Friday, February 12, 2021

WINTER IS COMING WITH A VENGEANCE

We're getting horrible weather info this week.

Last week the forecast was for mid-20's.  Yikes.  That's dangerous for plants (even covered) and worrying for pipes at the farm.  Then they changed it to upper 20's.  Then low 30's.  Then no freeze.

We thought we were out of the woods, so to speak...

Peach blossoms

Here is the peach tree...all covered in beautiful blooms.  Apparently it thinks Spring is just around the corner.

Side note, we love the blooms on fruit trees, just always so stunning and pretty.

But since there was a much higher chance of a freeze coming soon, I spent part of my post Zen Machine rescue time last weekend covering the citrus trees.  

Covered citrus

They've already made it through two freezes this year so we were hoping for them to make it through this one so they'd have another year under their belts.

That was for this week.  Then the "revised" forecast appeared and it has gotten worse day by day...


Check out Sunday...high 42...low 21...Monday high 26 (never above freezing) and then low of 10.

TEN DEGREES.

That's record breaking.  No, it's record shattering.  They even say we could end up in single digits.  

NOTHING freeze sensitive will survive these temps.  The covered citrus is probably a waste of time.  The trees are so young, even if we put the Christmas lights in there, that could add ten degrees according to experts.  At 28, ten degrees puts them at 38, fine.  At 25, that's 35, fine.  Even at 23, that's 33, still fine.  

But 9? 10? 11? That's still 19, 20, or 21. They will not survive. I'll pile up mulch around the graft knot and we'll see but honestly we doubt they will make it. We've resigned ourselves to buying new citrus in the Spring. 


I'm going out Saturday to shut off the water (2nd Family protects the well since we share that and it's at their end).  Then I will drain the pipes, open the faucets and blow air through it to drain everything.

I'll be bringing the bananas, the pineapples, the bay laurel, and a couple other small plants that would NOT survive back into town.  I can leave them in the parking garage as it will not be below freezing there.

There is also talk of snow and ice over the roads and records back to 1899 that might be broken.

All we can do is cross our fingers and hope for the best.  As one weatherman put it last night, this could very well be an almost once in a lifetime Winter storm for our area.

Sigh.

25 comments:

  1. We are getting the cold shoulder up here in S. CO, too! At the moment it is 10° at 8:45 a.m. and we are looking at the next 4 days of being icy cold, as well ... Sunday is forecast to be a 7° day and -6° night!
    Ole Ma Nature is doing her level best to give us a Winter to remember! LOL I hope your fruit trees do survive!

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    1. Thanks! You stay safe and warm. We're going to have one for the record books that's for sure. I don't think the citrus will make it but all the others should be ok.

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  2. Right now it's only 26 deg. Monday evening it is to be down to 4 deg. Tuesday evening down to 19 deg. and only a high in the low 30's
    Last week when I seen my daffodils where coming up, I thought Spring was on it's way but Ole Mother Nature put a stop to that with these freezing cold temperatures. :{
    Snow in forecast here coming in on Sat. evening and continuing through Monday.
    Everyone, stay warm and stay safe.

    1st. Man; hopefully your trees will survive during these cold temperatures. The blooms may not, but maybe the rest of trees will be ok. May take longer for them to bloom again once the temperature warms up.

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    1. It's cold for sure! Records being shattered all over Texas. We'll see how it all turns out. This is one for the record books for sure.

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    1. We think all the established fruit trees, apples, pears, etc are good because they can handle below zero. The citrus will be dead but that's ok. The others are safe and sound here in town.

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  4. The forecast temperatures keep dropping and dropping. We are just not used to these very low temps in SE Texas. This frigid weather is going to be really damaging to plants and trees. So many fruit trees are blooming or in bud. It is going to be heartbreaking. I worked for hours and hours covering up things. Some of my citrus are nearly 20 years old and producing beautifully. Too big to cover up totally, so I did the best I could.
    Looks like you prepared very well – hoping your trees survive. It was a very good idea to bring those tender plants back home to put in the garage.
    I made some chicken noodle soup this afternoon to bring some warmth and comfort during this cold spell. The house smelled so cozy.
    I will definitely appreciate the warmth and sun of Spring when it arrives.

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    1. Mmm, chicken noodle soup!! That's some comfort food there! We are crossing out fingers for your citrus. The big ones should survive...we're hoping maybe the temps won't be quite as low as they say. What a winter huh? No one had this on their bingo card for 2021, ha.

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  5. My friend in Dallas says they're supposed to get snow on Sunday. Horrors!

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Just saw Dallas and yeah they are getting heavy snow. They get snow from time to time. We never get it. If we get it it will be one for the records for sure.

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  6. Double coverings might help. Will people take your plants in the garage? Why not take them to your apartment?

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    1. Our garage is very secure. I brought some of the little ones into the apartment and I've left some in the car. Our parking garage is currently 52 degrees and it's 29 outside so I think they'll be fine there.

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  7. Good luck from snowy Canada 🇨🇦! I hope all your covering work pays off and that the weather people are exaggerating!

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    1. We know those of you who always deal with this every year probably look at the news for here and go "huh?" ha. But remember, we never have this so the houses are built for it, the buildings aren't built for it, the bridges and REALLY high so they're not build for it, and NO ONE knows how to drive in it, ha. You stay warm as usual!

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  8. I have also covered all the newly planted trees but fear they will not survive the single digit temps, or gods forbid sleet/snow, expected. I even worry about those in my work shed with a small heater. I will keep my fingers crossed for your trees as well as mine and spread some positive thoughts!

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    1. Let's hope so. Single digits are crazy to be talking about for this area huh? Stay warm and safe!! Positive thoughts for the trees and plants. And the pipes.

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  9. I gave up on certain fruit/citrus trees. It seems like one of these "record" cold events would come along every 4 or 5 years and wipe me out. Some things you just can't force to happen, Mother Nature will always have the last word.

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    1. Yeah, giving some serious thought to that after this. Might make more sense to grow what we can harvest without worry. Good point. Stay safe!!

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  10. I know it's all relative, but from The Great White North (where it is -41.8 degrees BELOW zero currently), suck it up buttercup! JK, LOL, stay warm, stay home.

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    1. MINUS 41? I'll admit. I couldn't handle that, ha. Your comment made us laugh though. You are 100% right we all complain and those of you up there in that weather go, "yeah sure, watch this...." ha. Well stay warm!!! We'll stay home too.

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  11. Happy Valentine's Day.
    It's 19 deg. right now with a light coating of snow on the ground and having breeze / wind blowing.
    It's darn cold outside. Good day to stay inside all day where it's warm and watching the nascar races. Think I just might make some taco soup

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    1. Taco soup yummy! It's 28 here right now. Won't be above freezing until Tuesday afternoon.

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  12. Sending you warm thoughts on this cold, cold day.
    Happy Valentine’s Day!

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