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View Full Version : The Ensete Tent (long winded with lots of pics)


Bob
10-31-2010, 04:20 PM
Well I decided to protect my E. Glaucum for a few reasons.... it has really shown it grows well in cool weather and I got a lot of encouragement from members so...why not give it a shot. I've been pretty lucky with things so far. If it lives and produces seed , even though it wont be official I'll give the seeds out to members as "E. Glaucum var. "Bob"...." like Ante suggested:ha:

I hammered some garden posts in the ground and attached 3/4 PVC pipe to them with zip ties:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0725.jpg


then added some christmas lights...( just have to figure how to get some electric out to it and then mulched with shredded leaves and added a layer of banana leaves cut from the garden last week:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0726.jpg
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0729.jpg
and still more leaves on top of that while I started building the tent covering( I'm hoping it will create a compost that will warm up as it decays as well as just insulate the ground here:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/Ensete%20tent/DSCN0731.jpg

the tent starts to go up with another layer of PVC joined across at the top:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/Ensete%20tent/DSCN0734.jpg

finally and with great difficulty on a windy day I got it mostly wrapped...needless to say I ran out of plastic and the clips that hold it to the PVC( Got them from Charleys Greenhouses online) but it's almost done and think I may have done just enough to protect this fairly cold tolerant variety for the winter here. We'll see.... I plan on adding even more autumn leaves as they fall this week and I wait for more snap clamps in the mail for the PVC pipe and get some plastic to finish it off.
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/Ensete%20tent/DSCN0738.jpg

Dalmatiansoap
10-31-2010, 04:30 PM
Haha, U did it again!
:woohoonaner:

Kevin
10-31-2010, 05:25 PM
Super awesome Bob! I hope it works out for you. Just wondering - do you need to leaves on for the winter? Might be easier to protect without all that height and bulk. If the goal is to get seeds, how will you protect the flower spike? Does photosynthesis need to take place?

Was this one grown from seed? If so, and if I understand banana naming, there should be no reason you couldn't name it E. glaucum 'Bob', but not var. 'Bob'. You have the only one of that in the world, so go for it! If it was a from a pup, or tissue culture, then that's different.

Kostas
10-31-2010, 06:49 PM
Way to go Bob!!!! :woohoonaner:

I hope it works out well and it seeds for you!!!! Btw,i think it would be best to only add dry leafs arround its pseudostem and not wet as rot may set in. Its not natural for it to stay wet that high up and may have rot problems...

I wish you the best of luck with it and many more Ensete glaucum from your own seeds!!!

Magilla Gorilla
10-31-2010, 07:46 PM
Total cool! Keep us posted. Thanks again for the DVD.

Jack Daw
10-31-2010, 08:26 PM
And let's be honest, Bob, that Ensete is 1 foot too big to dig up. ;) Good job and good luck!

tmc2009
10-31-2010, 08:58 PM
Hi, That looks great. I dug my bananas up today. It looks like it gets some protection from both houses. Do they still make the Christmas lights with the small incandescent bulbs like that? I threw out all my old ones because the wires were getting brittle. How many winters has that banana survived there? I'm suppose to be in the same zone here in the Boston area and I didn't think that would be an option here. :woohoonaner:

51st state
11-01-2010, 04:37 PM
Excel. we need to know if this works.
Digging up Big Ensete's is taking longer and longer each year

Bananaman88
11-02-2010, 11:47 AM
Geez, Bob...put a little effort into it, why don't you?! ;)

The Hollyberry Lady
11-02-2010, 11:55 AM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/2.gif


That is just too cool, Bob! :eek:


It looks like you've done a fabulous job getting that thing ready to meet old man winter.


Thanks so much for showing us how you did it. ;)


: )

Bob
11-04-2010, 05:01 PM
Hi, That looks great. I dug my bananas up today. It looks like it gets some protection from both houses. Do they still make the Christmas lights with the small incandescent bulbs like that? I threw out all my old ones because the wires were getting brittle. How many winters has that banana survived there? I'm suppose to be in the same zone here in the Boston area and I didn't think that would be an option here. :woohoonaner:

This Ensete was actually sprouted from seed about exactly 2 years ago. Last year it grew to about two foot tall in a pot and then this year just took off. Yeah they still make these lights though not too many use them . These wer brand new and purchased at a local agaway.

Dalmatiansoap
11-21-2010, 07:35 AM
Any updates on the project? I see your temp. index is low, does protection works for now?

Bob
11-21-2010, 07:39 AM
A lot of the tent got shredded at the top in high winds last week leaving some holes in the plastic and the leaves were "burned" from the cold. The flower bud is still ok though and I'll be recovering it today with heavier plastic and more of the clips for the PVC so it should be more secure.

I'll try to get some pics this afternoon and maybe put the lights on for a test too.
If I can just keep it alive and get some seeds next year I'll consider it a success even if the plant itself looks bad from the cold.

Jack Daw
11-21-2010, 07:46 AM
A lot of the tent got shredded at the top in high winds last week leaving some holes in the plastic and the leaves were "burned" from the cold. The flower bud is still ok though and I'll be recovering it today with heavier plastic and more of the clips for the PVC so it should be more secure.

I'll try to get some pics this afternoon and maybe put the lights on for a test too.
If I can just keep it alive and get some seeds next year I'll consider it a success even if the plant itself looks bad from the cold.
Good job. Sometimes I think you get the inspiration from the show called "Dexter". ;)

Bob
11-21-2010, 07:51 AM
Actually my inspiration for a long time was that guy "Roland" from Germany.

If he can do it..... I can try( I think it gets a bit colder here than at his place). Wish I could read German though. I spent many hours staring at and studying the pictures in his site the past few years.

Linda_GER
11-21-2010, 03:48 PM
Wish I could read German though.Feel free to ask me if you need a translation of the parts you don`t understand. :)

momoese
11-21-2010, 03:55 PM
Bob, just a thought. One year I mulched heavily with fresh leaves and after winter when I removed them it was a black mushy slimy stinky mess. I'd keep anything green or wet away from the p-stem just to be safe.

The Hollyberry Lady
11-21-2010, 03:59 PM
Smart thinking, Mitchel! ;)


Jack...


when you mention "Dexter"...are you talking about the show where the cop, or blood expert guy, takes the law into his own hands and dishes out his own bit of justice to criminals?


How the heck did that show inspire Bob?! :eek:


: )

Bob
11-21-2010, 05:12 PM
ok , here's the final version. I took all the old plastic off. It was shredded anyway. Then recovered with a single sheet of 6mm construction sheeting as well as reinforcing it with pvc and rope purlins for extra support:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0764.jpg

Here's a close up of the garden clips that hold the pvc on place:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0769.jpg

and last I figured I'd try out the Christmas lights I'll be using when it gets below 15F or so:
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss149/bob_075/DSCN0771.jpg

I also added some water jugs inside for additional warmth. I'll probably do as Mitchel suggested and pull the leaves slightly away from the base of the p-stem to prevent rot.

Hoping for a mild winter!:ha:

The Hollyberry Lady
11-21-2010, 05:16 PM
Fabulous job, Bob! :08:


It reminds me of E.T. though, with those Christmas lights...rememeber when he was in that plastic tent and all you could see was his heart beating! :ha:


Anyway, nice work Bob, and thanks for sharing!


: )

Bob
11-21-2010, 05:20 PM
Feel free to ask me if you need a translation of the parts you don`t understand. :)

Linda, you know Roland really has been one of my greatest inspirations and I'm going to go over his whole site again this week and when I get to the spots I really want to know what he's saying I'll copy them and ask you since you offered . I really think anyone in a colder climate should be aware of this site. A lot of people here have called him "That crazy guy from Germany" in the past , guess I've gone a bit off the deep end myself!:ha:

Thanks! It's much appreciated.


I thought I'd add this link for anyone who hasn't seen it:
Bananen, Anregungen u. Tips. (http://www.bananenhobby.de/)

Dalmatiansoap
11-21-2010, 05:22 PM
Any unusual or strage looks from across the street after seeing your Chrismass tree?

Bob
11-21-2010, 05:25 PM
Any unusual or strage looks from across the street after seeing your Chrismass tree?

Nope! I didn't leave it on except to take the picture. My front porch is lit up like a Christmas tree though with all the banana plants in it for everyone to see again this winter and I think my neighbors are used to it by now. They probably just think I'm ..... " a little off " :ha:

Kevin
11-21-2010, 07:06 PM
They probably just think I'm ..... " a little off " :ha:

Aren't we all?

Jananas Bananas
11-21-2010, 08:31 PM
Bob I have a feature on my computer that translates, sorry the pictures did not show up. Here is one of the pages "Wintering tips with images"

Roland's Bananenhobby

Scroll page!

Wintering tips with images

The winter is the most important issue in the attitude of banana trees. It should always know what climate zone is from his banana tree. I agree with banana trees in my 3 different groups. The first group is that of Hardy (basjoo), which I leave in the open part.
The second group, I hibernate in the basement at about 10 ° C. The third group also needs to be warm in winter.

Here's what Understanding:
All banana trees, and the winters are warm (eg the group of Dwarfs) need in their winter rest. The very weak light in the apartment, or dark winter in the basement and the relatively dry shrubs, the attitude of an artificial rest held. Relatively dry, ie, when the Earth has solved the edge of the pot. Then you have very little to be cast. Leaves, which are unsightly winter, are simply cut off. the leaves over the winter to bring trials, makes no sense. If the shrubs months of UV-abstinence outside come to burn the leaves. Even if the perennial sunlight slowly accustomed to hang after a few weeks, the leaves are limp down and then removed at the latest. How quickly the perennials in the spring to form new leaves, one can at the "reference images" seen very well.
This is obviously not for perennials that are older than one year are not. These need to be cultivated and moist by keeping artificial light as possible.
In "My different varieties are also finding more winter tips.

Group 1 (Temperate Zones) Hardy: Japanese fiber banana (basjoo)
To survive the winter outdoors, there are several possibilities. The first and simplest: you cut the shrubs from the ground via covered the soil with straw, leaves or Styrofoam plates and places a tarp over it. The rhizome should be so protected that it is frost free. In spring, when frost is to be expected, everything is removed. When the ground warms, pushing the perennial new. However, these perennials to late year may not exceed 3 meters and will bear no fruit. In general, plant brings the three-year master fruit.

The second method: cut off a third of the tribe. Around the stem end to set a wire rack that has a diameter of one meter should have. This book is filled with foliage. It should be used no other foliage. Beech foliage rots and rots not so fast. The whole is then covered with a sheet and wrapped. Frost free winter days are provided for ventilation to. In the spring push from the middle stem leaves again.

The third method is the most expensive: You cut the leaves until a hand width from to. Not on a stick, but on the leaf. Then you build a bar around the bush or bar structure, the bubble wrap then wrapped around is. If only one plant rebuilds, it is recommended that interior to two-thirds with leaves fill the book. If the larger enclosed space (for me it was the winter of 2005/2006, 28.7 cubic meters), is dispensed with a filling. We would very much need a large amount of filler material that is difficult to obtain. But the control of perennials is facilitated.

Without filling it is sufficient in mild areas, with temperatures from -6 ° C heat. If colder night temperatures ° C to -6 as expected, it's enough to have a timer at night over the short term (15 minutes) 2 - heater fan switch on a 3 - times up. Through a wireless thermometer can easily control the temperature. With me in the Karlsruhe area, it is rare that I need this emergency heating. The heater fan runs throughout the winter only a few hours because we usually have during the day plus degrees. At night temperatures below -6 ° C, it creates the frost does not complete the night false trunk to penetrate in a.

Anyone who lives a not so mild climate zone in should temperature with the Universal thermostat "UT 200" regulate. This thermostat has a very large adjustment that goes into the red as well.
Here, for the precise description of the universal thermostat "UT 200.

My conversion consists of a 5 cm thick timbers, which I bubble wrap twice on the roof three times and pegged have. I have installed a window, through which a gas spring in charge opens. From February this takes full effect. Through a door, which also serves to aerate, I can always look to the right. Very important is the ventilation in frost-free days. On sunny winter days, you may need both windows and doors are opened, because the internal temperature rises rapidly. 25 ° C should not be exceeded. Such temperature fluctuations in such a short time can the basjoo without problems. A big problem with this Überwinterungsart is the condensation that occurs in the reconstruction. With too much moisture, the tribes soft and wet. It does not succeed, the tribes by normal to dry air, a dehumidifier emergency must perform in his ministry. Wet strains freeze even at minus minimum temperatures by very quickly. The drier the root, the more cold-friendly it is. By this method one is a bit expensive winter fully compensated. The shrubs reach a huge amount. An impressive flower with little apparent fruit is the third year is virtually certain. The basjoo in tubs can frost-free areas, or as described under Group 2 in the winter are also granted.

Click picture to enlarge.



Group 2 (Subtropical zones) plus 10 ° C, Turkey, Ensete
These perennials I have some planted in the field. The Planting Out to be dug when the night temperature drops to 5 ° C. They come to the potted plants in the basement. Whether the leaves shortened strong or stay tuned to does not matter. This depends on the space. rhizomes, the roots must be no consideration to be great. They grow very quickly in the spring. The rhizome should be on a soft surface. For example, polystyrene or peat. About the rhizome is put a cloth or bag which one holds all the wet winter. My potted plants I have in part at an angle of 45 degrees embedded, because I a ceiling height of 3.5 m is missing. The planter has underpinned this very safe and the parent bodies to be supported more. The Earth's surface may dry out quietly. There is very little cast only. Perennials often come not through the winter because they are kept moist. Rotting of the tuber is the result. As lighting is not required. My perennials overwinter in part in complete darkness. In principle, we proceed just as with dahlias or cannas. In the spring after planting to cut off the unsightly leaves. If only the parent stands there is not tragic. With increasing heat it produces new leaves very quickly. You can increase the speed by the soil after planting with bubble wrap covering the same. During the day the earth will warm or hot and at night the heat stored.
Ensete ventricosum the winter of Ensete ventricosum Maurellii and is described in detail with pictures at
"Pictures" documentary "Ensete ventricosum Maurellii".
Here is the documentation: The digging up and storing Ensete ventricosum one.

In "Wintering experiments" I document several experiments.

Click picture to enlarge.



Group 3 (Tropical zones) Musa acuminata Dwarf Cavendish, Musa Dwarf Red, Guyana, Kenya, South Asia, Hawaii
Winters is in the home, or in a suitable hall. They should (without additional lighting), about 18 ° C are bright. Although they are warm winters, they need to rest a bit dry to be held during its. In tropical countries there are also low precipitation periods, when the perennials of rest with minimal growth trigger. I water only when the earth was removed from the pot edge. And then very little! This makes casting behavior for Group 1 and 2 also. Warm winter means spider mites risk! You need to be reviewed periodically in regular.



What happens if I'm wrong Winters?
If I bananas in Group 1 and 2 so hibernate like the group 3 - that is too warm, then I've taken their rest phase of the plant. This break in the spring after they pick you. Placing them outside and is surprised that it only grows sparsely. If this happens, they are placed in a partially shaded place, and pour very carefully. The man should be moist and not wet. Begin during summer growth, more needs to be poured and the fertilized. After the next winter and winter is right again in their natural cycle.
Over winter I have a tree of group 3 to be cooled, it is possible that she adjusts her growth for months.
A properly wintered banana tree begins in the spring immediately to the growth and drives over the summer some cutting.

Planter56
11-21-2010, 10:14 PM
I think your doing a great job Bob and I hope you Enset makes it through the
winter. Over here in Buffalo, that wouldn't do. I dug up my Enset m. and put it down in the basement. I have it sitting on an old seat cusion bare root, along with the dwarf Giant. If you can get some burlap, put that around the bottom of the p-stem to help keep the moisture from building up around it and the leaves off it.

Bob
11-22-2010, 07:21 AM
Thanks Kevin and Kurt, I'll definitely be pulling the leaves away from the base of the ensete today just to prevent moisture build up and rot .


Janan, thank you so much for this!!!!:woohoonaner: I've been checking out that site for about 2 years now and have only been able to get what I could out of it by following the pictures. I've always wanted to hear what this guy had to say and now I'm getting some clue of how he thinks about his plants.. Very cool!

natej740
01-16-2011, 02:12 PM
Any updates??

Bob
01-16-2011, 02:32 PM
Yeah..... unfortunately the whole thing came down in a heavy prolonged windstorm despite my efforts to brace and save it. I'm sure the mother plant died so maybe at best I'll hope that it might send out some pups though for an Ensete it may be unlikely. The cover is still on it though collapsed and I'll post in the spring when I check it out.

john_ny
01-16-2011, 04:44 PM
Sorry to hear that, Bob. I'll have to see if I can find you another one, at TPIE, later this week.

Kostas
01-16-2011, 05:36 PM
I am very sorry to hear that Bob,i hope it does pup for you in the spring!!!

saltydad
01-16-2011, 06:33 PM
Damn, Bob, that's a real bummer. All that work. Hopefully you indeed will end up with something to show for it besides an 'ET recreation' (thanks HBL). I was wondering how you had fared with the recent 2 blizzards.

Bob
01-17-2011, 04:38 PM
Nothing ventured ...nothing gained. I'd know just how to do it better the next time so, its all been worth it. The last snow really wasn't so bad . The blizzard before was the one that did in the tent. Though John got more snow not too far away in Staten island. We had sustained high winds with tremendous gusts for days on end. I don't remember any sustained winds like that here. Even the few hurricanes that have petered out ending up in NJ were not near as bad as that one.
The one good thing is that with all the snow cover now the plants are well insulated and should be for a while till it warms up.... of course tonights forecast is for snow followed by freezing rain .... followed by.....:drum:.... rain.:ha:
: (

51st state
01-17-2011, 06:13 PM
this winter has been a real toughie. I had a look a couple of days ago, but it's just too depressing.
Still, the sun is on it's way back, the days are lengthening and in about a month I think the 'survivors' will be starting to push through. fingers crossed

natej740
01-17-2011, 07:16 PM
I know u had separate threads for this but how are the VC and velutina doin as well.

Bananaman88
01-18-2011, 08:39 PM
Hang in there, Bob. You never know what spring will bring!

Bob
01-19-2011, 03:55 PM
I know u had separate threads for this but how are the VC and velutina doin as well.

Well... they both fruited indoors and the resulting fruits were stunted as expected. Still a success in my book. The velutina mother plant died down and has several pups growing quickly even indoors. The Veinte Cohol .....now named " Bianca" ( don't ask:ha:) produced a nice bunch of stunted fruits as well..... they're supposed to be small anyway but...?.... I haven't been to my friends for several weeks so I'm not sure if the mother plant produced any more pups. I had cut off all the larger ones and kept the biggest that was about 4' or so tall and gave away the rest.