Post #507810 by Haole'akamai on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 8:55 AM

Yeah, don't count them all out yet!

Many hardy sub-tropicals mimic deciduous plants in colder (though not freezing) climates, dying back (to the ground) and then re-emerging when the days become longer, sunnier, and warmer. We lose out Mint, Taro (Elephant Ear), Banana, Ginger and Heliconia pretty much every winter, but since it's well established, it all returns every Spring.

As far as citrus goes, they actually can stand quite a bit of cooler weather with little harm, if you take a few precautions. The thing that is a killer for citrus is icy wind and having dew freeze on their leaves. We prune the citrus here at "Lund Manor Estate Farms" to a smaller, bush-like shape and then are able to protect them by building a "cold frame" with bamboo poles (harvested from our Vivax) and plastic sheeting. Eventhough NorCal has gotten down to freezing several nights this winter, we've been able to keep the wind and freezing dew off the key limes and they've kept their blooms. :)