Brr.. cold protection strategies Part 2:
Planning your garden for cold and heat extremes



Future planning

This strategy won't be beneficial to your current trees in the ground, but if you have to re-plant consider species hardy to both our extreme cold and heat events. There are many edible species that fit this bill! Below you'll find more helpful ideas for how to choose edible species that will not only survive our temperature extremes but also thrive!


add some things here from this about nutrtiion etc ENH1/MG025: Cold Protection of Landscape Plants (ufl.edu) and watering pre freeze didnt post early enough

chill hours


bud break time/dormancy

" Trees out of dormancy detest frost. An out of dormant mulberry can be more cold sensitive than a tropical fruit.

I even had a tree approaching 10 feet tall outright killed by a freeze when it was out of dormancy" josh on mulberrys Have pics of such things? shout out to people like josh and craig for putting in the work to research and share.

Note here about peach varities like earlier ones (what's that called ) do not always denote cold intolerance.

From this article: Pecans and Chilling | UGA Pecan Extension

One thing to keep in mind about the early arrival of cold temperatures last November is that normally leaves will move nutrients and carbohydrates back in to the tree as the leaves senesce in the fall. We had a hard freeze in mid-November when many orchards still had green, healthy foliage. Within just a couple of days after the freeze, the leaves were on the ground without having an opportunity to finish their job. As a result, trees could potentially be heading into the spring with insufficient carbs and nutrients. The first flush of foliage each spring is fueled by nitrogen stored within the tree and the tree does not begin taking up N until a couple of weeks after bud-break, which is why we normally recommend fertilization at that time. But this year, because the trees may not have the nutrient or carbohydrate supply they normally have, growers may need to consider applying N a little sooner, either just before or at bud-break.

also : What early-budding trees tell us about genetics, climate change – The Lode (mtulode.com)


cold tolerance of species


heat and humidity tolerance

It's much easier, in our Central Florida biome, to keep a perennial plant of humid tropical origins alive than it is one of temperate origins. There are many blog posts and websites claiming the best perennial vegetables or fruit trees, but be cautious if their advice isn't specific to your region. Look for evidence that they have grown said plant successfully for at least two years in their region. Big boxed stores would like to sell us on the idea that a happy and healthy perennial plant in Virginia or Maryland will be just as happy and healthy (and low maintenance for you,) here in Florida. This is not the case.



Species list


Perennial vegetables and trees here make the list of another post.