Posted by David Hare-Scott on March 5, 2010, 2:09 am
Jeßus wrote:
> David Hare-Scott wrote:
>> Jeßus wrote:
>>> ...last Sunday. If only it was another 2 weeks away - still had a
>>> lot of tomatoes close to being ready.
>>> And so much for the pumpkins and pickled cucumbers.
>>> Oh well, thats how it goes - still learning the quirks of the
>>> climate here in N.E Tas :)
>>
>> So what is your probable frost-free period of the year?
> Not a lot... safe to say frost-free between Jan and mid Feb. I'm not
> joking :)
> It's been known to have frost here on Xmas day, and we had out first
> frost here this year on 28th Feb.
> Aside from the above - most frosts seem to occur between April and
> October.
That sort of variation must be a real killer. I bet you don't have a big
problem with cabbage moth though.
>> How does that limit what you can grow?
> Well, I'm still learning a lot, having only lived here for about 18
> months. Most of my gardening experience is in the tropics, so
> basically I'm learning all over again.
Tell me about it......
I went from 1/6 acre to 50 acres, from sand to clay and from coastal
moderated climate (8C to 34C) to no maritime effect (-6C to 44C).
> The only real problem is frost - we get quite severe frosts here,
> which is fine for many Brassicas and Parsnips.
> I have a couple of temporary hot houses for the time being, until I
> can build the one I really want. The hot house does help, although by
> no means protects against frost. I do know a few locals growing veggies
> ('local' being within the same shire - my property is fairly isolated)
> and I do need to write down the times they plant their veg.
> I've been going by the instructions on the seed packets, or what info
> I can find online - which so far doesn't really suit the conditions
> here, so it seems.
> Been looking for satisfactory methods for supplementary heating for
> the hothouse - "satisfactory" meaning not fueled from non-local
> sources like gas or electricity. I know of one local who adapted a
> wood heater, but of course very tricky regulating the heat... and he did
> have one
> disaster where he melted the plastic using this method :)
> I've also learned many times over that in general, claims by nurseries
> of a given plant or tree being 'frost hardy' is a load of
> you-know-what!
Oh yes. We planted 75 "frost hardy" acacias which grew from 30cm to 140cm
in 7 months through the warmer months. The first hard frost hit and 65
turned black and dropped dead.
David
Posted by SG1 on March 5, 2010, 2:23 am
> Jeßus wrote:
>> David Hare-Scott wrote:
>>> Jeßus wrote:
>>>> ...last Sunday. If only it was another 2 weeks away - still had a
>>>> lot of tomatoes close to being ready.
>>>> And so much for the pumpkins and pickled cucumbers.
>>>> Oh well, thats how it goes - still learning the quirks of the
>>>> climate here in N.E Tas :)
>>>
>>> So what is your probable frost-free period of the year?
>>
>> Not a lot... safe to say frost-free between Jan and mid Feb. I'm not
>> joking :)
>> It's been known to have frost here on Xmas day, and we had out first
>> frost here this year on 28th Feb.
>> Aside from the above - most frosts seem to occur between April and
>> October.
> That sort of variation must be a real killer. I bet you don't have a big
> problem with cabbage moth though.
>>> How does that limit what you can grow?
>>
>> Well, I'm still learning a lot, having only lived here for about 18
>> months. Most of my gardening experience is in the tropics, so
>> basically I'm learning all over again.
>>
> Tell me about it......
> I went from 1/6 acre to 50 acres, from sand to clay and from coastal
> moderated climate (8C to 34C) to no maritime effect (-6C to 44C).
>> The only real problem is frost - we get quite severe frosts here,
>> which is fine for many Brassicas and Parsnips.
>>
>> I have a couple of temporary hot houses for the time being, until I
>> can build the one I really want. The hot house does help, although by
>> no means protects against frost. I do know a few locals growing veggies
>> ('local' being within the same shire - my property is fairly isolated)
>> and I do need to write down the times they plant their veg.
>> I've been going by the instructions on the seed packets, or what info
>> I can find online - which so far doesn't really suit the conditions
>> here, so it seems.
>> Been looking for satisfactory methods for supplementary heating for
>> the hothouse - "satisfactory" meaning not fueled from non-local
>> sources like gas or electricity. I know of one local who adapted a
>> wood heater, but of course very tricky regulating the heat... and he did
>> have one
>> disaster where he melted the plastic using this method :)
>>
>> I've also learned many times over that in general, claims by nurseries
>> of a given plant or tree being 'frost hardy' is a load of
>> you-know-what!
> Oh yes. We planted 75 "frost hardy" acacias which grew from 30cm to 140cm
> in 7 months through the warmer months. The first hard frost hit and 65
> turned black and dropped dead.
> David
On the positive side 10 survived.
>
Posted by Jeßus on March 7, 2010, 10:08 pm
David Hare-Scott wrote:
> Jeßus wrote:
>> David Hare-Scott wrote:
>>> Jeßus wrote:
>>>> ...last Sunday. If only it was another 2 weeks away - still had a
>>>> lot of tomatoes close to being ready.
>>>> And so much for the pumpkins and pickled cucumbers.
>>>> Oh well, thats how it goes - still learning the quirks of the
>>>> climate here in N.E Tas :)
>>>
>>> So what is your probable frost-free period of the year?
>>
>> Not a lot... safe to say frost-free between Jan and mid Feb. I'm not
>> joking :)
>> It's been known to have frost here on Xmas day, and we had out first
>> frost here this year on 28th Feb.
>> Aside from the above - most frosts seem to occur between April and
>> October.
> That sort of variation must be a real killer. I bet you don't have a big
> problem with cabbage moth though.
You'd lose that bet, unfortunately for me :)
I think the cabbage months first made their presence felt here about
two months ago, I try to spray the brassicas with dipel once a week... I
often forget though.
The other insect problem I have here is sawfly larvae, which have made a
mess of my young cherries, pears - and now they're starting on my plum
and prune trees. Again, using dipel on these, as it seems to be the only
organic spray I know of that seems to help.
<snip>
> I went from 1/6 acre to 50 acres, from sand to clay and from coastal
> moderated climate (8C to 34C) to no maritime effect (-6C to 44C).
I'm also a fair way inland, previously right on the coastline.
<snip>
>> I've also learned many times over that in general, claims by nurseries
>> of a given plant or tree being 'frost hardy' is a load of
>> you-know-what!
> Oh yes. We planted 75 "frost hardy" acacias which grew from 30cm to
> 140cm in 7 months through the warmer months. The first hard frost hit
> and 65 turned black and dropped dead.
Frustrating, isn't it?
--
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
by those who haven't got it - George Bernard Shaw
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>> Jeßus wrote:
>>> ...last Sunday. If only it was another 2 weeks away - still had a
>>> lot of tomatoes close to being ready.
>>> And so much for the pumpkins and pickled cucumbers.
>>> Oh well, thats how it goes - still learning the quirks of the
>>> climate here in N.E Tas :)
>>
>> So what is your probable frost-free period of the year?
> Not a lot... safe to say frost-free between Jan and mid Feb. I'm not
> joking :)
> It's been known to have frost here on Xmas day, and we had out first
> frost here this year on 28th Feb.
> Aside from the above - most frosts seem to occur between April and
> October.