It was definitely a colder winter here is SW Louisiana. I don't have the actual numbers, but it was the coldest winter in many years. The spring was also colder and we had a late freeze. Lots of palm trees were killed, also citrus trees.

This post was edited by wisner on Fri, Jun 20, 14 at 23:07

Thanks Wisner, I am surprised you even get freezes there. I've never been to your area, I've been to Florida, I hear they went down to 19 F before. But that is rare. Maybe you get 20 's as a low, rarely.

It stayed in the 20's all day here for 2 days with freezing rain.Never got above freezing, even in the middle of the day. I've never seen that happen since I moved to So. LA, nor in South GA.
I lost 2 small satsumas & there was lots of damage to citrus in our area.
Very nasty winter.
:(

I wouldn't call it harsh, but it was definitely colder than the past few years. We had freezing rain at least once and I moved the tomatoes from the cold frame to the warmth of the garden shed that day. We also had a late freeze and I had to cover all the tomato plants, but everything survived.

My satsuma and Meyer lemon are still small enough to cover, which I did on a few occasions. They also survived.

I live on the MS Coast, about 6 miles off, as the crow flies. We have a skim of ice every year. The '13/'14 winter was the worst I have seen and I am 70 yo. Lost a few plants; however, most came back strong. Citrus took a beating but survived. Will not get much this year but they need a rest anyway.

We also had a colder winter last year than we have had in years. After just being classified as a zone 8 instead of 7, it seemed like it never would warm up! I was two or three weeks later planting my garden than normal. It felt chancy even when I did.

I just knew I would lose marginally hardy plants like Tibouchina and a purple crinum I bought on the coast. But, I did not lose a single thing. I guess all the mulch I put down in Autumn made the difference.

On the other hand, when it was all said and done, although our cold lasted longer than usual, we really only had one night that the low was below 10, and that for a short time at daybreak.

it was harsh. I lost both of my satsuma trees.

I'm hearing that this winter isn't looking much better,
but I'm hoping they are wrong!!

i counted 3 hard freezes here in New Orleans.
2 lated for several days, which was the real killer.
usually, the sun warms things up in a day or so.

it killed my papaya (several mature trees)
even though i mulched them and put tarps on the roots.
the ground got too cold for too long.

my satsuma and guava made it, but the guava lost all its leaves, and lots of the new growth..
i think it damaged the satsumas roots, ive had disease problems with it ever since.
its a 20yr old tree that never had problems.

I have had a bad winter in Pa also, but, I am surprised that you have had a harsher winter than some trees that did fine before, can now not endure. A male friend of mine wants to move to Mississippi. He was told that there are lots of high paying jobs there now. I have heard many times that Mississippi, is a poor state. This male friend of mine is not too smart. I am no genius, but, he has a home here in Pa that is paid for, he has to pay the utilities, but he seems to think he can make a lot of money in Mississippi, and then come home to Pa, and catch up on bills. Am I wrong to think he will not be able to get a job in Mississippi, and make lots of money, then go back to Pa to pay his bills?

I am not sure if anyone thought this was a joke, or have no good advice, but my friend asked me if anyone answered this thread. Is there govt housing available? Like as in housing projects? Even trailers from FEMA?

It's me again. I told my friend that Mississippi is a poor state. I just want to ask, Sorry to be a Pain in the tookus, but, my male friend is still dreaming of living in Mississippi.. I kinda think that the jobs on a shrimp boat, and short run fishing jobs are not very numerous. It is just as well, my friend may have his big dreams, but he is blind in one eye, and is narcoleptic. I am not joking. But it is real that he wants to move to Mississippi. I guess the best question that i can ask is "Are there welfare housing projects available in Mississippi?" He will likely never want to live in a project housing building, but, at least I have answered his inquiries. I think it all may just be a "dream" anyway, to him.

sure there are projects in Mississippi. just like any other state.

Thanks for the reply energy. I meant no bad judgement on Mississippi in my above posts, but, I have heard that Miss. is a poor state, my area of Pa is poor also, and all the oil rig jobs that pay well are being done by people who are Latino from other states, not our residents. If these people were previous Latinos of our area or surrounding area fine, but, they were brought here from elsewhere. Well, not to get into hostile words. I just mean is your average Mississippiam a store clerk, or restaurant worker on min wage? If so, it is the same here with most folks who don't have connections, and he may as well stay put. He would not be safe to do any machinery work, though. I understand if nobody wants to answer, but, appreciate any real insight to him making a better life in Miss. Thanks, Poaky1

I guess you are right energy, about all your statements, but thanks for your insight. poaky1