| Author | Content |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 08, 2009
11:44 PM Post #6796284
| I have rainwater collection, solar panels and now I made my first solar water heater.
I went to the dump and bought an old water heater for 15 bucks. I peeled off the shell with a hammer "easier than I thought", flushed the tank out with water, put it in a nook on the south side of the house, ran flex pipe to the inside water heater "30 minutes", turned off the gas "no longer needed" and I was done. I had hot water in one hour. I will build an insulated case with a glass door for the winter. My total cost was 108 dollars.
Turns out that 1/2 of all houses in Florida and California had solar water heaters in 1941. That is so cool. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 08, 2009
11:44 PM Post #6796286
| Late night pic 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 08, 2009
11:48 PM Post #6796299
| I am so proud of my jujube trees I decided to take a picture too. It is the worst drought in the country here right now. Two years and running. Every day we break the all time heat records too. It was 106 yesterday, 105 today and 105 tomorrrow. This has been going on for over a month. HOWEVER, my jujube could care less and is burdened by all its fruit. It actually thrives in this heat. Thank you jujubes for making this summer bearable. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
podster
Deep East Texas, TX
(Zone 8a)
July 09, 2009
06:52 AM Post #6796801
| Good going! Please keep us posted on how the water heater performs this coming winter. Is it your plan to switch back to gas if needed. I am surprised that you had to actually pay for someone elses garbage. They shouldn't make one pay when you "recycle".
What is your next project? 8 ) |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 09, 2009
10:13 AM Post #6797346
| Sorry. It is actually a recycling center and they sell by the pound to stay afloat. It was my pleasure to pay. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
July 09, 2009
10:18 AM Post #6797361
| And please keep us up to date on the jujubes! I haven't checked on the old Champion jujube in Demopolis yet this year, but I plan to visit it. The old settlers here tried to start jujubes as a commercial crop - some of the old trees are still here - but the commericial crops never materialized. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 09, 2009
10:55 AM Post #6797505
| There are so many new varieties available to us now that they didnt have back then. I had a small crop of really juicy sweet Honey Jar jujube this year. The were incredible. These are Li in the photo.
|
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
July 09, 2009
11:32 AM Post #6797679
| Oh I want to try some. Do they need a pollinator? |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 09, 2009
11:42 AM Post #6797712
| Jujube are self-fertile but will produce heavier crops with a second variety. |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
July 09, 2009
11:53 AM Post #6797761
| Thanks, jujubetexas. Congratulations on your solar water heater. |
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
July 14, 2009
11:56 PM Post #6821107
| Is that a citrus tree? |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 15, 2009
12:22 AM Post #6821176
| Nope. It is more like an apple but with a consistancy that is different but still crunchy. It turns red when fully ripe. It has a single seed like a peach or plum. |
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
July 15, 2009
01:08 PM Post #6822901
| Will it grow in zone 6? It sounds nice. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 15, 2009
03:08 PM Post #6823375
| It is hardy to -10 once established but it needs all day sun all day long. No shade period. It also needs a certain amount of heat or it wont fruit well.
|
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
July 16, 2009
12:39 AM Post #6825415
| I don't recall seeing any of those around here. I'll have to look into one and give it a try. It sounds like a fruit I would enjoy. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 16, 2009
01:02 AM Post #6825451
| There is a variety called Contorted Jujube or So.
It is an ornamental and tasty variety.
|
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
July 16, 2009
08:56 AM Post #6825943
| CajuninKy: They might not be frost hardy in your area. They were brought in by early settlers here in the 1830s and there is a champion (historic tree) at Demopolis. I am in zone 8. They are not common here though. |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 16, 2009
10:52 AM Post #6826339
| They are hardy to -10 degrees. This may fluctuate between cultivars and the age of the tree. A younger tree would probably freeze at 0-5 degrees.
|
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
July 22, 2009
12:55 AM Post #6849683
| Is there a dwarf variety that could be grown in a pot? |
jujubetexas
San Marcos, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 22, 2009
01:25 PM Post #6851294
| I found one about 12 feet tall in a 20 gallon pot and it produced fruit. The most dwarfing is the So/Contorted variety.
|
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
July 24, 2009
02:20 PM Post #6860060
| Thanks. I'll look into it. |
