@gingerfootgarden: Nobody warned me how difficult this part of growing citrus trees would be! When I started collecting citrus trees, I was thinking about the beautiful plants and the fruits I could eventually harvest. What I didn’t think enough about was where I would keep them all during winter. Now I have to make some difficult decisions about which trees get to come inside and which ones will have to stay outdoors with extra protection. I’m planning to experiment with a small greenhouse on my deck, using compost-generated heat and supplemental warmth to help protect some of my trees. I’m hoping it works, but I know there’s no guarantee. Please take note that compost heat and traditional incandescent C9 lights may provide some warmth, but they aren’t reliable frost protection on their own. A small greenhouse can still drop below freezing. I plan to monitor temperatures with a thermometer and maybe have a thermostatically controlled, outdoor-rated heating option or backup plan for severe cold. Let me know if you have any recommendations on this and please send them my way. Here’s my advice if you’re thinking about growing citrus trees in a small space: Don’t just plan for where they’ll grow in summer. Plan for where they’ll spend winter, too. Those cute little citrus trees won’t stay little forever! Do you grow citrus trees in a cold climate? How do you protect yours during winter? I’d love to hear what works for you! #citrustrees #containergardening #smallspacegardening #gardeningtips #gingerfootgarden
