Castroville, Texas area?

[fr8train]

I was driving around there the other week and noticed they have farms (growing corn and some other crops I don't recognize), and I stopped and looked at the soil, and it looked brown, which is kind of unusual for down here. The USDA climate map also shows it as being zone 9a, as opposed to 8b where I am now in the hills. Does anyone have any more insight into this area? 

Specifically I was driving around the area north of Castroville, and south of Rio Medina. 

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, fr8train said:

I was driving around there the other week and noticed they have farms (growing corn and some other crops I don't recognize), and I stopped and looked at the soil, and it looked brown, which is kind of unusual for down here. The USDA climate map also shows it as being zone 9a, as opposed to 8b where I am now in the hills. Does anyone have any more insight into this area? 

Specifically I was driving around the area north of Castroville, and south of Rio Medina. 

I lived for 5 years less than 10 miles east of Castroville.  It was a developing rural area and I'm certain that trend has continued west toward Castroville.  Where I lived was definitely zone 9a and I enjoyed a bit of benefit from the urban heat zone of San Antonio.  I had a mix of caliche and loam (brown) in my yard with a lot of rocks that drained very well - ideal for palm growing.  I had at least 30 different species of palms before Palmageddon hit.  I don't imagine it being much different in Castroville.  Big difference in winter low temperature 15 miles north of there towards Boerne - could be 5°-7° lower which makes a difference in damage/survival for some palms.

[fr8train]

6 minutes ago, Fusca said:

I lived for 5 years less than 10 miles east of Castroville.  It was a developing rural area and I'm certain that trend has continued west toward Castroville.  Where I lived was definitely zone 9a and I enjoyed a bit of benefit from the urban heat zone of San Antonio.  I had a mix of caliche and loam (brown) in my yard with a lot of rocks that drained very well - ideal for palm growing.  I had at least 30 different species of palms before Palmageddon hit.  I don't imagine it being much different in Castroville.

Interesting, thank you. What were you growing, and what made it through palmageddon, and what didn't?

[Fusca]

33 minutes ago, fr8train said:

Interesting, thank you. What were you growing, and what made it through palmageddon, and what didn't?

Phoenix theophrasti, roebelenii, sylvestris, dactylifera, canariensis - none protected, none survived 

Arenga engleri unprotected - died

Brahea clara, calcarea, armata, brandegeei x armata calcarea not protected - died others survived 

Butia odorata - survived unprotected 

Butyagrus - one survived unprotected, one died

Washingtonia filibusta unprotected - died

Sabal guatemalensis, uresana, Riverside - all survived unprotected

Livistona saribus, chinensis, nitida, decora - all unprotected, chinensis survived 

Chamaedorea microspadix, radicalis  - survived unprotected

Trachycarpus fortunei  - survived unprotected

Parajubaea sunkha - survived protected

Jubaea chilensis - survived unprotected

Bismarckia nobilis - survived protected

Chamaerops humilis - survived unprotected

Copernicia prunifera, alba  - survived protected

Hyphaene coriacea  - survived protected

Syagrus romanzoffiana  - survived protected

Serenoa repens  - survived unprotected

Ravenea rivularis unprotected - died

Edit:  Livistona saribus, Trithrinax acanthocoma and Brahea brandegeei x armata seedlings actually died from sun+drought prior to 2021 Livistona decora and Acrocomia aculeata died from ox beetle.

[fr8train]

Oh wow, I'm surprised every Phoenix didn't make it, particularly theophrasti and canariensis. How big were these palms when that freeze hit? Do you know what your ultimate low was? @Fusca

[Fusca]

Most of the palms were juveniles (<3 years in ground) in 2021 including all Phoenix.  The CIDP was pretty good sized and its demise surprised me some but also I may have given up on it too quickly.  The dactylifera died during the drought having battled with a bad infestation of graphiola leaf spot and multiple transplants.  The theophrasti was only in the ground from a 3-gal for 2 years.  Ultimate low was 9°F.