PalmsNorth.com

I read where they were down to 20f. Here's my story. Planted it in April. It doubled in size over the summer. Its 2ft by 2 ft. We had a frost 3 weeks ago. It got a few brown spots, so affer that I have covered it for each frost, it was fine for the last 2weeks, now there is more brown. The lowest temp has been 27f its still going into the 50s so I havenot made a hut yet. My trachy is still growing. Should I winterize the date palm now?

They are not very hardy, I would cover it soon.

What zone are you in?

Centeral indiana, zone 5b

If you build a hut, and it overwinters for you be sure to let us know. I have 4 of them at home, in in pots inside but would love to plant one outside and try and protect it. I think...Coconut Mike in Montreal has one he over winters, but not sure.

Well since my post the plant has continued to brown. Two days ago i pulled up my pot in ground trachy and the hole was filled with water. It is 8 feet away from the pigmy. I decided i was going to dig up the pigmy. We have had 4 days of rain and now it snowing for the first time. I dug it up. it was in there good. The rootball is huge. Its sitting in a pot in the garage. The pot its in is too small so i need to get another one in the morning. There was a block of dirt and ice 2 inches by 8 inches against the rootball on one side. I was shocked it was mulched and the temps have been above 32f for a week. so its going to sit in the garage with the grow light for a few days. It stays around 50F in there. I need it to dry and warm up before i repot. i feel it will live. but i think it was going to die had i left it and covered it even with heat.

In my little experience with these, 27 F is about the lower limit. Mine have had spear pull at temps like that. I have brought them inside by a window and had them recover. That was this time last year.
This year, I left 'em in the ground, treated as bedding plants.

Watched a video the other day about a date palm and a European fan palm that are in the ground in a warm climate in the SW, but had got a cold snap (last winter) totally browned out both plants, but horticulturalist in the video said plant wasn't dead. He just cut off all the brown fronds to the very center where there was still come green. Basically he as saying to don't "assume" anything is dead, just cut back and wait.

it was wise to bring it inside for the winter. I've had really good luck with mine indoors in a west facing window.

They are such attractive palms! Plentiful and cheap around here.