Viewing post #2369347 by dyzzypyxxy

You are viewing a single post made by dyzzypyxxy in the thread called Moving to Tallahassee.
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Oct 21, 2020 3:10 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
I'm not so far north, but I still have an area where I can shelter my more tender tropical things and some of my orchids. If you have a garage or other building with a south-facing wall, you can make a hoop structure easily against that wall. The building serves as a wind break from the cold north wind that blows after a cold front, and the wall itself will be a heat sink absorbing the sun's heat all day, and releasing it at night. I have a frost cloth cover for my hoop house that I deploy whenever the temperatures are falling into the 40's, and I just roll it up under the overhang when it's not in use. (March through November it is put away) Keeps the plants at least 10deg. warmer than the outside ambient temperature, and if I put a heat source inside there I can keep it even warmer.

The last serious frost event we had here was January 2018 when it went down well into the 30's for two nights. I did bring all my orchids into the house for that one, but suffered no losses of other tender plants in the hoop house AND my tomato and pepper plants carried right on blooming and producing fruit all winter.

Just saying, you CAN push the zone a bit up there with the right resources. The Florida sun is still pretty warm even in the dead of winter. Not sure I'd go for the effort and expense of a full-blown greenhouse, as they're hard to ventilate effectively and a lot of maintenance for the few months you want them.
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Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill

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