A Deep Freeze in Central Florida

Floridians in the Winter

Usually if the weather gets below 55 degrees, I jokingly state that it’s going to be “below freezing” because to me, here where I live, 55 degrees is dang cold! But this holiday season we had some truly freezing temperatures. In fact, we had 5 nights in a row in the 20s. Brrrr. And scary, too. Most of Millwood Flower Farm’s spring flowers are planted in the fall, so when deep freezing temperatures hit us, especially so early in the winter, it can be a game changer for us. Many of the next season’s flowers had just been transplanted into the nice warm soil where they were supposed to thrive in 60 degree nights.

Ranunculus and Anemone, while valuable, worried me less, Each year we refrigerate them to let them think they are having winter. And other farmers in really cold areas of the country plant them and they live through winter. What I was most concerned about, truly, were the Matthioloa Incana (stock). The Stock is my most fragrant flower and therefore, my favorite spring bloom. I double-wrapped them in frost cloth. Not to worry! They did fine! And so did the Eucalyptus, Anemone and Ranunculus. Even the strawberries in my keyhole garden and all the newly planted Cress, Chamomile, lettuce, Cerinthe survived. If all goes well, we will have a beautiful harvest of flowers in February!