Since the weather guys got it wrong again and were off by nine degrees Thursday night, I'm hoping they'll be wrong again tonight and tomorrow night and that it won't really get nearly as cold as predicted! Needless to say, I'll be dragging out all of my frost covers today and covering everything for the next two nights. poncirusguy, that's what happened to most of our pears around here last year and this time, it's a peach tree I hope to protect. But trying to cover it with plastic isn't practical since I don't have covers made for anything but my citrus trees, so I'm hoping the frost cloth will help. So depending on how big your cherry and apricot trees are, I'm sure you'd benefit by trying something like what I do for my citrus trees; especially since you know it's going to happen so often. But if you get snow, as I think you might, you'd probably have to do something more for support across the top, so I'd have to think about that a bit before seriously recommending it. Okay, I came back with a thought about that--you could make a four sided frame using elbows as connectors and sized to coincide with the outer dimensions of the frame (probably a couple of inches less all the way around to allow snow to slide off around the edges) and lay it on top of the frame, securing it to the top by some means--perhaps those plastic pull tie things. Hopefully, that would provide extra support so the snow won't pull everything down or rip the covers. Again, realizing all other gardeners have to deal with in such colder climates just makes me more thankful that our issues aren't nearly so challenging. So I really admire how much you all have to do to enjoy our hobby in your frigid climates! Patty S., I want to add dwarf banana trees to the mix this year, but know they aren't going to fruit very often if I can't keep them warm through frosty weather. So IF I could figure out how to use Christmas lights under frost covers, how much of a temperature difference does that make--of course, I know that will also depend on how cold it gets. Or does anyone else have any ideas about that? Since I'm thinking about getting just two of them and getting power to them for heat won't be all that challenging, I have more options than with my citrus trees. Also, as you noted, storing the frames when not in use was a definite consideration when I designed them, as well as how easy they are to expand as the trees grow. But I might leave them up around the bigger trees, even though I know they'll be ruined by the sun over time; yet I'm sure I'll still get several years of use out of them and they'll be easy to repair/replace as needed. I hope all of you and your treasures stay warm through this next cold spell and have a great weekend! BB in FL

Don't think I will be following the recommendations of a California retired corrections officer, that got her business degree on line and now professes to have all this various, so called scientific knowledge. Sequoia54, like you, I have a serious problem with anyone that says "say no to vaccines" and that alone leaves the rest of the info posted to be extremely suspect. nhbabs, I like to see scientific documentation and testing as well and not just so called claims to various things with no links to verify the info other the the original person making the claims. I need documentation, scientific testing and proof first. "considering what the world is facing with the Japan disaster". If you are referring to the risks of nuclear power, then you are talking about reality. If you are talking about serious problems in obtaining various products that are manufactured in Japan, then you are talking about reality. If you are talking about radiation from the Japanese nuclear power plants traveling around the world and creating havoc around the world, well, Then you are talking absurdity that is more than just ridiculous. It's outright outlandish and not true. As has been already stated "caveat lector." otherwise known as "reader beware. Fran

Diesels need three elements to operate:fuel, air, and compression. Make sure that your fuel is clean, the filter is not clogged/dirty, and that it isn't too old-after two months, it's old. Make sure your air filter is clean and there are no obstructions in the mainifold/hose. Compression is a matter of the engine-if the valves are timed properly to the position if the pistons, you will have compression. One thing you might do is bleed the fuel lines. I don't know the brand of your tractor, but I work on 4-6 cyl john deere engines. They are typically bled at the electric fuel pump, the filter and the injectors. With a manual you can see where these points are and bleeding is a simple job.

Thanks for the replies! baymee, the radiator in the picture is the one in the bathroom which works VERY well. The one in the bedroom is giving me the problem and it is level. Mr Havac, I've bled the radiator both with the valve opened and closed. I don't know what temperature you would consider as "overheating". With all the radiators opened it will be around 73-75 degrees in here on the second floor, probably 3-5 degrees cooler on the first floor (no insulation between floors, old building). There are a lot of old people in my condo so I assume they want to keep it warm. Out of all the things you mentioned, why would just one radiator not work? All the others work perfectly fine. None of them have the isolation valve left opened, I just bleed them once a year. My next project in the Spring will be replacing the auto vents so I don't have to worry about bleeding them, but for now I would just like to get the bedroom radiator working. Things such as "a faulty relay, a bad flow check, t stat out of calibration" would effect just one radiator in one unit of the entire building? I am not responsible for any maintenance of the boiler. I am on the board of directors of the condo association and brought this problem up at our last meeting. All the other board members agreed that thair heat is working fine and the problem is with my one radiator, which is my responsibility.