Rosebush I know exactly what you mean. I did not wintersow last year, but had set some greenhouse plants out that died. I also lost some plants that were already established. I am thinking late april or may I may just move some of the jug plants to a cold frame and harden them off there. I do not want a repeat of last year. I am up very close to Mount Airy about 20 minutes from Virginia. It has been crazy with temps here too. Today 65 Sunday it was 40 with two nights of temps in the middle twenties. Good luck with your plants. I have gotten germination in lots of mine so far, the growth and amount per jug seems to be the biggest difference for me so far. I am really enjoying it though. I go check them every day. I also have some in the greenhouse and cold frame, but so far. I really like the looks of the wintersown ones. They aren't leggy and are pretty much carefree except for watering. Has anyone started increasing the ventilation holes for hardening off yet. When would be the best time to start this. I am using Milk jugs with only the caps off so far.

I'd gladly come dig some if you were in Texas and not California...too far to drive. I dig divisions using a very sharp shovel or similar sharpened spade. The culms are connected underground so you will be chopping them apart. I dig individual culms and top them at around 4 feet. I put them in pots for a few months then they can be sold for anywhere from $25 to $50 depending on variety and plant/pot size. You have about 20 culms there alone, not counting what you have already cut down, and some may not survive transplanting, so you have a little money there, but if you've never done it before, it may be too much work for you. It takes me 15 to 20 minutes to dig a culm up that size and pot it. If you do not want it there, simply cut it down to ground level and cut away any new leaves or branches or new shoots as soon as they appear...about 10 minutes each day, max. The plant will die and rot quickly making it easy to remove. Good Luck Kt

Here's my results so far: Past 2 years been challenging but the palms that pulled through, Washingtonia filifera/ robusta ( with robusta getting defiolated last winter & this winter) Chamaerhops both green & blue perfect despite cerifera slight damage first winter. Pindos slight damage first year, nothing so far just on 1 recent transplant last year. Phoenix canary's 1st year defiolated this year doing good. Brahea edulis slight damage both years but better this year(strong palm for zone 8b) Sabal pumos slight damage. Trithrinax campestris 2 palm plant 1 had spear pull ( fully recovered & doing fine this winter) nannorrhops arabica ( Iranian silver) slight damage both winters ( seems very promising) planted out at a 1 gal. Trachycarpus fortunei slight damage 1st year none this winter. Sabal blackburniana, this 1 didn't get a fare chance I move it before last winter hit & never recovered but still alive I can't access this 1 properly. Phoenix theophrastii defiolated & spear pull 1st year ( fully recovered) this winter has some damage, canariensis seem a bit hardier but to early to till, planted theophrastii out at a 5 gal. Ok the ones that didn't make it: Queen Palm defiolated 1st year & didn't recover by next winter, didn't make it. Trithrinax brasiliensis planted out at a 15 gal. Died 1st winter( pretty surprised with this 1, but might try again) Acoelorrhaphe wrightii died 1st winter. livistona nitida died 1st winter. Livistona's might not make it up here don't seem to take much cold but I still want to try a few more & try nitida again. 1st winter we had a hand full of low & mid 20's with are lowest being 19*f two nights in a row followed by 22*f the 3rd night with the low going up the next few days! No protection on any palm except a potting bucket over Nannorrhops, livistona nitida, acoelorrhaphe wrightii. This winter almost the same as 1st with are lowest temp so far 20*f. But it's ben nice the past few weeks & I hope it stays this way or lease temps don't get below 22*f I shouldn't get any more damage! Winter protection I put sheets on most palms except Washingtonia's, Chamaerhops, Trachycarpus, butia's. & a bucket over nannorrhops when it rained with sheet.

I live in climate zone 8, and i'm am trying to grow an abundance of tropical fruit this year. I am growing maracuja, or passion fruit seeds, and I have several healthy seedlings. Passion fruit can live in climate zone 8 as long as they are shaded, and sprayed with water on occasion. Passion fruit is also delicious, and is a very easy fruit to use in baking and cooking. I only know about it because I am Brazilian. I prefer Graviola over Jack fruit, though they seem similar on the outside. Plus, graviola is known for cancer healing abilities.