Winter Advice Washingtonia Robusta in Netherlands - 9b

[Spray]

I have 2 Mexican Fan Palms in the Netherlands (zone 9b), I got the seeds from Barcelona and planted them last year, they're now 15 months old. Both shooting off semi-palmate leaves. I brought them in last winter that's why they're fine. It's a pretty cold June (12-16 °C, usually 24+), but the weather forecast shows it'll be 25+ °C next week, so they'll be growing quickly.

So, I wanted to know if they they'll survive winter if I keep them outside, and how fast they'll grow. It hardly snows anymore, and even if it does, temperate doesn't drop less the -1 °C, usually 2-3 °C, and snow lasts for a few hours only.

[Stefanus]

14 minutes ago, Spray said:

I have 2 Mexican Fan Palms in the Netherlands (zone 9b), I got the seeds from Barcelona and planted them last year, they're now 15 months old. Both shooting off semi-palmate leaves. I brought them in last winter that's why they're fine. It's a pretty cold June (12-16 °C, usually 24+), but the weather forecast shows it'll be 25+ °C next week, so they'll be growing quickly.

So, I wanted to know if they they'll survive winter if I keep them outside, and how fast they'll grow. It hardly snows anymore, and even if it does, temperate doesn't drop less the -1 °C, usually 2-3 °C, and snow lasts for a few hours only.

Hi Spray,  for as far as I know is the highest USDA zone in the Netherlands 9a, maybe you mean that your in zone 8b? Washingtonia's will not survive a normal winter here outside without protection, especially when they are that small. If you protect them from -3C and lower with cover an additional heating cables they probaly will be fine. I would keep them inside for the first few winters to be sure.

[Spray]

38 minutes ago, Stefanus said:

Hi Spray,  for as far as I know is the highest USDA zone in the Netherlands 9a, maybe you mean that your in zone 8b? Washingtonia's will not survive a normal winter here outside without protection, especially when they are that small. If you protect them from -3C and lower with cover an additional heating cables they probaly will be fine. I would keep them inside for the first few winters to be sure.

Yeah, that is what i mean 8b, oops. If it doesnt go below -3 and does not snow, will they survive, this year ill def bring them in cuz they;re small enough, but like later on I'm planning to plant them in the ground.

[SeanK]

I would wait until they're 2-ft tall (60 cm) with 4 characteristic leaves prior to planting out.

[Spray]

14 hours ago, SeanK said:

I would wait until they're 2-ft tall (60 cm) with 4 characteristic leaves prior to planting out.

And then I'll be able to be sure that in winter they won't die?

 

[SeanK]

I cannot say, because there is more to climate than an expected minimum temperature. 

[ahosey01]

20 hours ago, Spray said:

And then I'll be able to be sure that in winter they won't die?

 

This is a good bet but not 100% as Sean said.  These can be kind of leaf tender - but still hard to kill. 

[Spray]

18 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

This is a good bet but not 100% as Sean said.  These can be kind of leaf tender - but still hard to kill. 

Thz, do you have some aswl?

 

[ahosey01]

4 hours ago, Spray said:

Thz, do you have some aswl?

 

I don't personally at my current place, but I used to at my old one in the desert in Arizona.  Down here they're everywhere but this is a zone 10a so there are no problems with their cold tolerence.  Arizona is a different kind of cold than you get in the Netherlands but they regularly saw 24F-26F every year and were really none worse the wear.  Much lower than that and they'd start getting burned leaf tips - and what I had was probably some kind of hybrid anyways.