Ceres has mentioned a frost already in the London area and it led me to look at the figures for my plot recently including min temp and days of frost, most of which had a temperature of 2 or 3 degrees. There have only been 5 days in two years when the temperature dipped to 0 or below.
Winter 2006-7. 1st frost 1st Nov. Last 21st March 19 days Min temp -1.0
Winter 2007-8. 1st frost 14th Nov. Last 5th April 30 days.Min temp -1.1
It appears that cold weather has deserted Liverpool.
I have olives on an olive tree, plenty of ripe black grapes. an orange tree that has been outside for 7 years and a banana that has been outside for 3 years. None of them have had protection.
The last snow that settled and stayed for more than 24hours was in 1982.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage
What should I try now? Has any one grown more exotic plants?
Frost: here in the sunny south east a sudden air frost knocked back ALL the climbing beans and squashes on our site, and my sweet potatoes. It's been warm ever since (a week) but the site looks like a disaster zone covered in dead plants.
Exotic: I have a flourishing stand of lemon grass which survived the frost. Soon I'll have to dig it up and bring it indoors for the winter.
I didn't get down to my plot over the weekend, but when I finally made it yesterday, I found that the squashes had been hit by frost, which wasn't severe enough to have much effect on anything else. It's certainly early, and this is central Birmingham, which is always distinctly warmer than the surrounding areas.
I live in the bottom of a frost pocket - looking at the car temps in the winter at the top of the hill it is 2 C warmer than when you arrive at my house and then lottie at the bottom of the hill. As Rigby used to say "nothing between here and the Urals"! :)
QuoteWhat should I try now? Has any one grown more exotic plants?
Did I give you any cuttings of Banana Passionfruit to try? Oh, and you could put Goji berries in with the blueberries as they prefer acid soil.
Quote from: allaboutliverpool on October 09, 2008, 09:20:09
What should I try now? Has any one grown more exotic plants?
Temperature here has been fine but I'm seriously thinking of growing rice next year :)