Growing Citrus in Marginal Climates - new idea

[sewfarsewgood]

For those of us in zone 8 which is just a bit too cool for Citrus, bottlebrush and other semi- tropical trees, I have seen a report out of California (yes something good does come out of California - my wife and this idea for 2 things) that many out there are succesfully growing citrus through the winter by putting the large Christmas lights in the trees and turning them on during the cold nights. It has worked with trees and temps down into the mid 20's. I am going to try it here in the hill country of Texas. We can grow Meyer lemon and Satsuma Tangerines in protected places and this would surely help. Now if I can get an Avocado tree to try I may be in heaven. It woud help with bottle brush, Jacaranda trees and even bananas. When my Saguaro Cactus gets too big to move, it would be fun to see it with lights wrapped around it too.

[Ray]

Dear Sewfar,

You have just explained what goes on in my backward part of the country, South Louisiana. I was born and raised here and always thought that Christmas decorations went on very early, like mid november, and stayed up far too long, like until after Mardi Gras. I always thought it was because people were too lazy to take them down. Then, after I matured, I guess sometime around age 28 or so, I noticed that the trees were always citrus, peach, or some other fruit bearing tree that held the lights. I always told my wife that it was corny that those people were so backward, and I'd never do something so silly. That is, until I planted a fruit orchard of my own. I went through the painstaking tasks of checking chill hours, soil samples, eventual soil amendments, exact watering amounts, the whole works. Then, mother nature put 'em in the freezer, and I hadn't protected them. I learned. I now have Christmas lights in my orchard from mid November to well after Mardi Gras. And if it gets cold enough, I put tarps on them and at night it looks like about 40 ghosts in the orchard. Take it from me, its a great idea and I haven't lost tree one in over 10 years.