Your gardens are amazing! I'm in awe of what you've grown. I'd love to be your neighbor. The bees must love coming into this Tropical Paradise. I even heard birds that I haven't heard before, and we live in the same area as you. You're an extremely talented gardener and have obviously dedicated many years of your life to becoming the expert you are today. You've taken your hobby to a whole new level. 🌴 🌴 🌴
Thank you very much Kathleen Simons! A life time of trial and error, successes and failures add to our experiences of what is doable with enough effort. The greater the plant varieties you grow the more species of wildlife it attracts.
Oh my God it is to die for I just love you I will just love to replicate what you have it’s beautiful but I could see you put a lot of work in. I hope you’re not alone to do all that. Have a beautiful day.😊
ITS A GREAT.FANTASTIC.BEAUTIFUL AMAZING GARDEN U HAVE BEEN MAGNIFICIENT AND I AM SO VERY LUCKY TO WATCH UR PLANTS VIDEOS HOW I LOVE THAT I CAN BUY MANY;PLANTS LIKE YOU SIR GOOD LUCK TO YOUR CHANNEL I LVE TO WATCH IT ALWAYS THNK U SIR
I thoroughly enjoyed your videos, Part 1 & 2. INCREDIBLE :). I live in Central FL, zone 9b, and grow a number of the ornamental plants you have. Curious about what your garden looks like in the Winter. We had 3 mornings of below freezing this December and a number of my Anthuriums were really hurt .. even though they were covered with Plant Blankets. Going to be verrrrry this weekend, just finished bringing plants indoor and covering some.
Thank you very much! Most of my exotic plants get winter protection including a cold frame covering and heated by wrapping them with C9 Christmas lights plugged into a thermostat. The tenderest plants like plumeria are brought into my greenhouse. Happy gardening.
I live in Michigan and love growing tropical. I need to learn how to winter them over and what you do. Currently I pot them up and move them into a heated area
Sounds great! That is the easiest, just lift them and bring under cover. For a detailed look at my methods to leave them outside year round, it is a long term commitment in time and money. I have two videos ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dn7XjYUioXk.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-650yBmEGSG4.html Happy gardening.
What should I say after watching front and backyard videos? It is amazing! You do an outstanding job not only keeping these plants alive. They look gorgeous, pristine. I am a gardener in the Atlanta area. I know how much work goes into the plant care! Super!!!!!!
Wow, thank you Coastal Sunrise! It can be a full time job with the number of plants I try to grow to a certain standard. At my age I have reached my limit after thirty odd years and will need to start scaling back at some point. Happy gardening.
Thank you very much Fred. It was great to see and speak to you and your wife about your amazing plants and your methods. I have a two part video detailing my thought process and building the cold frame structures on winterization for my zone 5B garden. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dn7XjYUioXk.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-650yBmEGSG4.html Cheers.
Thank you very much! I have two detailed videos on winter protection. part 1 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dn7XjYUioXk.html and part 2 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-650yBmEGSG4.html Enjoy.
Really fascinating indeed. I have been watching your material first time about one year ago and now got back to the issue at the front of new winter period knocking on the door. I'm living in Finland, above the 60 grade of latitude and winter has already started. I'm living in Capital Area and we already have -12 at nights (Celsius). Still we have at least four months to go like this until we can even consider to do anything in the garden. Probably have to wait at least five months until there is no chance to unwrap any winter protection around the most sensitive plants outdoors or bring any overwintering ones from shelters to outdoors for their acclimatization. Only reasonable location on Earth to compare is other Norhern countries in Europe and of course most of the Canada. Good and convenient hints, advices and experience based knowledge is yet still hard to find. Even most of the neighbouring northern countries are not that comparable and what comes to the Danmark, it's not even close, even if it's stated as an one of the northern countries. Baltic countries right down next countries in the south are having much milder winter already. That much difference is Baltic Sea making to our climate. Most of the time cold air is blocked here in Finland and warmer weather another side of the Baltic Sea. Our winters are not super cold but also lasting forever in that state. Yet I'm still really interested in extreme zone pushing and trying to overwinter many species that supposed not to survive around here and definitely are not recommended to plant anywhere in our gardens. I'm really enthusiastically trying to find more information about really hard zone pushing but, unfortunately, there is not that much published in Internet about the subject. Most of them are dealing with pushing zones of USDA 8 or 9 and I must say... there is not that much help for me since those writers and content producers are not even know what is really harsh winter all about. I'm particularly interested in creating microclimates better than my expected hardiness zone up here but also trying to explore many different types and methods to enhance protection of the plants in the garden without using electricity. With some cases, protection by extra heat is necessary with some of my plants and I'm using small greenhouse and a garage with frost protection heaters with thermostate for them. However, most of my garden plants are just on the edge of their survival capasity and just a little bit more southern locations than Finland. Those plants I'm just trying to overwinter on the ground, offering some extra protection with mulching, wrapping them with frost clothes and tarps and with the insulating snow when we get it (sometimes really hard frost is hitting first before the snow cover). Your method using C9 Christmas lights sounds fascinating and reasonably economical option for some individual targets. However, we do not have that luxury anymore since we cannot get those here in EU due to regulations based by "fight against climate change" policy. All of our christmas lights are now based on the LED technology and since they are basically not generating any heat at all there is no point to use them for that purpose. You were mentioning the ground heating cables (that you are not using them) and I would like to know your opinion about them. I have been thinking that I would install such a thing for small area of raised bed inside of the sand bed beneath the planted sensitive plants and cold frame the whole thing. Another option is to establish an area for overwintering purpose working like this and remove most of my potted sentsitive plants there under the cold frame. Would that work in a same manner or even close, what you think? My appologize for the long post.
Akimitus suzukii thank you for watching. Heating cables in the ground will benefit more tender and low growing plants or potted plants. Palm trees and taller exotics need gentle heat higher up to protect the trunk and growing points. Some European growers use small electric heater with a digital thermostat which may be helpful if your shelter is large enough. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-B7pThb7_W1Q.html from Palmy a Zahrady in Czech Republic. I hope this helps.
Looks great as usual. I think some Sabal minor and needle palms would grow very well for you and be easy to protect. Have you considered growing some of the more tender Trachycarpus like latisectus or martianus?
Thank you very much Tropical PDX. I have tried needle palms in the past. They had even flowered, but their growth rate is so slow I was not impressed. I have an upcoming video that might blow your mind, talking about tender palms.
@@GreenDragan I'm surprised they performed so poorly for you, I figured the humidity and warm nights would speed them up. I grow them here in Oregon with cool nights and dry summer air and they seem to be a moderate grower for me.
Superb tour Draga. I love the combination of the aerial shots with the individual plant footage. Looking at your set up I'm interested to hear whether the robellini is boxed or bought inside over winter. Do you manage to fit all the tender palms inside your house (areca, triangle etc)? Love the Bismarckia. Together with the brahea armata they're my favourite palms. I didn't notice any brahea on the tour. Have you got any/tried any in the past? Beautiful collection. Lovely seating area also. First class 👏. Cheers man
Thank you very much Vincenze. The Phoenix roebelenii is in the ground for its second summer. I do not have any Brahea palms. The Areca, Triangle and other more tender tropicals are over wintered in my greenhouse. Thanks again.
Just watched both parts and all I can say is... how? I'm in Ottawa, Canada zone 5b and I want to put in a Mediterranean garden at my new home. Fresh slate, but not much room. Collection has begun, just not sure how to protect outside or overwinter inside things like med. fan palm, trachycarpus fortunae, olive, cordyline australis and rosemary to name a few. This channel is an inspiration to me. Thank you, and beautiful plants and garden.
Hi Mark. Figs are the easiest to over winter. At one time I had 24 varieties. Tie the branches together, bend as low to the ground as possible and cover the tree with a very large tarp. Done.
Mark, it is a lot of work and a long term commitment. A large investment of time and money. If you are sure, please watch my two part videos on winter protect part 1 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dn7XjYUioXk.html and part 2 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-650yBmEGSG4.html This has worked for me for many years, as you can see. Good luck and happy gardening.
@@GreenDragan hi Dragan that seems too easy! What about if the plant is woody and hard to bend? Do they suffer die-back which needs to be cut back before/after frost in spring? I can't picture it. I know though take requests, as its coming on time to do this stuff, could you do a video showering how it's done and list some varieties that do okay in our climate? I watched both videos and they are really great, such good information. I will definitely put some/ most in pots, but I'd like to try your methods. We'll see if I can make a plan and commit to it. Thanks again!
@@markboschman1188 It is that easy! Prune your tree(s) to desired shape and size. Figs can put on 6-8 Ft of new growth in one season if allowed, making it very flexible. Pinch new growth every five new leaves to encourage branching, more new branches equals more fruit. Over the years prune back new branches leaving only 3-6 inches so the tree looks basically the same shape when done. Varieties I recommend, include, Brown Turkey, Hardy Chicago, Black Jack, Kadota, Desert King, Celeste among others. Plant in full sun, sheltered spot for maximum fruiting grown against a hot brick wall may also help in cooler zones.
Thank you Alex. Yes the papayas are brought indoors for the cold months. The longer they stay outdoors the better they grow. Some are growing in ground from seed and are taller in 3 months than potted plants grown indoors for 16 months. I will update as the start flowering and setting fruit.
@@alexlalonde4190 In my experience seed sown in spring indoors will flower the following year mid summer and ripe fruit by the following spring. So two full years.
@@alexlalonde4190 keep in mind papayas are either male or female and only females will have fruit, so plant 3 or 4 seedlings in a 12 or 14inch pot or grow singles in multiple pots to ensure a good mix. They do not like to have roots disturbed when older. Good luck.
always enjoy watching your videos. I know how much dedication it would take to achieve this!!! any suggestions on where to get a Clerodendrum Ugandense and voodoo lily?
Thank you Errol Lucyk! On a large scale it does take a lot of time, money and perseverance. Local nurseries do carry voodoo lily with their summer bulbs. Clerodendrum Ugandense is sometimes offered from Colour Paradise near Kitchener On. as a 4 inch plant. I could send you some seed from my plant next season. This years crop is all gone. Cheers.
Thank you Jerry. For cool growing palms and plants, 35-45 F or 2-7 C, I use TC-3 Cold Weather Thermo Cube on Amazon for warmer growing plants there are many programable thermostatic outlets depending on you budget and location.
No problem. At 1:27 of the video it shows the plants during winter all covered. In my front garden I have built a 14 Ft. cold frame to cover the tallest Pindo palm. It is a challenge but doable. Cheers.
Very impressive collection. You must really hate to see the end of summer! Given your large collection of potted plants (in addition to those planted directly in the ground), I would be interested to hear details of how you deal with them at the end of the season before bringing them inside. For example, do you use a soil drench with an insecticide, spray down the branches and leaves with an insecticide/fungicide, prune back the new growth from the season, etc? Thanks!
Thank you Zane Walker. The process is straight forward. As temps go down the most tender plants including Plumerias go in first. The only treatment is a spray down with a garden hose, top and bottom of leaves and of course the pot all around. Some plants are heavily pruned back including bananas, brugmansias and any plants that put on a lot of growth during summer. Most cannas are dug up and stored dry in the fruit cellar. Lastly the inground palms and subtropicals are wrapped and cold frames put up.
Good looking garden! I'm in zone 8b in Tigard , a suburb of Portland Oregon. I purchased a giant Bird of Paradise plant and a red banana plant from home depot and would like to get some advice on what I need to do so I can grow then outside...any tips?
Thank you Jackson Rodrigues. Most of my overwintering shelters include the C9 Christmas light method for heat. Please watch my detailed two part videos on winter protection to see what has worked for me in zone 5B. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dn7XjYUioXk.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-650yBmEGSG4.html , best of luck and happy gardening.
Depends on the location in Sweden. Most of the populated Sweden holding much better zone than Dragan has. If I would live in somewhere around Malmö, Lund or Visby for instance, that would already be such a blessing comparing the possibilities we have here in Espoo, Finland. So many of my delicate species that barely have slight chance to survive here if lucky and even with a heavy winter protection would thrive just fine in South Sweden already. I would like to see more production of content in Internet and especially in RU-vid about this challenging topic from experimenting people all around Sweden, Finland, Norway, Baltic countries, Russia etc... where we really have hard and long lasting winters. Experiments of pushing zones in UK, Netherlands or Belgium, France or Italy is not just helping that much even though it will be interesting to follow on their own sake, undoubtedly. Canadian hardiness zone of 5b is actually even harder than Capital Area of Finland but it's not that straightforward. Althought I know that Canadian hardiness Zone system is based on 7 different parameters (while USDA only based on minimum temperatures) the biology of the plants are not that simple, since also the duration of the frost spells and also the whole winter matter. In that sense, Canadian system is much clever and accurate than USA. How long the winter weather actually lasts and what kinds of repetition of extremes it holds overall? It's making significant difference if, for instance, -15 celsius is lasting like three weeks in a row and after couple of week of zero temperature, the next three week period freezing winter is about to start again and again for next several months. Most of the temperate sensitive plants can stand the extreme cold and freezing just shortly but not in prolonged manner. In USA, where cold arctic air is pushing freezing cold air deep down to midwest or sometimes even to Mexico gulf or as down as North Florida, it will most likely last just a few days and then it will soon retreat back to north. Of course it's not that nice for the plants in their typical gardens either. In Finland, some sensitive plants are just starving themselves to death both overwintering outdoors, indoors or anyhow between just simply for the length of the winter they are not customed or used to in their natural habitat. Some are eventually dying just before the spring starts due to continuous and numerous occurrence of freeze and thawn phenomenon. Most of my plants I have lost within these years (not to mention those I forgot or was too lazy to protect over winter), have been lost just on that period when winter and spring are fighting with each other and when waking up plants from dormancy and keep them alive in drasticly changing weather is about to carried out. One of the unfortunate characteristic features in Northern Europe comparing to East Asia and Northermost USA and Canada I have noticed, is that we have a deep cloudy weather most of the winter while the latter parts of hemisphere are enjoying mostly sunny days. Althought it could be equally cold out there, the sun is making possible to get much more out from the greenhouses and cold frames during the winter season. That is something I'm envy about the countries with lots of sunshine during the winter months.