Did the Greenhouse Work? / Stella Impersonates a Citrus Tree

Stella Does her Citrus Tree Impression: Canon 5D, Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 @1.4

So I stated in my last post that I thought I was getting about 6 degrees of protection from the greenhouse.  After three consecutive nights of freezing weather, it now appears that I underestimated a little.  I use an Oregon Scientific wireless thermometer with two sensors, one inside the greenhouse, and one on the fence outside. I am also a dork.  Here are the numbers:

• Night one: 32.7 degrees inside, 23.2 degrees outside, 9.5 degrees difference
• Night two: 31.3 degrees inside, 22.5 degrees outside, 8.8 degrees difference
• Night three: 34.3 degrees inside, 26.6 degrees outside, 7.7 degrees difference

So it was successful. It only dipped slightly below freezing for a short while on night two.  Night 3 had a smaller difference because I initially thought it wasn't going to freeze, so I didn't turn on the Christmas lights until later in the evening.   Overall the average protection was 8.66 degrees, which I think it is safe to round up to 9 degrees.  Not too shabby.

What's most important is that all the trees look fine, even the ones that had to make due with nothing but a crummy blanket. 

The Greenhouse

An eyesore in the night

Well, Austin's first freeze is here.  It was late this year, which was nice, but the dreaded time has arrived.  Time to build the greenhouse. This is my second year with trees in the ground, and my second year building the greenhouse.  Actually, it was just a reassembly this year.  Oh, the fun I had.

All the photos(unless otherwise specified) were taken with my brand new Rokinon(rebranded Samyang) 35mm f/1.4 on my Canon 5D.  You will be hearing more about it in the future, no doubt. The subject matter does this lens no justice, but since this is camera and garden, I figured I would let you know.

Here are some shots of the trees along the southeast side of the house.  Southeast, because that's the warmest side of the house, shielded from the North wind and first to catch the sun's rays in the morning.

There's a Kiki in a pot!

They look so scraggly from this direction.

 Here is the greenhouse, where it was left last spring after it's demolition, much to my wife's dismay.  Fortunately, with time, it mostly disappeared.  I had to use the weedwacker to get the pieces out.  The danged Bermuda grass had them deep in its clutches.

This is what happens when you don't mow the Bermuda.

 So I spent an hour putting the thing back together like a puzzle.  Some pieces were still glued together from last year.  I did not re-glue them this year.  I am just hoping friction will do the job.   I did use a little duct tape in a couple of trouble spots.  Everything  could us a little duct tape.

The skeleton of the beast

 As you can see in the pictures, the frame is made of pvc pipe, fitted together with normal pipe junctions.  The roof has a slant to it to funnel off the water when it rains.  Without the slope, water pools on the top. Last year my second greenhouse attempt was crushed by the weight of pooling water, my first attempt was toppled by the wind.  Third time was the charm.

 

Check out the slanty roof.

You'll also notice the black trashcans in the picture above.  They will be filled with water to act as heatsinks.  They will absorb heat during the day, and then release it as night, helping to keep the greenhouse warm.  When I say warm, I mean above freezing.  That's all I really need.  This is Texas.  The temperature is rarely below freezing for long. They will also add support to keep the wind at bay.

Asian Beetle

I found this lovely asian beetle admiring my fine work.

Asian Beetle Close up.

 The Frame is then covered in 6 mil polyethylene. This doesn't have much insulating power, but it's enough. 

 The Terra Cotta pots and the ugly faded cart provide added support against the wind.

I have about 2000 incandescent Christmas lights inside to generate heat.  Don't do LEDs. They don't generate much heat.  You will feel dumb.

 Everyone is all warm and cozy inside.

 Except for these Guys.

 They got their own blankets.  I couldn't extend the greenhouse any further without obstructing the gas meter.  Figured the gas company wouldn't be too happy about that.

  This guy got a blanket too.  He's a satsuma, so he should do okay like this.  Satsumas are about as cold hardy as they come while still tasting good.

  So everyone's ready for the freeze.  So far, it looks like the greenhouse is managing to stay about 6 degrees Fahrenheit warmer inside than outside at night. That means it can get down to about 26 outside before it hits the freezing mark inside.  The citrus trees can take a light freeze, so everything should be fine. 

Oh My Darlin', Oh My Darlin': 2012 Clementine Report

Clementine: Canon 5D, 85mm f/1.8 USM

     Well, December is finally here. It's the Holiday season as well as the citrus season.  I picked my first clementine mandarin today.  It's also know as the Algerian orange. These aren't your grocery store cuties, although I wouldn't complain if they were. Those are generally Nules Clementines, which are related, but not the same.  I haven't been able to find Nules Clementine in Texas.

    I guess I should preface that I live in Austin, TX, and part of this blog will be chronicling my successes and failures at trying to grow citrus here. Citrus, in general, are easy, so hopefully, there will be more successes than failures. The biggest challenge is the weather.  Austin lies at a transition zone, climate wise.  Citrus North of here is pretty much north of here is pretty much bound to fail.  As you go progressively south, things become increasingly favorable, the Rio Grande Valley being the heart of the Texas citrus industry.

   I've had my clementine tree for about 3 years, and it was probably about a year old when I got it.  It spent its first year in a pot and its first winter in the garage, along with all my other citrus.  The garage did not work out so well, so most of my citrus, including this tree were planted in the ground on the southeast side of the house, where the micro-climate should theoretically be the warmest.  So the tree is 4 years old and this is its second season in the ground.  It produced a few clementines,which were smaller and tastier than this batch, that first year in the pot.  I had none last year.  This year I had 9 fruit which were about tennis ball sized, maybe a wee bit smaller.

Meet Clementine: Canon 5D, Contax Zeiss 135mm f/2.8

     The little squiggles on the fruit are leaf miner trails.  A moth lays and egg, the larva hatches and burrows under the surface and eats til it is mature.  Usually they attack the leaves and not the fruit, but not this year apparently.  This is the first time that I have seen any evidence of them since the big freeze two years ago.  It apparently killed off the larva that were chilling in the soil waiting for spring, and they are only just now making their way back from warmer climates.  Leaf miners generally don't cause much trouble.  They just make things a little uglier.  This fruit is perfectly fine inside.

Leaf Miners: Canon T2i, 40mm f/2.8 STM

Canon T2i, 40mm f/2.8 STM

     The one below and on the right is the one I picked.

The one I picked: Canon 5D, Contax Zeiss 135mm f/2.8

 

 

    

     So naturally, I brought the one I picked inside, and we did a photo-shoot.

"That's right, smile for the camera, Darlin'!": Canon 5D, 85mm F/1.8 USM

It's what's inside that counts: Canon 5D, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm F/2

   And then I cut it in half to see what was inside;  Disappointment.  So it wasn't bad, it just wasn't anything special.  It was juicy, but not running-down-the-side-of-your-arm juicy.  It was only slightly sweet, and there was no acidic tang at all.  The best was to describe it was: bland. It was also full of seeds.  I counted 19.  I figured it wouldn't be seedless. Seedless is a product of both genetics and monoculture, neither of which I have. I did, however, hope for a little better than this.

Canon 5D, 50mm f/1.4 USM

19 Seeds: Canon 5D, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm F/2

 

     Despite my disappointment, I do remain hopeful for this tree.  This is its first crop in the ground, and citrus trees usually produce better fruit as they age, so next year might be better, and maybe the year after that.  More citrus reports to come. Is this enough citrus for you, Kai?