Washingtonia robusta survives UK 2009 Blizzards. Life History 16 years from seed

[Speedywelsh68]

Well done Dave, I can only hope mine will fair the same in sunny Cardiff

[ross1962]

These grow like weeds from bird droppings where I live, here in San Diego, Ca. We have to pull them up before they get established if they're growing where we don't want them.

[braf55]

I need to see a video like this to be encouraged, thanks. I will try in zone 7b

[airplanefreakful]

how cold is it there in the winter in celcius???

[InsanePalmNinja]

@airplanefreakful 14 degrees for us. 

[InsanePalmNinja]

@airplanefreakful in Enland There Ranges for Winter is about Zone 8 to 9 I belive. I know for my self My California Fan Palm will not see the Real Cold until it gets older.

[TrancetasticWilza]

@airplanefreakful similar temperature to you as you are in Holland!

[SossarHatarSverige]

Hi Dave, did it survive winter 10 and 11?

[ArizonaSean]

I live in Arizona and our palm tree grew big pretty fast compared to the one in the video. We ended up having to cut it down because it was planted right next to the wall that borders our neighbors. It grew so big that it destroyed part of the wall.

[DaveRP100]

That's a seriously uplifting bit of vid Dave, well done.

[pieredebjiste]

would this work in belgium (10 km from the coast)?

[InsanePalmNinja]

What Zone to you live in in England if Zone 7 then am sold on it. Even iat 8 I'll be sold on it. Since am a insane Palm Grower and all. 

[vcp1985]

I have like more than a hundred of those seeds...this same palm tree...when i plant the seed, do i do it with the "black shell" or do i take the lighter brownish seed on the inside and plant that ?

could you please elaborate on this part please...thanks!!

[HTUKDave]

At last I can say my Washingtonia robusta is as robust-as they come. It survived December 2010 with blizzards, 13 inches of snow and and a freeze with temps as low as -10C. It is now starting to grow strongly in the April sunshine ;-). Lots of pics and video clips to put together for an update

[1994jako]

@HTUKDave hello did you cover up the Washingtonia robusta or did you leave it completley exposed ?

[bobzzz23]

I have two robusta's they look they way they did around 2:39 and I covered them... will they live?

[adammaciaparris]

Did it survived this winter 2011?

[HTUKDave]

Thanks for all the comments ;o) Not managed tro get on here recently. The lowest temps I got were -5.6C in both 2008/9 and 2009/10 winters, but 2009/10 was colder and I suffered higher losses. The Washingtonia survived it better as I rigged up a parasol to keep radiation frost off. There is a topic on this in the Hardy Tropicals Forum . I am in the process of doing a follow up vid on the snowiest winter for many years.

Dave ;o)

[bobzzz23]

@HTUKDave ihave a four fotter and i had my first snow to daay and her leaves are in bad shape! any sugestions?

[v10supertruck]

How cold did it get? I planted 28 of them this spring. They look to be about 6 years old by your timeline. I'm mulching heavily, planted them 6 inches higher than the surrounding landscape, letting nature water them after 3 months of watering in and now hoping for a mild winter here in Atlanta, GA. Bud, even if I have to stand there with a hair dryer all night, I'm determined to keep these gorgeous things from dying. Your video gave me hope.

[joelml68]

Excelente historia.

Saludos Afectuosos desde Ecatepec, México.

Pero que clima tan riguroso tienen por alla.

[sabighel88]

Stupendo!!! :D Grandissimo!

gardapalme.forumcommunity

[0305Papillon]

wow nice...

greets from Germany

[waltvold]

Very nice palm :) i have grown a washingtonia from seed here in Norway in may 2010, it's like 20-25cm high:)

[InsanePalmNinja]

@waltvold How long did it take to grow from a seed?

[farookbulsasra]

biggest problem with this palm is rot and mould growth from overwintering. would it be a good idea to spray the crown with fungicide before erecting winter protection?

[farookbulsasra]

Dave...this is just awesome.i live in the west midlands,and have been trying to raise washingtonia in my garden for last three years. no luck as yet,though one did get through its first winter with some leaf burn. Just ordererd some more seeds,then i will try and keep them indoors through winters until too big,before i plant out permanently.im not giving up! if you ever visist weymouth,go and see the washingtonia at greenhill gardens on the seafront. no winter cover,no winter damage.

[cillam1973]

Hi i bought one 3 years ago and it hasnt changed much in size. what did you do for it to grow taller within the first 5 years.

please someone help.

[farookbulsasra]

@cillam1973 hasn't grown? what factors are involved? are you sure its a washingtonia? is it potted? where do you live?

[alandon]

My goodness!! What a soldier of a palm! Especially through that blizzard! I'm shocked it lived through that!! 8-0 LOL! I'm so happy for your Washington Palm!

[adammaciaparris]

I forgot to ask what is the song called in this video? I love it!

Adam from Catalunya.

[adammaciaparris]

Amazing story about a seed from Tenerife. Did it survive the 2009/2010 very cold winter?

Adam from Catalunya.

[funky998]

i just bought some from ebaybut washi filfera

[sirpecangum]

That is impressive and encouraging - I've just sown some Washingtonia robusta seeds.

[psychometalman]

so much love :)

[HTUKDave]

lot more snow this year, although no blizzards... yet. Just about to have another continental blast. I'm just hoping it holds outs. I have a Parasol to keep snow out, and rope lights to help stop the growing point freezing. Roll on Summer SOON

[promopal]

i didnt think these would survive in such a cold climate.....

[meknesout]

Nice blizzard , hope our Trachy will go on like yours did because this winter is quite untropical , to say the least.

Cheers , Ali Baba in SW Sweden.

[Kwaj]

I love the Washingtonia palms. Went to Arizona and saw HUGE natural clusters of them around Lake Havasu.

[HTUKDave]

Gubban, you have hit the nail on the head.... you cannot beat the satisfaction of collecting your own seed, germinating it, then growing it to be such a huge palm, particularly is such a marginal climate

[gubban159]

This is a fantastic vid Dave, music and all.

What joy in growing it yourself from seed, a very special souvenir indeed. The blizzard scenes were MAD ! We'll be sending you a few more gales, sorry to say. Hopefully they won't be too cold.

Thanks for feeding my BIG LEAF LUST !

[HTUKDave]

Orchard.... They are not so hardy when small and don't like being wrappedj ust try to keep the frost off it with a shelter but air throw the sides. - :Wink:

bj, just been looking at your jungle in the rain.

Funny the most commented bit is the blizzard. It was a bit worrying at the time as I was sure it was going to be a gonna

[orchard1a]

Fantastic job Dave.

I hope the bargain Washy from B&Q that I planted this spring will survive the winter. Fingers crossed!

[bj616]

That is awesome!!! I love the Blizzard clip, perfect!! Now that will be one Washy to collect seeds from for hardy offspring. I know of only one long term Washy in in our area that grows up against a home in Victoria for more than 10 years now. Cheers