Planted stuff out today

[lucky1]

It's gotta be spring! Time to get rid of winter blahs.

46F today.

Planted the Yucca rostrata Sapphire Skies, Agave, Chamaerops humilis "cerifera", and Washy filifera.
At far right is the T. Nainital, looking pretty sad.



Sure felt good digging in the ground again!
Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Barb,
they look great!
And I must say I am very jealous. We had snow again this morning. Not in the forecast; it just happened. My Ch. humilis was out in it, as was the beleaguered Trachy. I just don't see this winter ever ending.
The last things I remember planting were some bulbs.
Back to you, where winter is over. How warm is the soil?
--Erik

[lucky1]

Next year I'll be jealous of you working outdoors Erik, while it's still -30C here
Soil temp? not a clue, but my hands didn't get cold in cotton gloves.

Now watch...a Siberian front will slide in and they'll be toast

It was bloody glorious being able to poke around in the soil again.

Erik, maybe cover your Chamaerops humilis for snow events.

Won't be long now until you're out in the mud too!
Barb

[Laaz]

Nice plants Barb. I would watch the weather though, that Agave sisalana is not cold hardy and will melt with a heavy frost. I have two that I forgot & left out when we dropped to 24 F. They look like crap now, but should pull through.

[hardyjim]

I know how you feel,being able to dig in the soil is a good feeling-
I did the same thing last year,6 weeks later.
Your soil temps are probably colder than you think and certainly cold to your plants unless they have been kept VERY cold.

I will add something to whats been mentioned about heavy frost-
Cold/chilly soil lowers plants resistance to stress/shock.
If you get any cold weather,I would definitely lay some x-mas lights on the ground and cover with heavy blankets and plastic.
You will really need to baby them if cold hits as they are vulnerable right now.

That said,I hope the cold does miss you,it certainly is a nice feeling to put stuff in the ground.
I will try(and fail I'm sure)to wait longer to plant this year,usually my stuff inside really takes off from the warmer inside air-
then,I move it out it stops and then takes another month to break it's second dormancy.
This year I am going for a more seamless transition but sometimes it just feels better/right to be planting!
Luckily the grounds frozen and covered with snow now!

Good luck Barb-I hope your warm weather continues our cold sure does-
As Eric pretty much said about this winter-no end in sight!

BTW
Whats the plan with that Washy?
Did you plant it,or is it in a pot?

[lucky1]

Thanks for the warning, Todd, and the Agave ID
I didn't have a clue what type of Agave it was.

Didn't hit freezing last night (but just barely), and heavy fog today.
Can't even see my driveway.
Doubt any of the plants will enjoy the dampness.

Todd, are your citrus and palms OK after that brutal winter?

Barb

[lucky1]

Hey Jim, our postings crossed.

Appreciate the extra tip about vulnerability in cold soil.
I covered each last night with its own inverted bucket but with this heavy fog today it'll just increase humidity which isn't good.
I may rip the Christmas lights off the roof, and lay them down on the soil.
This morning I feel really stupid having planted them yesterday. Oh well.
Didn't realize cold soil would induce a second dormancy.

I actually planted two Washies out yesterday (not in their pots), the third is safely indoors in the cold building (as tho' I expect the others to croak).
You can see the second one near the top of this pic.

Luckily the grounds frozen and covered with snow now!

I thought you'd be out there with a blow dryer to get an early start.

As to what I'm planning, I dunno, Jim. The way I planted everything so close together, it's almost as if I don't expect them to ever grow into any size.
Probably reality-check again... thinking we couldn't possibly have another "little winter" next year like this one.

...I'm off to rip the Xmas lights from the house.
Barb

[hardyjim]

I also wouldn't water them again for a while,like late April.

In fact,protect them from rain too-do they get sun there?

[Corrosion]

Hello Barb, nice looking plants The weather seems to be quite mild compared to mine Anyway speaking of potplanting, has anyone really used this method to plant things out permanently? I read from some site that it help to root plants faster and without complications especially in border zones. Is this method any good?

[BILL MA]

Wow Barb,
I wish I could go plant something. Talk about a mild winter you guys have had this year What was your low anyways?

There talking about 3 inches of snow tomorrow every time it's just about gone it snows more Blah...
I'm sure it won't be until April before I get to plant the good stuff out. That seems so far away!!!

Bill

[lucky1]

Found a string of .7 watt bulbs, but they're indoor so will probably blow if fog gets any heavier.
Couldn't use the Xmas lights from the house 'coz they're LEDs.
I don't think these are...



OK, everything's covered up.
I'm sure the dog's wondering "what the H is she up to now?"



Bill, my lowest was -20.6C -5.1F on Dec.14 and the naini tal was exposed to that with no heat and just a bucket and old carpets over it
Snow is good, at least it's a cover, but are your overnite temps really cold? Hey, are you starting any seeds this winter?

Corrosion, thanks. Pot planting is an interesting idea. I think Josef in Prague does that with his trunking yuccas...would be interesting to get a discussion going on pros/cons of pots inground.

Jim, yup lots of sun when it's out. This area faces south and IF (WHEN) the sun is out, the soil turns to dust, it's so hot and dry there, being in a corner "L" of building totally protected from any cold winds. Late April watering? We're semi-arid here with only ~12 inches of precip annually.

BTW, using that INDOOR light string OUTDOORS can't start a fire I hope?
Should just blow the breaker?

Thanks everybody!
Barb

[BILL MA]

Your Nanital is looking good for hitting those temps, I can't wait for a permanent spot to plant mine.

I'm kind of sick of the snow look personally, the temps aren't really super cold at night anyways. I hope it just rains, I'm close to that line I think.

I'm just growing some basic stuff right now trachys, sabals, more nanas! I plan on looking at them in a little while to see how there coming along. I should do something with the seeds I got from South Florida too.
Speaking of seeds my largest trachy started pushing out it's seed spikes already kinda cool, nothing out of the other two yet I might go check later.

Bill

[lucky1]

Hi Bill,

Dr. Francko, with whom I've had some correspondence about the Naini Tal, thinks the Freeze-Pruf is what got it through.
It looks worse every week, so I'll reserve judgment for now.

sick of the snow look

I don't blame you. That's what we had last winter, seemed like 4 months we looked at those huge piles of snow, and we still had water restrictions summer of 09, so we're in big kaka for this summer. A day of warm rain would help you for sure.

Would love to see a pic of your Trachy pushing seed spikes.

Did you see that "de-lidding" post copied from IPS forum for stubborn seeds?
I think those guys are really onto something. Great technique for expensive seeds.

Wish I had held onto my non-producing Copernicia hospita super silver seeds, and Bizzie, etc.
They went into the compost, never to be seen again.
Barb

[hardyjim]

If your soil temps are much lower then 60f.I would be careful watering,unless it really is warm and sunny.
If it's cold/chilly there water needs are less anyway.


I think pot planting works better* in warmer climate where quick establishment of root systems is less of an issue.

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Barb nice to see everything growing so well for you. That var.Spanish dagger sure has taken off. The W.filifera look great too. I really hope we don`t get hit by any cold weather for the next five weeks. We should be in the clear by then.It looks like you have your back up plan in place. El nino is supposed to stick around for a while longer so maybe you won`t have to worry about extensive protection.

John

[lucky1]

Good warning about watering, Jim. Will do.
Plus I found another string of Xmas lights today (7 watt ones) for use if a cold front arrives.

Thanks John, did you start it from seed? (can't remember what you said).
The agave been bone dry in the cold building until now. It was so light in the pot I could have picked it up with one finger, so gave it a little drink.
And the roots on those Washies are really long.
Your Dune Aloe has grown really well too.

At 35 miles south, this will please you too.
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/cabc0312

Barb

[lucky1]

a tad chilly...

Soil temp where I planted them.




Turning the Christmas light string on under the inverted buckets at night to keep plants a little "warmer".

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

That's quite a bit warmer than my soil right now.

[BILL MA]

40f is not that bad, mines much colder I'm sure. I need a battery for my probe, I meant to get one last night but I forgot. I must be secretly hoping the ground will warm up by the time I get one.

Bill

[TerdalFarm]

This morning, after reading Barb's post, I went out and brushed frozen mulch off mine. It is the old-fashioned kind with a 4" metal probe under a dial with a needle. I tried to pull it up to read but it was frozen in place. The air temp was 24oF. I crouched down to read and saw 1oC on the dial.
For down here, that is very cold. I did nothing for my Musella, Canna and Colocassia as they have always bounced back. Wonder if they will this time.

[lucky1]

Eric, that's chilly...whatever happened to that warm 40-ish muddy soil under all that snow
The chickens need to get busy!

Bill, my little thermometer is solar, even works during heavy overcast skies.
At least I think it works...oh oh...

Barb

[hardyjim]

I measured mine about a week ago-
31f at 4" 33f at 8" all the snow on the ground has helped.
The big* g-house is around 40f and the smaller ones are in the 34-36F range.

[TerdalFarm]

Mine was at 38oF by the end of the day -- and 48oF in the air!
I have my soil thermometer about 2' from the Ch. humilis. It is near a concrete patio and a gravel "beach" and under a lot of mulch. There is nothing above it but the moon.
"Official" (per local TV news) soil temps for today were similar: 31oF in the morning, 38oF in the afternoon.
We should be in the 50soF air tomorrow. Then cold rain.snow Friday. More snow Sunday.
So, Barb, I will not be planting anything anytime soon. At least not until my soil temps are above yours. --Erik

[lucky1]

Jim and Erik, still a ways to go, but it won't be long with daytime temps edging upward.
Perfect GH temps!

Good you're holding off.
Besides, the "idiot" vacancy was filled

But just think...IF mine do well, it means 40F soil temps might be OK.

Hope you guys don't get the whallop of snow (1 foot) that the East Coast got.
Barb

[BILL MA]

I got lucky only getting 2" during that mess. Mid 40's today should put a hurtin on the 1" or so that's left.

Bill

[hardyjim]

Barb
I planted my cactus last Dec in 40f soil temps(I also planted a Waggie),they were watered once(when I planted)and not again until it rained on them in April.
Who wouldn't think of planting with the temps you've been having?
Planting in low soil temps can work but think of it more as storing your plants outside
until the weather breaks-once the soil temps hit the 50s,you should be in good shape.
I have no such worries with 8" of snow on the ground(more on the way)and temps struggling to get out of the 20s
the last 2 weeks!

[lucky1]

Your Dec. planting of cactus and waggie...did you cover them and heat the soil with lights?
Or did weather improve quickly after that?

Guys...just think of that snow as "no water shortages" for you.
We're already semi arid...guess we'll lose the semi this year
Barb

[hardyjim]

[quote="lucky1"]Your Dec. planting of cactus and waggie...did you cover them and heat the soil with lights?
Or did weather improve quickly after that?










The Waggiie was planted into one of the umbrella g-houses the cactus into the larger g-house
I wanted the cactus to adjust to being outside,having them inside during winter would have thrown their timing/
flowering off-they are all at least zone 5 hardy.

[lucky1]

...now I remember, thanks.

[DesertZone]

Very nice looking plantings. Looks mild there. I still have about 80 percent snow cover here.

PS Thanks for the seeds I would have said thanks earlier, but my computer was down for awhile.

[lucky1]

Aaron, 80% snow? should start to back off soon with March around the corner.

Good luck with the Judas tree seeds (horrible name, huh?).

Barb

[hardyjim]

The only place there isn't snow here is on the streets.
It really had started to melt lately but with 6-12"+ in the forecast....
and another Arctic blast middle of this week-
with possibly more snow-the snows not going anywhere soon

[lucky1]

Yikes!

[hardyjim]

Probably see more like 4"
The Arctic blast is still on tap though-
There are some 40s in the 15 day,although they usually get
pulled back.

[lucky1]

That's what you get for beating us at hockey

Couldn't resist that one...good game USA.

Barb

[BILL MA]

Hey Barb,
I put ten potted palms in my washy green house yesterday! That's kinda like planting stuff out right

I know the pictures are on the way

Bill

[lucky1]

Excellent, now there are two idiots
Just kidding.

Yup, want to see the pictures!
Barb