Citrus Growers Forum

GT · Posted: Mon 24 Dec, 2012 1:06 am

igor.fogarasi wrote:

I thought it was reserved for Russia. Laughing

Yeah, I don't miss those temps either. A friend of mine living in Siberia mentioned recently that he likes " a little bit of cold" and they enjoy -30-40C right now... with -51C observed in a village where he has a vacation house... Frankly, I prefer SE Texas winters! Laughing

Stay warm, folks! Wink

May cold fronts miss us.

Sanguinello · Gest

BTW, Russia has the worst winter since 200 years now ...

Esmark78 · Posted: Mon 24 Dec, 2012 9:13 am

Yes Russia is cold i heard that temps in sibiria is around -50C.

GT · Posted: Tue 25 Dec, 2012 2:02 am

Esmark78 wrote:

Yes Russia is cold i heard that temps in sibiria is around -50C.

A good news is that there are not too many people living in Siberia to enjoy such temperatures. Laughing

Most of Russia population is concentrated around large (mostly European part) cities, where the climate is much milder. Still, not quite suitable for citrus. Wink

bada bing · Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 19 Location: Tucson AZ - 8b~9a

Lol, tomorrow is the last day of my two week work hitch. I'll be going home to Tucson on Wednesday. It was averaging about -38 F last week here in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This week we had a storm and it actually got into the single digits (positive) with winds of 45 knots. Not much difference between day time highs and night time lows, seeing as how the sun won't be above the horizon until Feb.

Looking forward to Arizona, even if the locals think it has been cold lately.

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gregn · Posted: Sat 29 Dec, 2012 5:28 pm

Laaz wrote:

You think that's bad, go to Canada in the winter!

Thank goodness my tiny corner of Canada never gets as cold as Edmonton, Colorado, Russia or parts of Austria... it has been almost 50 years since the lowest temperature ever recorded at the Vancouver Airport which was -17c (1.4f) This was a couple of years prior to the 1st palm trees planted in the city. Now there is an abundance of palm trees primarily Trachcarpus Fortunei.

To date this year we have only had light frosts and an unexpected 15cm (6") snowfall which took place when I was on a cruise in the Caribbean Laughing

.

Tonight it supposed to drop to -2c (29f) and -3 (27f) for the next 3 nights after that. Traditionally our major freeze events take place between December 15 and Jan 31st. so with a little luck we will get through without much of a freeze.

Greg

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus

Sanguinello · Gest

Damn !!!

If I had such temps here, I surely would have an citrus plantation ... Razz

pertman · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 3:09 pm

Here in Tucson our low last night was 22. The next four nights are supposed to be 23, 22, 24, 27. See below graph for last night's temperatures.

Also, here is what I have done to protect my citrus (to the extent possible):

http://s1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb334/pertmanpb/January%202013/

Stay warm all!

Peter

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hoosierquilt · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 3:17 pm

Wow, Peter. That was a lot of work for you. But, you should save all your citrus this way.

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Patty S.

gregn · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 3:43 pm

Peter, your temperatures are lower than what I am contending with up north here in Vancouver Canada. The next 4 nights (forecast lows) are 25 (-4c) ,27 (-3c), 28 (-2c) 30 (-1c) , 32 (0c). I too have wrapped my Meyer lemon in a similar fashion - though I used 2 strings of 7w Christmas lights on my tree. I hope to save the flower buds and the immature fruit and fruit-lets.

One thing is for certain, a interest in meteorology is a must for those of us trying to grow citrus in non traditional areas.

Thanks for your post !

Greg

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus

Laaz · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 3:48 pm

You guys & girls keep that crap out west! Laughing

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Wal-Mart a great place to buy cheap plastic crap ! http://walmartwatch.com/ ...

Laaz · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 5:54 pm

Jan 12, 2013. 82F here right now.

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Wal-Mart a great place to buy cheap plastic crap ! http://walmartwatch.com/ ...

BobsCitrus · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 5:55 pm

We'll be keeping it through Tuesday night, it seems Mad

I keep checking the forecast, but...

pertman - Are you doing any uncovering to let soil "warm" up with sun and mid-40's highs or not? Maybe a mid-event additional watering Sunday or Monday? I am opting to stay covered and lights on 24/7 for the duration, all soils are sufficiently moist until it's over I think. Any different strategies out there?

BC

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BobsCitrus

pertman · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 6:08 pm

Gregn -- are those temps normal or not? Of course, what is normal now????

BC -- no. I am keeping my lights on. Considering that the trees are on the east side of the house, the sun (at this time of the year) is blocked. Also, the amount of work to uncover them is a lot which I don't have time for. This is high quality frost cloth (I bought bulk rolls two years ago) and I am sure that the trees can breathe okay. The plus side of the trees being on the east side is that a majority of our wind is out of the west so the house blocks it. And, during the summer they get a lot of sun.

However, I did run my drip irrigation to the Citrus two nights ago and will probably do it again tonight if not tomorrow.

Peter

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gregn · Posted: Sat 12 Jan, 2013 9:09 pm

pertman wrote:

Gregn -- are those temps normal or not? Of course, what is normal now????
Peter

Peter, the official "normal" for the period are low of 32 (0c) and high of 43 (6c). That being said we will, on occasion, drop to the bottom end of zone 8. From my recollection that usually takes place once every 5 to 6 years - the duration can last a week to 10 days where we don't get much above freezing and usually takes place between late November to the end of January. So this winter is quite mild. I believe another 3 weeks we will be (hopefully) out of the woods for a big freeze. Since I got the citrus bug, I have had to have my lights on around 21 nights and 14 days per winter. I have left my supplementary heat on more this year because my Meyer is loaded with various size fruit and emerging blossoms which I do not want to loose.
Mike "citrange" posted these links on his website:

http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/wheretoseePTcanada.html
http://www.homecitrusgrowers.co.uk/canadianlemons.html

Cheers, Greg

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Gregn, citrus enthusiast. North Vancouver Canada. USDA zone 8. I grow In-ground citrus, Palms and bananas. Also have container citrus