Spring is here??
 

Just wondering how everyone fared this winter! I am in zone 9a and the coldest my area got this winter was about 30 degrees (usually avg. low is 24-27). My bananans are already starting to grow (with zero cold damage!)with temps in the mid to upper 60s for the next week. Lows are in the low to mid 40s. I know the SE USA got hit hard, but think the S.W. USA had a pretty mild winter :D

So how was/is the winter in your area? Warmer or colder than usual?

*edit: yes, I understand not all areas of the US are done with winter!! Wasn't trying to offend anyone.. geez!
:woohoonaner:

Re: Spring is here??
 

Lucky You! No end in sight here and we are pretty much at our last freeze date. Much more cold than normal. Lowest so far was 19, but many more cold days and nights than we usually get. No 70s at all--we usually have a few days of 70s every few weeks in winter. We are in zone 9.

Re: Spring is here??
 

LMFAO...I love how you speak of winter in past tense. It's FAR from over here. I thought we were maybe heading toward spring a couple weeks ago when it was in the high 40's/low 50 for a few days...then it got down to 25ish the entire next week and recently it has snowed 4-6 inches in the past 3 days or so. It's 26 F here right now and a low of 9 F tonight...so yeah, spring is a ways off here. Overall, winter here has been weak sauce...but that's just cause I'm comparing it to the Iowa winters I'm used to. If you watch the news, a LOT of areas have recently gotten hit with several large blizzards and heavy snowfalls.

No offense (and don't take this as an insult in any way) but you are being kinda egocentric assuming everyone else's locations are done with winter already. It's kinda like taking a jet across the country, then, upon reaching your destination, asking your friends traveling by car how their trip was. Please remember how many locations this forum encompasses.

Re: Spring is here??
 

Well your quite fortunate. I'm suppose to have 4" of snow over the next 24-48 hours.. I'm wondering where the semi-spring temps went? No 60's in the 10-day forcast sucks :^)

Re: Spring is here??
 

I think it came across a bit egocentric as well... Known fact that everyone besides the southwest got (and still) hit with heavy snow and bitter cold.

But you're probably just excited, I know I am. Some of my bananas already have two leafs out. :)

You know though I had nearly two months of below 60 degree temps (winter) it was virtually frost free. But I would take last years winter anytime. We had lots of 70s/80 in January.

Let's see some pics of your new growth!

Re: Spring is here??
 

You're just kidding, Velutina, right? :ha:

Re: Spring is here??
 

I forget people are growing bananas in cold climates. But I guess that's why you have your own special section :D Sorry to sound egocentric, but we all know people that live in warmer climates are better. :p

I guess i'm just used to the palm message boards where the majority of the members live in a warmer climate than I do.

Re: Spring is here??
 

No where near springtime for Kentucky! :ha: We've certainly had abit more of cold than usual this winter. I have friends down near Pensacola that said snow is expected soon! Not a good winter!

Re: Spring is here??
 

I'm still dreaming of a day warm enough to let my plants out for a sun bathe.

:waving:
I'm looking at a last frost of 4/7 this year I won't plant out till closer till May and a first frost come 10/28 which means plants out begging mid October.

Re: Spring is here??
 

Just to give you some insight on the number of members living in cooler climates than you, click here to view the map of the members. I would say easily half or more of the members are in colder climates than 9a...and there are quite a few zone 5, 4, 3, etc. So try to remember your audience...that's all.

Edit...actually, after comparing the member map to the USDA climate map, it's probably well over 3/4 of members are in cooler climates than 9a. You all are a minority, so watch what you say! :ha:

Re: Spring is here??
 

Wow, and I think it's a pain to protect my plants HERE during the winter! I cannot imagine doing it in zone 6. Thanks for the link, very impressive :D

But using your own analogy, I was really only talking to the people that traveled on the plane with me. Why would I wait for my SLOW friend driving his car to ask the other people on the plane how their trip was? I'll ask YOU how your trip was in a few months when you arrive :p

Re: Spring is here??
 

I fared very well this winter with a low of about 35, no damage to bananas but lost some papayas. did lots of planting and ground prep this week and looking forward to a great season. my cannas are growing but nothing on the bananas yet.


sorry org, yes spring is here

Re: Spring is here??
 

As far as zone 6/5 goes (at least from my perspective) I don't even TRY to overwinter a darn thing outside...they all get brought inside. I doubt even basjoo with protection would survive the -30F it gets back home each winter.

Re: Spring is here??
 

I wish spring was here. Today the only way I'm driving is w/ a 4x4 (maybe 4-wheeler)cause they have no plows here, and nobody can drive in snow & ice like us Yankees! I know I will see plenty of nascar crashes on the news later today... People drive like maniacs down here when there is no snow or ice.
Spring what a wonderful thing on the horizon :^)

Re: Spring is here??
 

I have something like 3 feet of snow on the ground. More in the forecast next week. I was so excited to be moving to Philadelphia because the winters are milder than Illinois and I end up getting a record snow year, 70+ inches so far. The area averages something like 16". Spring is no where to be heard of. But I will be starting seeds for the garden soon!

Re: Spring is here??
 

it looks like spring outside my window, the one towards the glass greenhouse anyway,
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check out the other window, though!
[IMG][/IMG]

freezing fog today! goody!!!

Re: Spring is here??
 

Spring is definitely here for me. Just this week my mango beautifully started to put out new growth,but I'm still waiting for it to flower though. My bananas have been growing slowly since the rain a week back, and everything's looking great.:ukkibannana:The winter was somewhat cold, it got down to 27 F, and caused minor damage to my bananas, but not a trace to the mango tree

Re: Spring is here??
 

It's interesting that so many people are convinced spring is here. According to a news report I read yesterday, 49 of 50 states currently have snow on the ground. Hawaii is the only state without snow on the ground (go figure LOL).

As far as it goes for my area...it's 21 F here right now and this is what it looks like outside my window (was snowing during this picture, actually):

So yeah...definitely not spring here (and that goes for most of the US as well). As far as those of you experiencing warmer weather...appreciate it.

Re: Spring is here??
 

Well, there are weather stations in Hawaii reporting current (8pm on 2/14) temperatures below freezing (~31F) and I'd bet they drop even more by morning. So If they just got some precipitation way up on Mauna Kea, they would have snow as well!

And I am 100% convinced spring is here in many parts of the country!! It was 70F at my house today :) :woohoonaner:


Here's the current temps on Mauna Kea... Mauna Kea Weather Center - Current Conditions

Re: Spring is here??
 

on the snow subject, Snow actually fell at my house at 2AM when we had that arctic blast in early December. It didn't stick, but it was coming down! :)