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View Full Version : basjoo in zone 5 indiana successes


sandy0225
04-22-2010, 06:12 AM
I uncovered three out of four of mine yesterday. One of them had grown to almost three feet under the tarp! I might end up having to trim it off, it looks pretty thin but I'll wait a few days and see what happens. it might green up and straighten up.
The oldest one has one trunk that is still green from last year in the center, but only about 3-4 inches tall. Still better than no last years growth.
the third one I uncovered was a sikkimensis darjeeling giant. it really looks like toast, but I'll wait and see if anything sprouts from the bottom. Not a good looking result for my first sikkimensis experiment. I'll try planting another one this year and plant it a foot deeper to see what happens.
I still have one left to uncover, it's in mostly shade, only morning sun but it's been there for three or four years now, so I'm sure it's ok.

My naranjilla I mulched in ground with bags of leaves looks like toast too, but I'll wait and see if anything grows from the root.

This years experiments will be--sikkimensis planted a foot deeper and mulched like a basjoo with bags of leaves, and a couple of brugmansias mulched like basjoo with bags of leaves, and some more basjoo planted a foot deeper and then minimally mulched to see if that works again. But this time instead of piling leaves really high over them, I'm going to just barely cover them and see what happens, only 1-2 inches of leaves.
I already talked to a lady in Indy who did the mulching with her yellow-orange single brugmansia and hers came back.

saltydad
04-22-2010, 10:18 AM
Wow, if I could get my brugs to overwinter outside I'd be in heaven.

LilRaverBoi
04-22-2010, 01:26 PM
Congrats on your successes! I'm always glad to see people in zone 5 doing well growing tropical plants! So any new news on the IC and SDC bunches?? Are they still going or were they lost?

Sodak
04-22-2010, 06:53 PM
I will be following closely since I'm also zone 5. Good luck!

sandy0225
04-27-2010, 07:26 AM
sdc still going, sort of. I think she needed a bigger pot. they're not filling out right.
the ice cream bunch I lost it when the heater went out. But the rest of the plant is still growing and I might get another bloom this fall.

Caloosamusa
04-27-2010, 07:37 PM
Congratulations Sandy! I hope they all grow well. :2239:

nucci60
05-08-2010, 08:08 AM
sdc still going, sort of. I think she needed a bigger pot. they're not filling out right.
the ice cream bunch I lost it when the heater went out. But the rest of the plant is still growing and I might get another bloom this fall.Sandy. are you having luck with other plants by planting deeper? After all these years I read that planting hardy hibiscus a couple of inches deeper helps them survive in zones 5 and 6.I actually lose a hardy hibiscus now and then and didn't know why. Tried sikkis three times and none survived. Even basjoos are a crap shoot.:03:

Bob
05-08-2010, 10:05 AM
I'm going to try a Sikkimensis ( Daj Giant) a foot deeper this year too. Maybe that and planted next to the house foundation for extra warmth will be just enough with the additional protection.

saltydad
05-08-2010, 03:31 PM
I'm going to try a Sikkimensis ( Daj Giant) a foot deeper this year too. Maybe that and planted next to the house foundation for extra warmth will be just enough with the additional protection.

You're a braver man than me, Gunga Bob!

nucci60
05-09-2010, 08:32 AM
You're a braver man than me, Gunga Bob!

You havn't tried one in zone 7?

saltydad
05-09-2010, 11:47 PM
You havn't tried one in zone 7?

Indeed I have. I overwintered one with 2 feet of straw mulch on the cut down p-stem. It didn't come up. I dug it up in July and the corm was large and hard, except for some rot in a small area. I cut off the necrotic tissue and planted it in another location next to the house. It never came up. Now I bring them inside bareroot for the winter. If Bob's deep planting results in success I'll try it again.

timmko
05-16-2010, 08:28 PM
When can i put my basjoos in the ground without any protection ? Up here in WIsconsin ..the lows are hovering between the 40's and 50's..some lower 40's.. Actually I planted them today but was wondering if they should be covered at night? thanks..these are the 4 that I got from you 2 of them really got fried from the sun but the other 2 are ok...They have been outside during the day now for about 3 weeks.

What size do they have to be to try to weather them?? I will dig mine up otherwise this fall.

nucci60
05-16-2010, 09:31 PM
Indeed I have. I overwintered one with 2 feet of straw mulch on the cut down p-stem. It didn't come up. I dug it up in July and the corm was large and hard, except for some rot in a small area. I cut off the necrotic tissue and planted it in another location next to the house. It never came up. Now I bring them inside bareroot for the winter. If Bob's deep planting results in success I'll try it again. I brought in one six footer and potted it last fall. I left it in the basement with very little light and water. It held up well.Gonna plant it a little deep and try to overwinter it in the ground. It actually held up better than a couple of six foot basjoo did. The basjoos got a little thin over the winter.:waving:

LilRaverBoi
05-17-2010, 11:37 AM
When can i put my basjoos in the ground without any protection ? Up here in WIsconsin ..the lows are hovering between the 40's and 50's..some lower 40's..
For most all banana varieties, I go by the low 40's rule. I bring them in or protect them (if planted) when temps dip into the 30's (and definitely if frost is predicted). I'm not sure what Basjoo can tolerate without protection. It being as hardy as it is leads me to believe it could handle more than most, but then again, it's only that hardy when protected....

nucci60
05-30-2010, 11:03 AM
Who's tog tan?

LilRaverBoi
05-30-2010, 11:17 AM
Tog was a very active/helpful member on the site.
http://www.bananas.org/f11/memoriam-tog-tan-8403.html
Who's tog tan?