Yeah most tropical crops would never have been an issue in Greece. You can grow most tropical crops well north of the tropics so long as the regional climate agrees. I’ve even seen some tropical fruits grown as far as 45 degrees north in agreeable microsites or outdoor greenhouses. But as far 40 degrees? Fine as fine, you just have to do a bit more planning. In an area like Greece where you’ve got a large body of water buffering air temperatures, shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Not sure how cold this part of Greece gets but I now know of two people growing mangos and other tropical fruits in my area of Northern CA. Our historic winters could get as low as the high teens F but it hasn’t been been below the high 20’s in about 10 years now, so plants that can survive mild frost like mangos, avocado, bananas, and many more are starting to pop up here and there.
I know climate change will cause lots of problems but I can’t help being a little excited about this aspect of it. I already planted an avocado and it is doing fine without any protection but I was thinking of planting a banana too. Not sure I want to gamble on mango yet, they’re a little more sensitive I believe.
It’s happening in the USA also, farmers in Florida are replacing oranges that have died from greening disease with pongamia tree.
A ‘bad year’?
So far ;)
Same in Sicily, some farmers begin to plant mango trees and bananas. This summer Mediterranean see was 30°C so I guess we are now in a tropical climate there
I’ve started to experiment with much more southern zoned flora in my spaces in New England now that we don’t have a winter and anything that can survive a frost or two has been doing really well. Southern England has palm trees. I want palms outside my house year round if I am going to survive these bullshit winters we now get. I know I might be introducing an invasive species but I think climate change is the far bigger worry than me and my little experiments.
As a Californian, don’t do it, palms suck. Most of them have very sharp, dangerous thorns, and they don’t provide much environmental benefits compared to a normal tree.
Most palms do not have thorns. This is the first time I have ever heard this claim. There is 2,600 known species.
But yes they are not shade trees.
Well the common ones in California do. I assume they would plant similar species as only a few are hardy to frosts.
Just make sure to avoid Phoenix palms. That’s the most common one in my area and they have like 6 inch spines that can cause serious injuries. They’re also quite weedy.
