Want Your Tropical Fruit Trees to Survive Winter - Frost Protection!

1/8/2024 - When the threat of frost is forecasted, make sure to water your tropical fruit trees the day before. After watering, protect your newly planted or young tropical fruit trees with frost cloth.
$22 - 3 Pack Plant Covers Freeze Protection with Drawstring Zipper-71x47 inch 2.47oz/yd²
a.co/d/6BWXgn1

[@danwhitehorse1492]

Interesting fact? My shri combanging star fruit tree. I accidentally broke two small branches off a few weeks back. So I stuck one in a pot of soil,one in soil with prep and added rooting hormone. It didn't make it but the untreated one is growing in my greenhouse. Though I'd share that. Also have a kari starfruit as well

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That is interesting indeed. The vast majority of starfruits are propagated through air layering. This being the case, I can imagine the success you had with the cutting method.

[@joelphow6314]

Thanks! To share with your trees 🌳!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

You’re very welcome.

[@Daev-]

Thank you for the video :)

[@TropicalCentralValley]

You’re very welcome.

[@udinudin5211]

Am from India Kerala.. in my home there are lots of tropical fruit plants

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. I’m lucky to be able to grow both tropical fruit trees and non-tropicals that require thousands of chill hours.

[@zzhou1557]

Damn that looks full time work there!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Not really. I think it took me about 20 minutes to frost protect the newly planted tropical fruit trees. Beyond that, once the trees are established, typically in a few years, they do not require any protection and are practically maintenance free.

[@themangovista]

Good luck man..We will start getting in the low 30s next week here in Florida.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Ouch. I know folks in Arizona too were hit by the frost this week. Looks like it’s moving east towards your region.

[@themangovista]

🥶 not good, but we are ready 💪

[@TropicalCentralValley]

These tropical fruit trees are surprisingly resilient. Unless it’s a once in a lifetime Texas style 17°F freeze, they should be fine.

[@emanueldelgado540]

Here in the bay it got down to 34 had unprotected mangos that were untouched but my covered guavas got burnt tips 🤨

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s great! The foliage of the guava trees will turn red from the cold. As spring approaches, they’ll shed all the damaged leaves and new ones sprout out to replace them. Mango trees are surprisingly resilient. Although I chose to protect my newly planted mango trees (in the backyard), I’m confident all would be okay without protection, but given the ease at which I erect the frost cloth, the trees will appreciate the added protection.

[@mariocastillo9721]

I’m such a lazy gardener this year something is bound to die lol I didn’t cover my soursop or mango tree

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Nothing wrong with taking a hands off approach. The trees can be surprisingly resilient. I didn’t protect some of my seedlings last year, and all were fine.

[@mike-me7om]

Did your plant hardiness zone happen to change in the last update?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I wished; I was excited but still technically USDA Zone 9b.

[@joweb1320]

Thanks! That fog looks tough. How is the air quality during the fog?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Pretty bad, particularly for folks with sensitive lungs. The fog traps pollutants near the ground level.

[@joweb1320]

@@TropicalCentralValley Good you surround yourself with air cleaning trees.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

It helps. Besides the cold, the trees love the added humidity from the fog.

[@MaMaMae_]

Do you have any caimitos trees? How are they fairing? I think ive lost my young tree again, despite cover and being in a greenhouse :( Do you do any graftings or sell scions? Having trouble sourcing the rarer varieties, even manila mango!!!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I do. I have a green and purple variety. They are a bit cold sensitive. Both of mine are in the ground, protected by a temporary heated greenhouse. Oddly enough, my 6 inch seedling caimito, also in the ground, unprotected is fairing so much better than the two grated ones in the greenhouse. Unfortunately, I do not sell any of my tropicals. If you’re nearing the Los Angeles area, there are a number of tropical fruit tree nurseries in the region, though, you may want to wait until June or so to ensure they have caimito trees.

[@BuenavistaNZ]

​@@TropicalCentralValley do you think a caimito could fruit in a greenhouse?

[@genejaytre]

They sell even thicker frost cloths which is what i buy because I’m in zone 8b

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Nice. The bag style ones I used are medium range, at about 2.5 oz; just enough to not weight down the trees while still providing adequate sun penetration, breathability and frost protection.

[@genejaytre]

@@TropicalCentralValley that’s exactly what I use vs the .95

[@TropicalCentralValley]

There are definitely pros and cons to the weight of the frost cloth. For instance, I use some of my super thin ones as shade cloth. The trees appreciate it during my 115°F days.

[@matamataio4136]

what about when the strong winds come? then what will you do?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

You’re going to want to create a wind breaker or barrier.

[@viji786]

Is it papaya plant on your front yard? Don't you have to cover it too?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Planted in the front yard without any frost protection. They do great, even in 28°F temperatures.

[@siddhu38]

I did the same thing with my tropical fruit trees as well. Should we unzip and expose the plants to sun everyday or is that ok to leave them on until freeze ends and weather get back to 40’s ? I live close to Ventura, CA.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

It depends on the frost cloth used. Many are breathable and allow for sun penetration, but the thicker are not.

[@siddhu38]

I do have the same cloth you have 😊

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Awesome. In that case, it’s fine to leave the cloth on until the threat of freeze is over.

[@siddhu38]

@@TropicalCentralValley..Ahh thats a relief.. I am tearing them slowly in the process of opening everyday. Thank you for the wonderfull relavant videos again!!

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Although you should be fine, I would keep an eye on the tree to ensure the foliage looks fine, every once in a while (every other day).

[@JoseGonzales-ul9sv]

I don't get notifications on your new videos any idea why?

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I’m not sure. Assuming you have notifications enabled in your KZbin app, it should have notified you. You’ll see, but I do not believe in promoting my videos by asking viewers to “hit the notification button” as I realize the growing of tropical fruit trees in the Central Valley and other hostile climate comes with lots if failures.

[@JoseGonzales-ul9sv]

@@TropicalCentralValley I do this just happened recently

[@TropicalCentralValley]

On a side note, I release a new video almost every 10 days, or when a new idea comes to me.

[@udinudin5211]

Hi

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Hello. Happy winter!

[@emanueldelgado540]

First 🪴

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Thank you.

[@danwhitehorse1492]

What drone do you use For your intro ? Thanks for freezing your tail off to make a new video. 😁

[@TropicalCentralValley]

Thank you. I’ve been very pleased with my older DJI Mini 2. It seems to do the trick, though, I likely will be upgrading to a newer model in the coming years.

[@danwhitehorse1492]

Yeah nice,I'm going to be upgrading to the dji mini 3 RC version with the display on the hand set.

[@TropicalCentralValley]

That’s awesome. I’ve been eyeing the Mini 3 models at Costco. Great bundle pricing. I’m waiting for either the Mini Pro 5 or 6. Looking forward to seeing what DJI can add to these small drones.

[@danwhitehorse1492]

Sad thing though? The more they add the heavier they get ,the more the price increases. I wanna stay at 250 grams. They have a battery that adds weight and improves flight time to 51 minutes. That extra battery will be my back up. I don't really want to have to register it with the ffa. I would use it back east when visiting relatives. 😅

[@TropicalCentralValley]

I totally agree.