Electri-fig-ation

I am trying.
Ok here's pictures for each step I do. If you are going to put more than one picture in a post you have to go through the procedure for each one. Then when you've got the ones you want don't forget to actually hit the green "Post reply" tab.

IMG_20250415_072439949_HDR.jpgIMG_20250415_072456765.jpgIMG_20250415_072506324_HDR.jpgIMG_20250415_072637099_HDR.jpgIMG_20250415_072650282_HDR.jpg
 
Last edited:
It's that time again. I'm actually pretty excited. My trees got zero head start last year because I had an injured hand and couldn't do much.

View attachment 5505

This is really the moment of truth... to see if the insulation is dry. There was a little moisture at the bottom but outside of being quite humid in there, the insulation seemed to do its job

View attachment 5498View attachment 5499
Removing all the insulation and cables we have what appears to be zero damage.
View attachment 5500View attachment 5501

This is where it gets interesting though. I have to get this tree to wake up as fast as I can. It's getting pretty chonky. This old wood is going to take a lot longer to bud out than the smaller branches you saw me wrap in the past. Sort of a double edge sword. Heavy branches take a lot more cold... but bud out later.... I need to decide on a pruning method for the in ground trees where I alternate between new and old wood. Bringing new ones up through the ranks, letting them get older and having newer ones on deck to take over fruiting.

For now, I temporary GH with a heater inside. I'll hit the roots with warm water for a little while to bring the temps up below grade

View attachment 5504

Similar deal with the big etna. Really beefy trunk

View attachment 5506View attachment 5507View attachment 5508View attachment 5509

Once up I begin the game of tetris to see how many potted trees I can jam in there with them.

View attachment 5511View attachment 5512
Do you have a thermometer inside the high tunnel?
I placed a Govee inside mine, tonight temperature dropped to 30F° inside when outside air temperature was 37 F°
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1940.jpeg
    IMG_1940.jpeg
    264.4 KB · Views: 6
  • IMG_1941.png
    IMG_1941.png
    276.5 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_1943.jpeg
    IMG_1943.jpeg
    108.8 KB · Views: 9
Last edited by a moderator:
It's that time again. I'm actually pretty excited. My trees got zero head start last year because I had an injured hand and couldn't do much.

View attachment 5505

This is really the moment of truth... to see if the insulation is dry. There was a little moisture at the bottom but outside of being quite humid in there, the insulation seemed to do its job

View attachment 5498View attachment 5499
Removing all the insulation and cables we have what appears to be zero damage.
View attachment 5500View attachment 5501

This is where it gets interesting though. I have to get this tree to wake up as fast as I can. It's getting pretty chonky. This old wood is going to take a lot longer to bud out than the smaller branches you saw me wrap in the past. Sort of a double edge sword. Heavy branches take a lot more cold... but bud out later.... I need to decide on a pruning method for the in ground trees where I alternate between new and old wood. Bringing new ones up through the ranks, letting them get older and having newer ones on deck to take over fruiting.

For now, I temporary GH with a heater inside. I'll hit the roots with warm water for a little while to bring the temps up below grade

View attachment 5504

Similar deal with the big etna. Really beefy trunk

View attachment 5506View attachment 5507View attachment 5508View attachment 5509

Once up I begin the game of tetris to see how many potted trees I can jam in there with them.

View attachment 5511View attachment 5512
 
So today I decided to remove the face of the box to see how my tree has survived. I might have made the best box to winterize my tree. Everything is green and healthy with absolutely no condensation or any molds. Everything looks completely dry. I’ve done a scratch test on the bottom base and the top of the tree and shows really nice green cambium layer. I’m excited but I’m debating if I should just remove the box to let the tree do it thing in May and just let nature take care of it. I really don’t wanna build a greenhouse over it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3435.jpeg
    IMG_3435.jpeg
    442 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG_3437.jpeg
    IMG_3437.jpeg
    405.2 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_3436.jpeg
    IMG_3436.jpeg
    483.8 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_3434.jpeg
    IMG_3434.jpeg
    401.8 KB · Views: 8
So today I decided to remove the face of the box to see how my tree has survived. I might have made the best box to winterize my tree. Everything is green and healthy with absolutely no condensation or any molds. Everything looks completely dry. I’ve done a scratch test on the bottom base and the top of the tree and shows really nice green cambium layer. I’m excited but I’m debating if I should just remove the box to let the tree do it thing in May and just let nature take care of it. I really don’t wanna build a greenhouse over it.
What variety is it?
 
Do you have a thermometer inside the high tunnel?
I placed a Govee inside mine, tonight temperature dropped to 30F° inside when outside air temperature was 37 F°

I have a wireless thermometer so I can keep an eye on it during the day. When the sun comes out it can get too hot and I need to open vents


I also have a heater on a temp controller to keep the temps above 10C (51F)... when i move my seedlings in there I'll raise the minimum temperature to 15C (60F)


 
Is that the only one you have in the ground?
I had another 2 but had to remove them it was huge having 3 together but it’s ok it’s going to a great home. I managed to put it in a pot and stored in the garage. It woke up just in time and ready to depart.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3433.jpeg
    IMG_3433.jpeg
    539 KB · Views: 8
I had another 2 but had to remove them it was huge having 3 together but it’s ok it’s going to a great home. I managed to put it in a pot and stored in the garage. It woke up just in time and ready to depart.
I dug up a large size Hardy Chicago early spring and gave it to a family member.
 
Back
Top