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garbj
06-02-2010, 04:59 PM
Banana project..I started with ,to dig 4' deep ditch along back wall. Our backyard has red clay and lot of stones. I replaced with sand at ground waterline and added sheep and cowl manure on top for my 12 basjoo plants /10"-12" tall/.
Put some mulch on the top.
Purchased the plants at Colasantis Gardens at Leamington. Planted 3 weeks ago.
We had very hot weather lately, so these young plants do not look very healthy.
Any recommendations for the future to keep these nice plants alive?
Fertelizing now or wait? etc...Any input welcommed.
I was happy to find this forum with so much knowledge collected for my new hobby. Thanks.

Dean W.
06-02-2010, 05:06 PM
Sounds like you got it down pat. Fertilize and let them get some sun and watch them grow. Oh, and add water occasionally. Nice to see you posting here.:waving:

Abnshrek
06-02-2010, 05:25 PM
Hello & Welcome you from the Molson State :^) from down here in the Sportsman's Paradise :^)

MediaHound
06-02-2010, 05:32 PM
Welcome aboard, looking forward to hearing how they progress and see some pics when they get big and tall.

grub
06-02-2010, 06:32 PM
Get plenty of water on there when it's hot.

LilRaverBoi
06-02-2010, 10:15 PM
I would be a little careful fertilizing with un-composted manure and small plants. The high levels of nitrogen could burn the foliage. On mature plants, it probably isn't a problem, but I would recommend composting manure for many months before applying it directly to small plants. Beyond that, watering is important. You don't want them to be constantly soaked, but you also don't want them to dry out for long periods of time. I check mine daily and if they are pretty dry on the top, I give them a medium watering and then wait till they dry out again to water again.

CoryS
06-02-2010, 10:50 PM
Welcome to the forum! You'll find lots of good advice here.

garbj
06-03-2010, 06:57 AM
Thank You for the advice,
I will post pictures from the progress.
Thanks, garbj.

garbj
08-03-2010, 04:23 PM
Thank You for the advice,
I will post pictures from the progress.
Thanks, garbj.

Progress after 2 months:
Tallest plant almost 5' high, with 3' long leaves. I am using Miracle-Gro 24-8-16 plant food every week with lot of watering from our rain barrel...
Please comment if you have any suggestion to improve further (-:
Thanks: garbj.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35187&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35187&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35184&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35184&ppuser=7462)

DaveE
08-03-2010, 06:02 PM
Looks like you have it under control. Welcome to the Org.

saltydad
08-03-2010, 07:03 PM
They look great! No need for more advice. Just keep putting up new pics!

garbj
09-03-2010, 07:45 PM
Thank You for the advice,
I will post pictures from the progress.
Thanks, garbj.

Well, only one month growth, really accelerated in August, as You can see on the pictures (-:
Some of the plants reached 10 ft height.
Because the heat, sun and wind last week some of the new leaves damaged.
Our garden looks now tropical with some cannas, plumerias and potted palms.
Few basjoos /in the middle of the row/ left behind others.
I wonder why?because all have same soil and light conditions.
Anyone has some experience here around GTA. /Toronto/ when to stop fertilizing?
Next picture coming in October...

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36273&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36273&ppuser=7462)


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36272&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36272&ppuser=7462)

saltydad
09-03-2010, 08:31 PM
I stop fertilizing my bananas, palms, etc in August. This goes especially for any plants to be left outside for the winter. You want to cut down on tender new growth. For those coming inside and potted, you want to minimize new growth-just keep the plant alive, don't water too much as the bane of winter potted plants is rot from overwatering. The easiest way for nanas is bare root- no watering at all. Other corms I dry out without leaves, and put in a paper bag with peat moss. Be sure to label the bag! Good luck; everything looks gorgeous.

garbj
10-09-2010, 07:13 AM
Thank You for the advice,
I will post pictures from the progress.
Thanks, garbj.

September progress:
We had unpleasant weather here, lost a dozen of big leaves due to strong winds.Perfect wrapping for meats on barbecue!
Plans are for winter, extra topsoil and mulching. Burlap will be used on stems.
Any chance for 3-4 feet tall cut stems to survive winter here?
For additional insulation I plan to use tomato cones turned upside down burlapped and filled up with leaves, plastic pots on top.
I follow up our winterizing thead, but any recommendation will be welcommed here for the first year basjoo adventure...

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37366&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37366&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37367&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37367&ppuser=7462)

saltydad
10-09-2010, 12:06 PM
The basjoo will definitely make it; I'd give them extra mulch the first winter outside. Doubt the others can survive outdoors, but maybe someone from your area can chime in.

kaczercat
10-10-2010, 11:22 AM
the plants look great , they have grown so well for you this summer. That heatwave really helped i think back in July lol

bananarama2
10-12-2010, 04:11 PM
Hello garbj, and welcome to the site. I really envy you your solarium. If you keep the solarium "operational" all year round, I'd personally be tempted to build a short wall around those bananas that did so well for you, mulch them heavily with something like peat moss, seal it up for the winter, and take advantage of the heat radiating off the solarium into the enclosure. Aesthetics are totally up to you though! lol Best of luck with your 'nanas, and again, welcome, and thanks for sharing your successes.:bed:

garbj
10-12-2010, 11:45 PM
Hello garbj, and welcome to the site. I really envy you your solarium. If you keep the solarium "operational" all year round, I'd personally be tempted to build a short wall around those bananas that did so well for you, mulch them heavily with something like peat moss, seal it up for the winter, and take advantage of the heat radiating off the solarium into the enclosure. Aesthetics are totally up to you though! lol Best of luck with your 'nanas, and again, welcome, and thanks for sharing your successes.:bed:


Hi bananarana2,
We love our Solarium-spa combo.
Original purpose was for the Solarium is to cover the Swimspa, what occupies most of the place inside. I could force in some plants, and with the fireplace set to 60F min.
I hope everything will survive first winter here...
Thanks for all the good ideas. I will include to the winterizing plans and will make a couple pictures from the steps,
and the time is coming soon because overnight temp. is just over 0C with frost warning...
Thanks again: garbj


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37463&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37463&ppuser=7462)

garbj
11-05-2010, 12:30 AM
Thank You for the advice,
I will post pictures from the progress.
Thanks, garbj.

Time came up to retire the best performing plants we ever had in our backyard. :bed:
Progress this year showed that, these basjoos will be here next year too.
I recorded winterization into five pictures.
Please make your comments!
Question for Zone#6 members: is that possible to make 3-4 ft cut stems to survive until next spring and get new leaves from it?
Would be nice, if do not have to start from ground level again.
Thanks, garbj.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38159&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38159&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38160&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38160&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38165&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38165&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38166&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38166&ppuser=7462)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38167&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38167&ppuser=7462)

natej740
11-06-2010, 04:50 PM
Nice set up....I dont know what more you could do to make them survive.

saltydad
11-07-2010, 12:10 AM
I agree. Remember that when they come back they'll have many new ones on the mat, so you'll lose your nice linear row. BTW, the solarium looks fantastic! You really have done a nice job.