look amazing this summer.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:26 pm

Thanks folks, you know that it was sheer joy tearing the little teepees apart.
H said I'm good at demolition, but not at putting it away.

attempted homicide. icon_eek.gif

Good one, Chad.

Re the rostratas, their bases must have expanded over winter because I wouldn't have crammed the Christmas lights right up against the trunks.

my neighbors house today..they had little greenhouse covers over there 2 washys but I knew there was no hope.

Mike, how old were theirs?
Two sticks? you mean the leaves fell off over winter?

As to the number of leaves mine grow this year...I hope at least they replace what I had to cut off that was diseased.

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:26 am

So no worries about cold at your place with the Washies?

Guess, I'm still nervous about taking protection down for mine yet......

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:23 am

Barb, it seems I missed your post wading through the mud across North Kazakhstan last week!

Your Washy is a winner! Incredible results! And the Rostrata!
Bravo Madam Lucky Palm Grover!!!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:38 pm

So no worries about cold at your place with the Washies?

Weather's been nice and warm, no freezing temps for the last 10 days--or f/cast for the next 10.
But I've left the plastic and C-7s nearby just in case.

Thanks Igor, these Washies are a labor of love.
Definitely more work than Trachies though, and they seem to HATE winter humidity.
Because of my iffy Washy protection, they'll look like crap until June, but thankfully they're alive.

Yup, those rostratas were a breeze, just a flimsy top cover of plastic and lights at the base for the coldest nights.

Hope you enjoyed your mud-bogging.

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:55 pm

Yes Barb I had more of a issue with the Mexican Fan Palm from getting too HOT.....and humidity within the protection cage. Will just have to create more venting next year.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:00 pm

If it were summer, Scott, Washies can handle all the heat you can throw at them.
Doubt they like humidity even in the summer.

That's OK; we have zilch humidity in summer anyway.
Hot dry winds that almost knock you off your feet is more like it.

More venting is a good idea.

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:15 pm

Everything looks great, Barb! My palms are still covered.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:29 pm

Thanks Cameron, yours are probably growing INSIDE the protection.
Look forward to seeing your Trachies at the fence too.

Barb

marceli · Post by **marceli** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:24 am

Barb, those rostratas look like there were no winter at all

Well done

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:35 am

Thanks marceli.

Rostratas are a piece of cake compared to Washingtonias...

Barb

InsanePalmNinja · Post by **InsanePalmNinja** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:20 am

I'm going to be plant in one of my washys any tips for me to use. I'm very sure that its gonna to defoliate. Which I'm not too worried about that.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:17 am

I'm very sure that its gonna to defoliate

Why?
Maybe wait for warmer weather if you're sure it's going to defoliate?

Washies appreciate a hot, full sun location.

Barb

chadec · Post by **chadec** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:32 pm

Yeah ninja I would definitely wait. I planted one of mine on the warmest and dryest sides of the house. It has done great but unless I cut down another maple it may be deprived of as much sun as it wants.