It's not all gloom and adieu to the warmer weather when packing up plants for the winter. One of the little benefits of doing so is you get the chance to inspect the plants one by one as you do so (as long as it's not a rushed affair). You get to inspect them and see how well they have performed from the past growing season and how they are doing just before they get stashed away for the winter.
Sorry birds, you're off to a warmer but sunless place for the winter!
The health of the plant can be checked before winter arrives. If they are in a good state then they can be stashed away immediately. If not then perhaps a few things needs to be done first to remedy the problem before they go to their winter homes.Or simply you get the chance to admire them!
Such was when we finally moved this palm to its home and position for the winter (in the jungle hut).
Parajubaea torallyi var. microcarpa
My it has grown really well! And it's looking great!This particular palm is Parajubaea torallyi var. microcarpa. You can read more about this coconut lookalike on this page. Although this palm grows in high altitude areas in parts of South America and has a good degree of cold and frost tolerance, it is still unsuitable for permanent planting in our garden without extra protection. It is a good candidate however for planting in the milder parts of the country like in the coastal west and Central London.
With Gaz for scale
So not quite suitable for planting out but good enough to be grown in a pot and kept in a frost free, minimally heated space for the winter. A lot easier to keep alive without costing the earth in heating bills than its lookalike, the coconut palm.The jungle hut is now full of plants, although I didn't take a photo at the end. Everything tucked up ready for winter, with plenty of natural light and insulated walls to keep the heat in.
Mark :)