Didn't know if it goes here, or in Greenhouse...

It's a cheap, and simple structure..then I put poly plastic on top and sides....I will take more pics today..

EZ,

Now that's one dedicated cherimoya fan! I'm planning to build a simple jute sack cover for my banana that has bloomed late. Show us the final pic!

Joe

this greenhouse will not win any awards...BUT the Cherimoya's next year just might !!!!!

(click on the pic, and open up the whole album to see other pics...)

EZ or anybody, what is the smallest cherimoya you have seen with fruit?

Do you get any snow? My only concern would be the PVC holding up the weight of any snow. No room in your greenhouse to plant? Good luck and let us know how it goes. By the way...did you get the low temps we got last night? 17!

Ohiojay-
Doesn't get that cold here in No. Cal. (I hope not in future either). No snow either...I'm preparing for (at most) 4-6 hours of temps that may get as low as 23-25 F. (overnight).. Will let you know how well it does....

Thanks,
EZ

Hi EZ, hope the greenhouse works well for you. Looks good.
Am wondering if my sunroom will be cold enough for mine to get chilling hours & go dormant. I'm trying not to let it get colder than overnight upper 40's. They still have most leaves on, but I heard they are s'posed to all drop. Should I pluck them off? Do yours still have leaves on?
They are 4 yrs old right now since seed sprout...maybe I'll get fruits next yr?

Patty, I'd wager that your sunroom is warmer (at night anyway) than my greenhouse recently, and mine hasn't lost any leaves at all.

I planted a dozen seeds from a tasty fruit I got at the store, and I have some germination! I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with a bunch of cherimoya seedlings.

that is a great little structure EZ$$. I have been bitten by the greenhouse bug, Im trying not to want one, but my Fiance is probably going to be here 6 months longer than I had hoped. Ive got all the south-facing windows in the house filled with plants!

Nice use of space too, that concrete block wall against earth should give you some good heat retention, if it got much colder, id suggest a strawbale wall behind the fence!

That retaining wall also serves as drainage ditch, if i remember it right.
what happens is that all the cold air in EZ's place gets drained into that ditch with the retaining wall and the fence on the other side will temporary trap those cold air. By placing the greenhouse structure, it could prevent those cold air from affecting his cherimoyas. I visited EZ a couple of years ago.

patty, all my leaves are still on...they don't start falling till Feb/Mar.
I wouldn't start plucking the leaves until end of March, or early April.

I've got my outside thermostat set for 32-34 F, as these trees have been in the ground, and survived 2 winters already outside...They can take some frost, but not for long times....So, even though temps haven't gotten down there yet this winter, I did try to see the heating efficiency of this setup...

As you've noticed, I got the heater blowing the heated air directly at the retaining wall..This helps to keep the temp stabilized after heater is off. Anyways, within 3-5 minutes, I got about 3-4 degrees F increase (40 F to 44 F)....

Joe is correct also, this backyard area is a concrete drain, that prevents any water from getting into back neighbors yard....and it serves as a nice little area for some extra trees....I debated whether this "cold air drain" will hurt my Cherimoya's, but it was the best place to be able to build such a structure and not have the City come out and cite me for "structure violations".....I'm hoping that this poly sheeting has enough covering power to keep the chill out, and the heater will provide enough heat to keep the frost off of the plants for the 3-6 hours they temps might get down that low...

This weekend I just got back from Chico, and both structures survived the big winds and rains we had on Sat/Sun...I'm happy !!

Anyways, will keep you all posted on any news..

Thanks...>EZ$$

hey EZ. Looks good I started a bunch of seeds and bought 4 plants the plants came from ebay.( not nice at all) the seller charged me 18.00 for one 1 ft and 27 for another sent me that one at 5 inches said it was the healthiest she had . SO I quite buying from her. any way What type of soil and fertilizer are you using . i love cherimoya and am hoping to get some of my plants much larger. Tammy

hey EZ. Looks good I started a bunch of seeds and bought 4 plants the plants came from ebay.( not nice at all) the seller charged me 18.00 for one 1 ft and 27 for another sent me that one at 5 inches said it was the healthiest she had . SO I quite buying from her. any way What type of soil and fertilizer are you using . i love cherimoya and am hoping to get some of my plants much larger. Tammy

Patty- on my seedlings a couple weeks ago I did plucj the leaves off...They are now all starting to push new growth...A friend told me that I should just let the seedlings grow, even if out of season and not to worry about getting them any chill yet.

Westwood- the potting soil on my seedlings is : 3/4 acid potting mixture (for blueberries, citrus, azelias, etc.....) and 1/4 sand...for good drainage. for fertilizer, I'm using 1 TBSP of citrus fertilizer every other month...

I had been wondering to put them outside in the greenhouse, and get them chilled...BUT now I've been advised to let them keep growing (if they will)...and mine are....The leaves were already drooping, and so I tugged at them, and they all came out with no fight...Now the buds are pushing new growth (they are inside my garage still)...I'd say daytime TEMPs are 50-55F, nightime rarely gets below 46F.

EZ, BUNKER DOWN for the weekend! I hear you are getting frost & snow your way. Good thing you have a heater in there.
I finally had a chance to see rest of pics now (puter is slow). Is that a cherimoya I sent in this greenhouse? Planted inground? How big are they now? I pruned a little last yr, & biggest is about 4 ft & in a 8 gal tall pot.
My, you have a nice collection of cherimoyas on that table -- if they are, or paw paws? They look alike.
Snow will slide right off that plastic - I think the pvc will work fine.

Stressbaby, my trees might fruit this yr (will be their 5th summer) and it is about 4 ft tall from soil. It will be the ONLY tree I've seen w/ fruit on LOL (you asked what is the smallest tree w/ fruits). You could grow these.