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View Full Version : Musa Basjoo in NW Ontario


canadianplant
06-02-2010, 07:20 PM
I planted 2 Musa Basjoo about 3 weeks ago. The nights have bee slightly cool ( 8C usualy 11C), so they are growing a bit slow. Put out its first full leaf ( for me, had a few smaller ones). They aere less then 6 " tall when i recieved em. Heres the most recent pics. This was before watering em, and before us getting some rain. Ill post some recent ones soon.



View image: SDC10083.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsfRMiA)

View image: SDC10088.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsfRRhS)

kaczercat
06-13-2010, 05:05 PM
wow very small but hopefully they have started to grow like weeds. best of luck.

canadianplant
06-13-2010, 07:30 PM
Thanks, its gonna heat up, and weve gotten lots of rain, il pos some pics in a few days

D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan
06-13-2010, 07:36 PM
Hopefully they will get real big for you and establish well. I would imagine you will have to really protect the corms though up there. I always thought even Basjoo were marginal for surviving winters lower than zone 5. What zone are you in? 3? Best of luck with them!

kaczercat
06-13-2010, 08:15 PM
Nw On is zone 5a or b the zone 4 and below are all up in the northwest starting in Manitoba.

canadianplant
06-21-2010, 05:22 PM
THe climate in my area seems to be somewhat of a mystery. Theres winters where the temp says its -30C outside, and I go outside, and that isnt the case. Also in the summer, it says its 40C ourside, and it isnt. After some searching I found the reason why.....

The first problem is the fact that most of our weather data comes from the airport, which is about 10-15km inland. My city is on the coast of lake supirior, and the lake seems to have a VERY large effect of our climate year round. Basicly, if your less then 5 km from the lake, your a zone 5. 5-10km inland is about a zone 4. 10-15km inland, which the airport is in, is zone 3. Anything around 40-60km fromt he lake, is zone a very cold zone 3. Lappe, just barly an hour and a hlaf drive away, is a zone 2, and has recorded -40C temps many times in my memory.

Also, there are the northshore mountains. A few hundred million years ago, this area of canada was the eastern shore of the inland sea, that stretched from the arctic, to florida, and from the alberta foothils to this area. Now, their barly 2 - 300 feet, with the main one, at 900 feet ( the only one at that night). The inportiant thing is, it surrounds the city as well. Basicly if your on the west/north side of these mountains, your colder then this side.

Fortunalty im about 5km inland from the lake, with a long, but thin yard, which seems to regulate the temps somewhat. There are a few micoclimates here. Ive overwintered wegelia unprotected. WIth MINIMAL topkill. Ive over wintered Fargesia Rufa bamboo here ( heavily protected), and it had NO leaf loss over the 3 months it was completely covered.

frankthetank
06-21-2010, 07:29 PM
I've noticed mine have gone nuts with the warm nights (above 60F) and constant rainfall we've been having (over 5 inches this month). Even with warm ground temps, i still wasn't seeing a whole lot of growth (I think they were shutting down at night).

canadianplant
06-22-2010, 06:50 AM
Frank, Ive had teh same problem. 60F is somewhere around 15 or 16C? Mine are jsut starting to take off. WEve had a bunch of rain, and humidity, and sun.

canadianplant
08-02-2010, 04:25 PM
Well its been a while since I posted. ITs been hot ( 35-33C) and feeling like 34- 40C with the humidity. Everything has filled in . I should have taken a measurment of the Basjoos before. One is doing better then the other, being as thers more ground shade, and more direct sun. I think i need to be watering more. Heres some pics:

View image: SDC10310.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxU1OUr)

View image: SDC10311.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxU1RoA)

Thanks everyone fer looking:D

jeffreyp
08-02-2010, 04:56 PM
those are really small...hope they get some size on them before first frost.

The Hollyberry Lady
08-02-2010, 05:03 PM
I'm growing Musa Basjoo in London, Ontario. Mine aren't growing as quickily as I expected, but steadily enough.

My one big one that's over a year old, drinks like crazy and when it's not raining, requires 4L of water daily! We get super hot and muggy here, but my banana plants are enjoying it.

Best of luck with yours, Canadianplant, and fellow Ontarionian! :ha: Actually I'm a Bluenoser Maritimer, but have lived in Ontario for years.

Thanks for sharing and showing shots. I can show mine, if you'd like...

: )

canadianplant
08-02-2010, 05:07 PM
Its not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean LOL

When I got them, it looked like they only had 4 or 5 leaves, so they were no more then 4 inches tall. IF they do stay smallish, it should be easier to protect it for the winter. Either way one is getting dug up, and either going to be treated liek canna, or potted up, under artificial lighting. To my knowledge they will survive under low light situations, jsut not much growth.

If the warmth stays till last year, it shouldnt freeze till october( ish), so im hoping to get em mroe then 2 feet all ( which would be what..... 5 times the size? ( ya not the best at math). Either way, a good jump start for next year.

I just soaked the soil. I really have to multch around the bare soil. Im pretty sure thats why they arent growing as fast. Just need some good ole deep watering.

canadianplant
08-02-2010, 05:09 PM
Hollyberry, I remember you from UBC garden forum..... thanks for the input. Hope your holly is doing ok :D

The Hollyberry Lady
08-02-2010, 05:15 PM
Thanks! :waving:


All of my hollies are doing spectacular, and thank you for mentioning them. If you wanna see them currently, check 'em out in this thread on UP...


Is there a nicer evergreen in winter...than Hollyberry?!!! (http://unusualplants.net/forums/threads/129-Is-there-a-nicer-evergreen-in-winter...than-Hollyberry-!!!?goto=newpost)


Looking forward to seeing more of your basjoo plants soon...


: )

canadianplant
08-02-2010, 05:39 PM
Took a look, very nice :D

Ill be posting some when they get some size on em :D

Thanks again all

stevelau1911
08-02-2010, 06:13 PM
Mine started out as tiny plug plants back in spring just like yours and 2 of them have broken the 3ft mark now with their newest cigar leaves and I think this is due to having them close to the pavement, and full sun since the soil really heats up and causes them to grow really fast. The newest leaves are close to 14 inches in diameter and each new leaf seems to be getting much bigger.

canadianplant
08-02-2010, 06:28 PM
Hmmm. Well thats ok, ill get em to grow. The soil isnt the greatest at the moment either.... im working on that.

Im still thinking i havnt been giving them enough water... well see how this week goes..

Thanks fer the info steve..

D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan
08-02-2010, 06:30 PM
Wow, those are fairly small. We dont even seem them sold in stores here that small usually. They appear to be about the size of the pups of my 12 foot tall basjoos. I will be very curious to see if those will actually survive a zone 5 or lower winter.

They look great and very healthy tho, in spite of their small size.

One thing to keep in mind when you do bring one in for the winter is that it will slow WAY down. Also, when putting them back out next spring / summer, you will need to acclimate them to the sun by giving them limited exposure at first (say 2 hours the first few days, then 4 hours the following week...etc) and build up to full sun for most of the day. Otherwise they will burn, and could defoliate. While thats usually not fatal, it could slow the growth for several weeks.

good luck!

The Hollyberry Lady
08-03-2010, 09:03 AM
Here's my one little Basjoo, I bought from a nursery this season...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3107.jpg


Also, here's my much larger Basjoo that's over a year old now, from Kaczercat, also in Ontario! Thanks Matt! Here's a shot but I'll show another soon...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3109.jpg


I buried it an extra foot deep to ensure it's roots survive the winter. We'll see...


: )

canadianplant
08-03-2010, 09:35 AM
STOP MAKING FUN OF MY TINY BANANAS!!! jk :P

I know their small..... in the first pics, they were about a few weeks in my posession, so they grew even since I initialy got them, so like i said , they have doubled in size... not the growth i was expecting.

This is definetly an experiment..... they technicaly shouldnt survive here, especialy unprotected. I got fargesia Rufa to survive here, but thats labeled as a zone 5 plant.... Basjoo is really a zone 8 plant, that happens to survive down to zone 5 while multched........ so personaly i wouldnt say its hardy to zone 5.

Bottom line.... its gonna be interesting to see what happens. Im digging one up regardless, and keeping one outside. Its gonna be under a few feet of leaves.... and a garbage can with rocks around to keep the heat at the soil....... If we had a winter like last year..... the thing will be fine

Hollyberry... Very nice plants.... im hopin to ge tmine tha tbig this yar:D

The Hollyberry Lady
08-03-2010, 09:50 AM
Thanks, Jesse! I bet yours will be big & wonderful so don't worry.


: )

Kevin
08-03-2010, 11:03 PM
Hey canadianplant! Thanks for posting your progress. Where did you get your plants? I wanted to order from Canada Bamboo World in Chilliwack, but the shipping is a killer, and I wasn't ready to spend that much. Maybe next year. I hope someone locally will order them in so I can get one cheaper here. There's very little chance it will survive outside, but it is the most cold hardy that I know of, so if I was going to try any banana outside, that would be it.
I also overwintered a Fargesia rufa. It had some dieback, but it is doing really well now. I'm hoping to eventually get it to mature height of 6-8feet, like the label says!

canadianplant
08-04-2010, 06:43 AM
I got mine from bamboo world. I ordered 2 bamboo, 2 Basjoo, and one giant Canna rhizome. I payed about 30 bucks fer shipping ( not to far off from canada posts rates). So if you order bamboo from there, you dont pay shipping on the Basjoo, seeds, or canna... They ship bamboo in pots, and the banana bare root.

Grats on the rufa dude!!!! Did you protect it at all?

Kevin
08-04-2010, 08:45 PM
I got mine from bamboo world. I ordered 2 bamboo, 2 Basjoo, and one giant Canna rhizome. I payed about 30 bucks fer shipping ( not to far off from canada posts rates). So if you order bamboo from there, you dont pay shipping on the Basjoo, seeds, or canna... They ship bamboo in pots, and the banana bare root.

Yes, $30 for shipping, plus the plants. You probably paid over $100 for that whole order. That's not a criticism, but unless it's something I really want, and I have some certainty it's not going to die right away, I would not spend that much. Maybe I'll think different next year.

Grats on the rufa dude!!!! Did you protect it at all?
Thanks! Yes, I did protect it (it would have been a frozen pile of mush if I didn't). I kept it in the pot I got it in, and, like I do will all the potted plants I have outside, I buried it in the ground to the top of the pot. I then bent the canes down on the ground and weighed them down with a rock. I then piled LOADS of loose leaves ontop. That's it. About half of it died back, but it had new shoots starting right away, and a few of the tallest canes survived and started new from the top. It is very full and bushy now, and the tallest cane is 17" right now. Yes, still very small, but a little each year, and someday I might get a decent sized clump.

canadianplant
08-04-2010, 08:56 PM
Well, interesting few days....


Monday: Noticed how dry the beds were, so i soaked and ferted with diluted 20 20 20

Tuesday.... Hail storm.... 2 inches of rain in an hour, 100 km/h winds.. Ripped some holes in the musas, and the canna... knocked down one canna and a few potted plants. Nothing bad... everything is ok...

Wednesday - Hot and humid... Noticed that it grew and looks much happier. Got another random rain. Half inch in bour half hour. Again noticed growth.

So, i realised how badly ive been underwatering. The beds are unmultched, besides pioneer plants ( im letting nature fix the soil a bit naturaly before i sheet multch), and some open patches ( i know mistake). The one thats doing better has shaded soil, so i shoulda known from the get go.

Oh well, trial and error right?

Ill let some sun hit them, and take soem measurments this weekend, jsut to see how much they grew ( at least one leaf in 2 days)

Peace

canadianplant
08-04-2010, 09:04 PM
Kevin - The first order was Phyllostachys aureosulcata, Pseudosasa Japonica, giant canna rhizome, and 2 musa basjoo, i think the whole thing was 60- mabey 70 all said and done. Ive shipped similar weight packages to calgary, cost 10 bucks cheaper...... Same not critisizing.

Grats again on the rufa. MIne was , mabey a foot tall when i got it, and had like, 12 canes, tightly grouped, now the thing is a 1x1 around and 2 feet tall. It shot out 13 + culms this year, and are heavily branching already. Youll get some good growth next year im sure

canadianplant
08-12-2010, 06:56 PM
Updated pics... its a foot and a half tall now LOL...

View image: SDC10349.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TssL850)

The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2010, 08:37 AM
Looking good, Jesse. :goteam:



Here's shots of my 2 Basjoo's I took this morning...



http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3306.jpg


This one is over a year old and is getting especially big...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3301.jpg


: )

canadianplant
08-14-2010, 10:07 AM
IT looks really healthy. Seems to like the heat rain and humidity youve been seeing this year:D

I just dug mine up and potted it for the winter... was WAY bigger then it looked :D

Here it is.. it still has its juvinle leaves at the bottom, it had 3 when i got it, so you can see how much its actualy grown:

View image: SDC10357.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVLUwZ9)

canadianplant
09-18-2010, 11:47 AM
Well, heres an update

I was AFG ( away from garden) for 2 weeks, looking after my grandams huge 10 000 gallon pond and garden. Looks like the potted one got a bit dry, but is fine now. The little on in ground, almost got choked out by my morning glories ( these suckers are well over 20 feet long, with leaves 7 inches accross. They make a matt of plant matter 2 feet thick). So i had to tie a bunch of em back to give it more light, so its still growing and alive.

Heres a pic of the potted one

View image: DSCF4003.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/ovgxsd0k/)

Its in doors and wont be going into dormancy ( house plant with super babying the thing). The other one is being super multched and bucketed, and buried in snow. Hope for the best :D

stevelau1911
10-16-2010, 06:28 PM
My basjoos seem to be stuck at around 5-6ft and keep generating leaves slowly however they only seem to be gaining about an inch of height for each leaf due to the cold weather.

There have however been a lot of pups, some already over 1ft tall. I have 5 on my biggest one, 3 on another, and none on my greenhouse one which seems to be in a rush to grow now surpassing the 2 I have outside, reaching near 6ft now. I don't think I need to worry about them too much given that the stems are 5 inches at the base, which means the corms must be around 8 inches wide 1ft underground.

If you grow them indoors, I would suggest strong lighting 400watt mh or better, along with less water and they should be able to start out next season even stronger.

canadianplant
10-17-2010, 08:18 AM
Hey steve

The one thats still outside, is barley a foot tall, has been hit br frost but is STILL growing very slowly. The one indoors, gets light for about 4 hours a day, but is still growing well, jsut has some spidermites.... im working on that LOL

I hav e a south facing window where this is gonna go. Even in the dead of winter it sees about 6 or more hours of direct light. I am probably going to have to get a few sets of bulbs, seeing how much stuff im gonna grow from seen next year.

Hows the bamboo goin?

stevelau1911
10-17-2010, 09:47 AM
My bamboo is mostly going into dormancy now, but I don't think I'll need to worry much about cold protection anymore since they all look very bushed out and solid. They should look like semi-mature groves after shooting season next year with hopefully some breaking the 20ft mark.

canadianplant
10-17-2010, 11:46 AM
Awsome dude, mine are still growing. Slowy, but still growing. Ill post some pics on the bamboo forum, the new SCabrida culm is huge compared to the rest!

stevelau1911
10-17-2010, 02:13 PM
You could probably try out parvifolia which seems to be my hardiest species right now, even getting less leaf burn than rufa at approximately the same size. It also has very flexible culms that bend to the ground under the snow especially since it produces lots of foliage. This species might actually get to a decent size in your climate because mine looks very bushy now and primed for a huge leap in size next year.

canadianplant
10-17-2010, 03:01 PM
I had to look up the parvifolia. THats amazing actualy. If its rare in the states, itll be even rarer up here. For me to plop out 50 bucks or the cert to get it shipped from the states not to mention shipping, is a bit much. Ive seen some site state its hardy to -24C. Not to bad actualy. And for size thats crazy.

stevelau1911
10-17-2010, 04:35 PM
It would cost me $26.95 to ship it up into canada for one of my divisions in a medium flat rate box however even if you need it, I would wait for the winter to be over because it is already way to late in the season. I don't think they inspect flat rate boxes.

canadianplant
10-18-2010, 06:54 AM
Oh thanks man! Ya i wouldnt expect it till spring... ill have to keeo it in mind.

Kevin
10-18-2010, 06:48 PM
Awsome dude, mine are still growing. Slowy, but still growing. Ill post some pics on the bamboo forum, the new SCabrida culm is huge compared to the rest!

Bamboo forum?? What's the address?

canadianplant
10-18-2010, 07:44 PM
bambooweb.info • Bamboo Forum (http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/index.php)

They have a crazy amount of information on that site not to mention the forum itslef...