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Fruit & Orchards

Winter Protection for Sub-tropical plants in Temperate Zones

7 years ago

I'm moving from 9b to 7a/b next year. There are plants that grow in ground here like citrus, guava, passionfruit that I would like to grow in ground in 7a/b (Atlanta area) when I move. They won't survive the winter without protection. I'd like to build a structure around them that will keep the temps around 32 degrees at the lowest. I don't want a year round greenhouse as it may be difficult/costly to keep cool enough in the summer. Would rather remove protection in spring. Is anyone doing this?

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Comments (4)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
7 years ago
That sounds fairly easy to do and something I've considered under the right conditions. Put up a hoop house structure. Cover it with poly during the freeze season and uncover in spring. I'd probably have a light shade cloth, 30% or less, under the poly as yr around protection from critters, hail, etc. Add a heater in winter and you'd be set.
Kevin Reilly thanked fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
nmfruit
7 years ago
You'll find a lot of people doing this kind of thing on the citrus forum -- folks growing citrus outdoors in Massachusetts, etc.

An alternative to a hoop house might be a greenhouse that sits up against the south side of your house, if you have the space, etc.. In this scenario it might not even need much supplemental heat, and it would require half the material to build.

Good luck.
Kevin Reilly thanked nmfruit
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Kevin Reilly
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
So the poly is just to trap the heat from the heater at night? From what I understand if there is no thermal mass in the hoop house it will be about the same temperature as outside during the night, although warmer during the day obviously.

I agree about finding a property with a south facing brick wall would be ideal. Haven't bought the place yet but hope to find one with that situation.
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Yes poly is to trap heat from heater. You could go with an over wintering poly that is white and admits some light but not too much heat. You'd need a heavily insulated cover to hold 32 without heat. There is no covering that will admit light by day and also hold much above outside at night.

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