Author Topic: The cold is coming to south Florida! (Read 11723 times)

Carlincool · « **on:** December 18, 2012, 06:50:11 AM »

Hi All!
As much as I hate to say it.....the cold is coming this Thursday. Lows down to 44 degrees and highs only in the upper 60's. I have 2 soursop trees, 1 in the ground, 1 I'll be bringing inside. I also have 2 Jackfruits in the ground. All trees are about 4 ft high. 1 of the Jacks has a small fruit. Should I cover them all up? They are in the SW area of my yard. They do get some wind from the north. I live in southwest Florida. (Cape Coral)
Thanks for your input!
Kevin

Carlincool · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2012, 06:57:01 AM »

I also have a 4 ft Carrie Mango that has blooms all over it.

bsbullie · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2012, 07:19:22 AM »

I think you have your days off...your highs Thursday should be around 80 with a low in the upper 50s. Friday is the cool down, temps are forecast to be high 65, low 44, high Saturday 69, low 44, with a moderate warming trend to follow...

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Cape+Coral+FL+USFL0067:1:US

I would watch the temps on the coldest nights.....you might want/have to protect that in ground soursop. Jaks and mango should be fine.

Carlincool · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2012, 07:19:44 PM »

Yes, I did have my days off...lol. But it's back up to 80 Monday and Christmas day! I hate the cold.

johnb51 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2012, 08:40:10 PM »

Yay!

FloridaGreenMan · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2012, 07:22:45 PM »

Don't fret...80 degrees on Christmas Day is sweet ! I look forward to being in shorts and flip flops during Noche Buena (12/24)

Mike T · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2012, 07:50:45 PM »

Christmas here will be very humid and about 93f max to 77f min.Some inland parts of my state will be about 115f to 82f but its will be a dry heat.The plastic reindeers,fake snow and Xmas carols like dashing through the snow,I'm dreaming of a white xmas and the first no'el and icey air conditioning in supermarkets contrasts with the outside and wall of heat when you emerge.

JF · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2012, 10:07:34 PM »

it was 40F this morning.....same for tomorrow morning.

nullzero · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2012, 12:44:15 AM »

Quote from: JF on December 19, 2012, 10:07:34 PM

it was 40F this morning.....same for tomorrow morning.

Weather channel shows 35 degrees tonight where my my garden is (guess winter is really here

). I got a decently sheltered area, I am sure the temps range about 3-4 degrees higher. Have a Cupassu, 3 Jakfruit, and Acai palms out near the home wall/paver area.

JF,

Hope everything has a smooth sailing.

Carlincool · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2012, 06:13:54 AM »

Hi all!
I do air conditioning for a living and I am going to make an enclosure out of 1 1/2 in ductboard. I have a small 4 ft soursop that I am going to protect. I think my Jackfruit and small mangos will be ok. Its now forecast to go down to 43 here in southwest Florida for 2 morings. Highs only in the upper 60s. I am also going to stick a digital temp probe into the duct to monitor the temps.
If that doesn't work, I'm going to put a small 115v heater inside the enclosure, that will keep it at 60 degrees.
I refuse to loose anything this winter! Lol
Kevin

zands · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2012, 07:28:13 AM »

Quote from: Carlincool on December 20, 2012, 06:13:54 AM

Hi all!
I do air conditioning for a living and I am going to make an enclosure out of 1 1/2 in ductboard. I have a small 4 ft soursop that I am going to protect. I think my Jackfruit and small mangos will be ok. Its now forecast to go down to 43 here in southwest Florida for 2 morings. Highs only in the upper 60s. I am also going to stick a digital temp probe into the duct to monitor the temps.
If that doesn't work, I'm going to put a small 115v heater inside the enclosure, that will keep it at 60 degrees.
I refuse to loose anything this winter! Lol
Kevin

Being in A/C you should be able to take care of the situation

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2012, 09:00:13 AM »

Quote from: Carlincool on December 20, 2012, 06:13:54 AM

Hi all!
I do air conditioning for a living and I am going to make an enclosure out of 1 1/2 in ductboard. I have a small 4 ft soursop that I am going to protect. I think my Jackfruit and small mangos will be ok. Its now forecast to go down to 43 here in southwest Florida for 2 morings. Highs only in the upper 60s. I am also going to stick a digital temp probe into the duct to monitor the temps.
If that doesn't work, I'm going to put a small 115v heater inside the enclosure, that will keep it at 60 degrees.
I refuse to loose anything this winter! Lol
Kevin

43 will be OK- never had any significant damage to mango or Jak ,even with some limited frost days. The soursop should be ok also. In fact, I have never lost any trees over the past 17 years; any damaged growth came back. I think we have the same temps as you guys.

Jsvand5 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2012, 09:20:34 AM »

Looks like my lazyness may have screwed me again. Calling for 30 on Friday night. Was planning to put the green house up this weekend. Hopefully everything will make out ok. I'll bring in the most cold sensitive stuff. Going to be a lot of plants in the dinning room.

Dangermouse01 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:17:21 AM »

Showing 36 (for now) for me on Friday night. Guess I will be pulling out the frost cloth for all the flushing small stuff.
But the world is supposed to end sometime Friday...................

DM

puglvr1 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:32:23 PM »

34 degrees for me Sat. morning and slightly higher for Sun. morning. What I've noticed about these cold predictions is the closer we get to the actual day...the predictions gets "lower"

ReneeFLL · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2012, 08:30:37 PM »

NOAA reports it will be around 46 degrees in my area tomorrow night and about 50 Saturday night. I have some seedlings as small as 2" and up. I am guessing I need to protect them. I don't feel like dragging them all into the garage. Can I put the trays on the ground and cover them with plastic or a heavy fabric cover? I know the cover should not touch the plants, but is it necessary? Maybe I should just take the most important ones in and let the strong survive of the others? Some of the seedlings I have to many of anyway.

I also have -
Monestera deliciosa
Abiu 1.5' tall
Big Red 1.2' tall
Black sapote 3' tall
Macadamia nut 3.5' tall
Sugar apple 6' tall
Rollina 6' tall
Passion vine
2 lychees 4.5' tall
Papaya 4' tall
Mamey Pantin 3.5' tall
Bananas - the ae ae bananas I will bring in except for maybe the largest.
And a few others I can't think of at the moment.

These are all in pots. Do I need to protect these?

nullzero · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:01:15 PM »

Renee,

I got most of the stuff on your list. I leave them outside all the time with temps in the low 40s... never have any problems (even the seedlings).

bsbullie · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:04:31 PM »

To be safe, I would bring in the abiu.

as far as your seedlings...its hard to make a call when we don't know what they are.

nullzero · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:46:49 PM »

Have Abiu seedlings outside, don't seem to be to phased from the cold (high 30s). The seedlings are about 6-8 inches tall. I kind of use a survival of the fittest method when I grow the seedlings outdoors.... All the seedlings were sown outdoors in CA, so they are probably accustomed better to the less then 50 degree nights.

bsbullie · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2012, 10:59:54 PM »

Quote from: nullzero on December 20, 2012, 10:46:49 PM

Have Abiu seedlings outside, don't seem to be to phased from the cold (high 30s). The seedlings are about 6-8 inches tall. I kind of use a survival of the fittest method when I grow the seedlings outdoors.... All the seedlings were sown outdoors in CA, so they are probably accustomed better to the less then 50 degree nights.

I have seen 3-4 foot tall abiu that were damaged by temps in the low 40s. No sever damage mind you but leaf damage none the less. I have three seedlings that are about 12" tall that had minor leaf damage from temps in the low to mid 40s earlier this year.

MangoFang · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2012, 11:03:42 PM »

Had 30.9 degrees overnight last night in my backyard in Palm Springs, and it's
supposed to be the same tonight. Luckily I covered last night
and everything looked fine thismorning. They are covered right
now for tonight's chill.

Think I discovered that I live in a cold-draining channel that
runs the cold air down from the mountain I live near. The official low
which is at the airport was around 38, so I can no longer depend on
my local forecast for accuracy at my place. Disappointing to say the
least....

Anyway, good luck everyone else facing the teeth of chill tonight...

fang

demingcr · « **Reply #21 on:** December 20, 2012, 11:20:45 PM »

Only thing I am unsure on is Miracle fruit, differing opinions on the googlewebs on its sensitivity. Should I bring it in? It's about 3 feet tall. Here's to hoping the cold doesn't discourage all the budding/flushing my citrus is putting on.

TREESNMORE · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2012, 03:01:38 AM »

Cold 38 outside 67 in greenhouse it is 2 am in palm city fl. wptv has it at 46 in palm city 48 in west palm I am 5 degrees colder then in the city most of the time I will post pictures of my greenhouse in the morning It is still 38 at 3am . 36 at 6am

FloridaGreenMan · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2012, 07:39:49 AM »

It was 47 degrees here at 7am and last night was supposed to be the coldest night. Hopefully it warms up quickly! I put my most delicate potted plants in my garage.

puglvr1 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2012, 07:41:43 AM »

Quote from: MangoFang on December 20, 2012, 11:03:42 PM

Had 30.9 degrees overnight last night in my backyard in Palm Springs, and it's
supposed to be the same tonight. Luckily I covered last night
and everything looked fine thismorning. They are covered right
now for tonight's chill.

Think I discovered that I live in a cold-draining channel that
runs the cold air down from the mountain I live near. The official low
which is at the airport was around 38, so I can no longer depend on
my local forecast for accuracy at my place. Disappointing to say the
least....

Anyway, good luck everyone else facing the teeth of chill tonight...

fang

Good luck tonight MangoFang And everyone else that's dealing with this cold snap.

It was 32 degrees at 7:30 this morning in my backyard with light frost...I didn't cover anything. One more morning
that's suppose to be a little colder. I'm not covering anything since they all have Blooms and are too tall/large at this point...we'll see what happens?

BENDERSGROVE · « **Reply #25 on:** December 22, 2012, 08:12:01 AM »

We got down to 44 at 4 am not to bad,sure felt colder with the breeze,i can live with that,hope everyone north of us fared well.

Carlincool · « **Reply #26 on:** December 22, 2012, 08:33:56 AM »

Here on the southwest coast, (Cape Coral) we got down to 44 this morning. I brought in my potted soursop. My Jackfruit did fine. The soursop in the ground I made a enclosure out of 11/2" ductboard. A digital probe inside the enclosure said the lowest temp inside was 58. Today I'm going add a small heater with a digital t-stat to control the temp. Tonight it's suppose to get down to 42 here.
I hope everyone fairs well....good luck!
Kevin

Bananimal · « **Reply #27 on:** December 22, 2012, 09:01:50 AM »

Checked my outside thermometer at 0630 and our low was 44F. It's 55 now.

Brought some recently potted seedlings in last night. Nothing that has been potted for a while so I don't find a kitchen full of ants again. A mistake not to be repeated. lol

Everything outside still looks good. Very thin coating of frost on the roof of the cars.

TREESNMORE · « **Reply #28 on:** December 22, 2012, 11:31:19 AM »

pictures of my greenhouse all tender plants inside till march its packed.frost on roof of house

CTMIAMI · « **Reply #29 on:** December 22, 2012, 02:20:46 PM »

My house hit 44 degrees at 6am and my two star fruits in 3 gal, are showing sighs of wilting. I put the sour sop inside but didnot realized the start fruit was so susceptible.

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 22, 2012, 03:44:20 PM »

Quote from: CTMIAMI on December 22, 2012, 02:20:46 PM

My house hit 44 degrees at 6am and my two star fruits in 3 gal, are showing sighs of wilting. I put the sour sop inside but didnot realized the start fruit was so susceptible.

I thought Carambola was indestructable...I think it would have to be below freezing to hurt it

It was 40 here last night. All trees look happy today.

cuban007 · « **Reply #31 on:** December 22, 2012, 03:46:47 PM »

Got up this morning at around 4am and there was frost all over my lawn. I have not seen any significant damage to the plants.

FloridaGreenMan · « **Reply #32 on:** December 22, 2012, 04:03:21 PM »

Cubano
Good luck with the cold weather out there! Stay warm!

cuban007 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 22, 2012, 04:17:51 PM »

FGM, yeah I am going to need it. This year I did not protect anything. We'll see how they tolerate the cold weather. I am a bit concerned about the new plants that I planted back in October. There were a Pantin Mamey, a Ross Sapote, a Green Sapote, and Trompo Canistel. By the way, nice pics of the fruits from Krome ave. The Green Sapotes look beautiful.

Jsvand5 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 22, 2012, 10:32:56 PM »

I got down to 31 last night. Brought in the Mameys, Abiu, Hawaiian Avocado's and most garcinia's. Totally forgot about my mexican Garcinia's. Looks like I can confirm they can handle below freezing temps. No damage on any of them.

Carlincool · « **Reply #35 on:** December 23, 2012, 06:21:52 AM »

Treesnmore...
Nice greenhouse. I wish I had something like that. Do you have any kind of heating system?
I wish you luck!
Kevin

zands · « **Reply #36 on:** December 23, 2012, 06:23:06 AM »

@Mike TreesanMore
Very nice large greenhouse. A do it yourself project

TREESNMORE · « **Reply #37 on:** December 23, 2012, 07:25:35 AM »

Iam Mike owner of Tree N More fruit tree nursery and yes I do all of the work I have no permanent help when I have money I get two guys to help me weed .I have a 65000BTU heater for the greenhouse it is 20 by 50 foot click on the picture you can see the heater real good it keeps the building at about 65 dergees

Carlincool · « **Reply #38 on:** December 23, 2012, 08:05:08 AM »

Got down to 41 here. Inside my enclosure it's 70 with the heater. Soursop is very happy!

. Lol

Jsvand5 · « **Reply #39 on:** December 26, 2012, 01:45:51 PM »

Only damage I saw was on my jackfruit. The Bangkok lemon looks like it is going to be leafless, The gold nugget has damage on about half of the leaves, my little 3 gal J-31 Jack that I forgot to bring in looks undamaged.

Sleepdoc · « **Reply #40 on:** December 26, 2012, 03:10:39 PM »

Today I checked some of my more cold sensitive for damage. Not sure what the minimum temp was here, but if Mike at Benders saw 44, it was likely the same here.

Guanabana dropped a bunch of leaves but still holding small fruit.

2 one foot Chempedak seedlings show no damage, but they do look like they are struggling in my soil.

My 5 foot breadfruit tree looks quite good. A slight amount of cold damage on 1 or 2 of the uppermost leaves, but for the most part it appears undamaged and happy.

SWRancher · « **Reply #41 on:** December 26, 2012, 04:33:35 PM »

No damage observed to any of my plants. The shot of cold seems to have accelerated the bloom for a few of my trees.

phantomcrab · « **Reply #42 on:** December 27, 2012, 02:19:02 AM »

I just returned from Christmas vacation and my high/low thermometer on the porch has a low of 43 degrees recorded. It was probably about 41 out in the yard but even the guanabana seedlings show no damage.

Jsvand5 · « **Reply #43 on:** December 28, 2012, 09:51:55 AM »

Must have been colder here than I thought. A few days later and my Bangkok lemon jack and my gold nugget are looking horrible. I am hoping they will push some new growth now that they are protected. Might both be dead though. All of my mangoes have burnt leaves but I think they will be ok. Maprangs show some leaf and twig dieback but nothing too bad.

phantomcrab · « **Reply #44 on:** December 28, 2012, 02:27:01 PM »

Jsvand5-
Where do you live?
Put it in your profile.

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Author Topic: The cold is coming to south Florida! (Read 11723 times)

natsgarden123

natsgarden123