Re: Deep freeze
Gary Matson wrote:
> Paul,
>
> The roots of most if not all plants are more sensitive to cold damage
> than the tops.
> Have you noticed that most frost-hardy vegetables, for example, wilt deeply
> as they freeze? The
> water in the cells has been released into the cell walls and will be
> reabsorbed later.
>
I am curious as to how cold it got there Monday night? Berkeley hhills got
to 28; I don't have a recording thermometer, but I am sure where I am
(Berkeley flat land near the bay) it got well below freezing. My
subtropicals lost their leaves for the most part or had severe wilting
(mexican Senecios, Cestrum nocturnum, salvias, Iochromas, tree dahlias). The
potted stuff all got into the house. Not exactly mediterranean, but the
impatiens wilted like frozen celery - still has its leaves - but tonight
promises to be equally cold - is it likely to survive? Come back from the
roots next spring? Interestingly, all my passifloras came trhough unscathed,
and they died to the ground in the last big (3 days of ice on the ground)
freeze.
There is a corisia tree a mile or so from me - 20 ft. WIll check out to see
how it fared. The radio said SF Golden Gate park got down to 24 - . If
true, Strybing should have lost a lot of sub-tropicals.
Richard Starkeson zone 9
