Cold spell in Houston

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brandon87

Registered:1459521730
Posts: 77

Posted 1483769992	Reply with quote #1

I've never had to worry about cold weather harming my potted fig trees until today. I moved all but 5 trees into the garage. I have a LSU purple, a few VDB, and Celeste outside in air pots. Should I be worried about 27 degree weather for a night? All are 2nd year trees. Thanks in advance... Brandon __________________ Zone 9 NW Houston-- Open to trades, message me.

pverdes3

Registered:1470833006
Posts: 67

Posted 1483774076	Reply with quote #2

There should be no damage to your trees at 27F, taking them into the garage is more than enough. Our cold spell is currently -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20C)... Most of my potted figs are 1 year old and in an unheated shed. I am afraid they will be severely damaged or killed :( __________________ Gabriel - Hungary - zone 6b/7a Wish list: Izbat an Naj, Ice Crystal, Tashkent

brandon87

Registered:1459521730
Posts: 77

Posted 1483774246	Reply with quote #3

Thanks for the reply.. I wish you luck and hope that your trees are okay!! __________________ Zone 9 NW Houston-- Open to trades, message me.

ricky

Registered:1444161045
Posts: 214

Posted 1483776278	Reply with quote #4

Dear friend, I am in Zone 8B area, It was very wet and then cold this year, Last year, Someone gave me potted LSU purple, it killed by mild winter not even below 34F, I got another LSU purple in 5G pot and put them in unheated shed with other potted figs are 1 year old, Recently, our cold spell is -10C = 20F for 2 week, I checked with them 2 days ago, most of them are buds/tips damaged, There are still 2 more months to go with cold winter, I am worry that they will be severely damaged. __________________ - BC, Canada, PNW Zone 8 with windy ( Zone7 - branches damage at winter) - Wish list - Granthams Royal, RdB, any heavy breba varieties or early one crop varieties.

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1483792254 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

3 hrs North of Houston on Louisiana Border 17f ambient 43f in greenhouse 1.5gal last night).....GOOD investment Next week highs in 70's welcome to the wild wacky weather of Texas. Edit - Temps at 6am CST, High today 39f __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1483798573	Reply with quote #6

If your potted trees are first leaf, you might get some losses. I've seen 18 degrees at night in North Austin and damage was restricted to branches. My potted trees are near a wall or a fence and protected from open wind, that helps. The in ground ones are usually covered with mulch and despite winter damage, so far come back every year. Since the low temperatures occur mainly during the night and don't last, I found that the wind is more damaging than just the low temperature by itself, especially that it always warm up during the day. A sheltered location is important, when trees are young. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1483798993	Reply with quote #7

Not concerned, as stated, greenhouse is 43f. Heater set for 42f-60f, working well. Only trees exposed are 4-5 yrs old and protected from wind, they saw 15f 3 yrs ago, no damage. __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

Dig

Registered:1482888220
Posts: 14

Posted 1483799485	Reply with quote #8

It got down to 28f this morning here, but my outdoor figs still have bright green tips. They seem to do okay here as long as they are along a wall. __________________ El Paso... 8a-7b 8"rain

brandon87

Registered:1459521730
Posts: 77

Posted 1483800637	Reply with quote #9

It ended up getting down to 21 here last night... Aghhh __________________ Zone 9 NW Houston-- Open to trades, message me.

CliffH

Registered:1463781646
Posts: 124

Posted 1483811693	Reply with quote #10

I'll let you know in a couple of week.... I have all my smallest trees in a small greenhouse that is keeping the temps around 50 degrees. But I left all my more mature trees outside and unprotected. I thought that those temps for a few short hours would not hurt the actual trees or branches. New leaves and green buds will go, of course. My trees have not moved into the dormant stage at all yet, so I was hoping the low temps would help. So, we will see if I had anymore damage than expected in a few weeks. CliffH __________________ Texas (N. Houston area) - zone 8b Wish List: Figo Preto, Col de Dame Blanca-Negra, Deanna, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Sollies, LSU Red (new)

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1483887515	Reply with quote #11

My nephew lives in Kady, which is north of Houston. It got down to 11 degrees last night there. That's colder than my location, Charlotte, and we are further North! Go Figure! The Houston area being 10 degrees colder than Charlotte baffles me! I have weather locations connected on my phone, San Deigo, Seatlle, Houston, Camp Junction, Naple, and Charlotte. We are considering moving in a 5 years and we are considering moving to a warmer climate and Houston WAS on our list......not anymore! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

brandon87

Registered:1459521730
Posts: 77

Posted 1483891598	Reply with quote #12

Coldest I can remember it. I'm about 5 miles from Katy. There was a year a couple years ago that it only got to 32 for a few hours. Thats when I was on the warmer side of houston but still. That was the low for an entire winter. __________________ Zone 9 NW Houston-- Open to trades, message me.

CliffH

Registered:1463781646
Posts: 124

Posted 1483892187	Reply with quote #13

I really wasn't expecting it to be THIS cold (10 degrees less than predicted), and lasting for two days. So, I am hoping that I do not have too much damage. I did move more of, but not all, my potted figs into the GH yesterday. Wishing I had moved everything. Live and learn, as the saying goes. Snaglpus - It might be cold for a day or two. But the high for Tuesday is 75, and 80 degrees on Wednesday. Go figure.... This might just be our whole winter. We would love to have you down here. I lived in Rock Hill (just barely south of you) for a while before we moving back to Houston the last time. CliffH __________________ Texas (N. Houston area) - zone 8b Wish List: Figo Preto, Col de Dame Blanca-Negra, Deanna, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Sollies, LSU Red (new)

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1483902999	Reply with quote #14

Cliff, Danny emailed me and gave me some living tips in Texas. I'm checking out Google Maps now around the San Antonio area. I like the idea being near a military base to take advantage of my retirement benefits. I can grow a lot of figs in that climate! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1450004954
Posts: 469

Posted 1483904665	Reply with quote #15

Dennis, I lived in Merritt Island fla for 4 years. I got tired of the same humid weather all day every day. And the gaters beside the roadway. I do not miss florida. Kinda have to decide your comfort level and what zone you live in to grow whatever you want. Im not criticizing florida, it was just not for me. Doug __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8

johnny_k

Registered:1475955071
Posts: 46

Posted 1483906973 · Edited	Reply with quote #16

Dennis, Other options near Katy are closer to the coast, try Clear Lake, Friendswood, Texas City, Kemah. Great weather, great temps. Freezing temps rarely penetrate the 9B coastal breeze climate and when they do, it's usually- usually in the mid 20's. I can remember a while back, maybe 25 years ago, the cold came in so hard it killed a bunch of the speckled trout in the bay. but, that was very unusual. great environment for figs and many, many other plants. __________________ -- Johnny Ft Leavenworth, KS (6A) Bastrop, TX (8B) Huffman, TX (9A) I don't know figs from Adam (™)

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1483926424	Reply with quote #17

1 night should be fine i had some out few weeks back at 27F no problem __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

CliffH

Registered:1463781646
Posts: 124

Posted 1483927852	Reply with quote #18

Dennis - San Antonio was our first choice on where we wanted to settle long term in Texas. But my job connections, and the better money, was in Houston. So here we are. Again. Sent 12 years living here before. Where ever you settle in Texas I am sure you will enjoy it. Much better weather and climate for growing figs, and fignuts in both cities or close by. __________________ Texas (N. Houston area) - zone 8b Wish List: Figo Preto, Col de Dame Blanca-Negra, Deanna, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Sollies, LSU Red (new)

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1483932315	Reply with quote #19

Looking at the map.....Texas City looks real nice! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

brandon87

Registered:1459521730
Posts: 77

Posted 1483935798	Reply with quote #20

I'm from that side of town... if you have any questions about the area let me know!! __________________ Zone 9 NW Houston-- Open to trades, message me.

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