Posted by H in France
on 12/1/2008, 12:55 am, in reply to "Re: Results of recent record freezes"
91.171.252.85
Treeman, I'm not surprised at your results if these are all for plants in containers. I produce all of those species here in S/W france where our winters are similar to yours. We have already had a short period of frosts (5 nights between -5°C and -9°C (23°F to 17°F) with daytime temperatures barely above freezing, this following heavy rain which left the ground and containers saturated. I have had no damage to any of my young trees planted out (very heavy wet clay) but some little damage to container stock outside. I keep the majority of my young stock (over 6000 plants in cell trays 12cm depth, 175cc )in cold tunnels slightly on the dry side. They regularly experience temperatures of -4°C/ -5°C (around 23 to 25°F) with no damage.
To repeat, I have found that plants in the ground stand up to frost much better than plants in containers and those in containers that are a little drier do better than containers that are saturated.
Just as a comparison I will list the species I have in the ground and the temperatures they have experienced over the last few years.
E.aggregata -13°C (8.5°F) slight tip damage
E.archerii -13°C (8.5°F) no damage
E.crenulata -13°C (8.5°F) no damage
E.dalrympleana -14°C (6.5°F) no damage
E.elliptica -13°C (8.5°F) slight leaf damage
E.gunnii -15°C (5°F) no damage
E.macarthurii -14°C (6.5°F) major leaf and tip damage
E.neglecta -13°C (8.5°F) no damage
E.nicholii -14°C (6.5°F) major damage on heavy clay, minor leaf damage on drier soils with protection from wind
E.nitens -13°C (8.5°F) slight tip damage (all toast at -16°C (3°F)
E.parvula -15°C (5°F) no damage
E.perriniana -14°C (6.5°F) no damage
E.rodwayi -14°C (6.5°F) no damage
E.rubida -14°C (6.5°F) slight tip burn
E.subcrenulata -13°C (8.5°F) no damage
E.viminalis -14°C (6.5°F) some with slight damage, others toast.
I have many more that have only gone in the ground this year and have so far stood up to the frosts with no damage but only time will tell.
Nearly all of my seed comes from Milligans with some from Wildseed Tasmania.
So don't give up on a species just because it frosts off in a container. There are far more variables when in a container than when planted in the ground.
Keep up the good work.
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