Live data from Hacker News

Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt.com

11–20 of 158 posts

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#11
post #4

This is why it’s important for us to develop C4 alternatives to existing C3-using food staples. https://c4rice.com/the-science/engineering-photosynthesis-wh...

Not that you’re wrong, but I find it darkly amusing that rather than than cut back on all the crazy things we’re doing, it would make sense to instead bio engineer a bunch of plant life to deal instead.

What is the proposed mechanism for implementing a cut back? A global population with 8 billion people and 1950s carbon emissions implies an average living standard somewhere in the realm of the 1900s. Are you volunteering to move back to the horse and buggy?

Bear in mind that the industrialized world of 1950 was only inhabited by a small portion of the global population at most a billion people.

The only path forward is technological innovation to reduce or remove carbon emissions.

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#12
post #4

This is why it’s important for us to develop C4 alternatives to existing C3-using food staples. https://c4rice.com/the-science/engineering-photosynthesis-wh...

Not that you’re wrong, but I find it darkly amusing that rather than than cut back on all the crazy things we’re doing, it would make sense to instead bio engineer a bunch of plant life to deal instead.

Engineering problems are vastly easier than social problems.

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#13
This isn’t true. You can grow - it’s just the seasons are different or offset. In the warmer climates you actually have a longer growing season than say New England. Your local extension office can explain.

For example, here is the UFIFAS which is very good

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/orange/hort-r...

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#15
You can, if you keep them cool with shade and water if it's not excessively humid.

I practice zone denial with a shade house and have things like rhubarb, cilantro and lettuce growing right now. It's been over 100F many days this summer and these would not make it outside. I also have many varieties of tomatoes and pretty sure I'm the only one the region who does because they would not set fruit outside in these temperatures.

If it's a dry climate and you have water and shade, you can turn it into a moderate or cool climate.

My tomatoes a week ago or so https://youtube.com/shorts/wRHiiCCICmc?feature=share

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#16
post #11
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not that you’re wrong, but I find it darkly amusing that rather than than cut back on all the crazy things we’re doing, it would make sense to instead bio engineer a bunch of plant life to deal instead.

What is the proposed mechanism for implementing a cut back? A global population with 8 billion people and 1950s carbon emissions implies an average living standard somewhere in the realm of the 1900s. Are you volunteering to move back to the horse and buggy? Bear in mind that the industrialized world of 1950 was only inhabited by a small portion of the global population at most a billion people. The only path forward…

I volunteer yeah. I can get everywhere I need on my bike so horse and buggy would give me enough range and prevent all the over touristing.

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#18
post #11
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not that you’re wrong, but I find it darkly amusing that rather than than cut back on all the crazy things we’re doing, it would make sense to instead bio engineer a bunch of plant life to deal instead.

What is the proposed mechanism for implementing a cut back? A global population with 8 billion people and 1950s carbon emissions implies an average living standard somewhere in the realm of the 1900s. Are you volunteering to move back to the horse and buggy? Bear in mind that the industrialized world of 1950 was only inhabited by a small portion of the global population at most a billion people. The only path forward…

> The only path forward is technological innovation to reduce or remove carbon emissions.

I’d be completely happy with technological innovations that allowed us to restore heat balance (solar radiation management, marine cloud brightening, etc). That can buy time for transitioning from fossil fuels.

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#19
post #15

You can, if you keep them cool with shade and water if it's not excessively humid. I practice zone denial with a shade house and have things like rhubarb, cilantro and lettuce growing right now. It's been over 100F many days this summer and these would not make it outside. I also have many varieties of tomatoes and pretty sure I'm the only one the region who does because they would not set fruit outside in these temp…

Holy smokes those are massive!

Re: Why you can’t grow cool-climate plants in hot climates

#20

tl;dr please.

Plant metabolism depends on temperature and light in a way they can't control. If it's too warm and/or sunny, plants "run too hot" and exhaust themselves to death. If it's too cold or shady, they can't "run enough" and die from inadequate fuel and other biochemical precursors.
Post reply on HN