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Old 12-11-2008, 09:06 PM   #5 (permalink)
microfarmer
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Location: Zone 9 Sack-o-tomato, CA
Zone: CA zone 9b
Name: Senor Excessivo
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Default Re: My winterizing method

That's a wrap! Good job! I wish you luck! Last year I just covered mine with a big trash bag but no lights, and mulched the corms. I had a Dw. Orinoco, Ice Cream, and CA Gold make it through the winter and fruit (CA Gold choked), and the rest of my plants rotted the p-stems to the ground, but the corms survived, and threw up a few pups (except poor Valery...).

This year, I mulched all the corms, and spread black plastic over the ground to repel the rain (if we ever get any...). For my most cold sensitive in the patio plat, I covered them with a tarp and strung lights throughout, and it is several degrees warmer even with one open side. I even put some lights under the plastic to heat the corms. I just threw the tarp over them temporarily, but will attach it permanently to the panels, so that as I put up each panel, it has the tarp already there.



The white poles are the supports for my hops in the summer, and now for the cage for the winter. They are removable. I'll add another level of wire above, so it is a total of 12 feet tall, surrounded and covered with wire and tarp also. Kinda like a temporary greenhouse. I should have it done by this weekend, and will post pics. I will to cover one side with clear plastic so I can view my nanners even in the dead of winter.

I find that the large size Christmas lights put out much more heat than the small bulbs, but the small ones can also be used in an enclosure to boost the temp considerably.

Great post! Thanks!
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There is no excuse for still having grass. I haven't mowed in 20 years. With all that space, I could plant another 100 bananas.
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