View Full Version : Bananas in SE TN...
Randy4ut
09-04-2011, 06:36 PM
Many of you do not know me as it has been a while since I have posted on here. I just wanted to share some of the bananas that I have growing in SE TN (zone 7a/b). Maybe some of the older members remember me and if so, hope everyone is doing well!
Hope you enjoy whoever you are!
Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket (http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/2011%20September%20around%20the%20backyard/?albumview=slideshow)
SteveW17
09-04-2011, 09:29 PM
Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing. Where do you find the time man?
:nanadrink:
Randy4ut
09-05-2011, 07:52 AM
Steve, really not a lot of time required once the beds are prepped and plants in the ground. Most time required is watering, and this past month was terrible. Had to water about every 3 days and about 6-8 hours spent watering each time... The ones that are not hardy for me do take some time in fall with digging and storing, but for me it is worth the time and effort...
1aday
09-05-2011, 04:25 PM
They look really great, Randy. You can really see a difference in how they grow between planting them out and keeping them in pots. I kept my big ones in the greenhouse because they were just too heavy to carry- they got too hot there and about half died, including my big 1000, boo-hoo!
willy1der
09-06-2011, 01:05 AM
You have one of the better gardens I have seen for your zone!!Love the pics!!!
soundofthemusic1
09-08-2011, 08:43 PM
Your hard work does pay off, Randy. Beautiful banana plants! And thank you for sharing the photos with us.
JDE222
09-15-2011, 06:07 PM
Randy, You have a great collection going there. I am trying my luck in Kentucky and hope to overwinter as many varieties as possible. Besides the basjoos, what varieties have been the hardiest in locale? I am north of you, but am on the Ohio river, so we are slightly warmer than the rest of Western Kentucky.
Bradford
09-20-2011, 08:05 PM
Great pictures and a lot of variety.
How old is your Musa Basjoo mat, and what preps do you undertake for winter?
Thanks for posting!
revensen
09-21-2011, 06:16 PM
Beautiful yard and garden Randy. Great collection of plants. I really like the musa rose.
Randy4ut
09-22-2011, 05:05 PM
Randy, You have a great collection going there. I am trying my luck in Kentucky and hope to overwinter as many varieties as possible. Besides the basjoos, what varieties have been the hardiest in locale? I am north of you, but am on the Ohio river, so we are slightly warmer than the rest of Western Kentucky.
Appreciate the compliment and wish you well in all your efforts in KY! Other than the basjoo, I leave out Musa itinerans, M. velutina, Musella lasiocarpus, and an ornamental that a few of us are trialing for someone that is working on creating hybrids. (it is named right now as AA-2-25)
Randy4ut
09-22-2011, 05:10 PM
Great pictures and a lot of variety.
How old is your Musa Basjoo mat, and what preps do you undertake for winter?
Thanks for posting!
Thanks, Bradford... Only preparations that I do for my basjoo is the 3" of mulch that I leave year round. I have, in the past, used bags of leaves stacked on top of each other with pstem inside. I did not see much difference in overall height by the end of growing season by doing this, but who knows? I have had my basjoo mat for 6 years now... Started out with 3 pups.
SteveW17
09-26-2011, 09:40 AM
Randy,
where do you store the ones that have to come inside? I am only growing Basjoo this year after I lost two nice Orinoco's. I used the "cage" method, leaving the p-stems about 3' high, wrapped in burlap then filled with straw and leaves and covered with a tarp - didn't work.-S.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45936&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45936)
Randy4ut
09-27-2011, 12:43 PM
I store my bananas under the house with no heat or light. I keep them off the ground on plastic pallets and that is it... Some do better than others stored this way so I am still experimenting with which ones overwinter this way and which ones don't... I have had success with this method for: Mysore, Ice Cream, Praying Hands, Dwarf Cavendish, Rose, and even Golden Aromatic. Zebrinus, Siam Ruby not so well!!! Live and learn...
soundofthemusic1
09-27-2011, 10:09 PM
I store my bananas under the house with no heat or light.
Randy,
I'm not clear on "under the house" part. Do you mind clarifying it a bit for me? Thanks!
Randy4ut
09-28-2011, 06:03 PM
Rae,
Not sure how houses are built in your area, but here, houses are built with a "crawlspace" under the house. This can vary in height from a couple feet to 4-5 depending on the slope of your lot. My house has a crawlspace that is about 2.5' and makes moving around it difficult, but still works. I also store some in a friend's crawlspace which is about 5' down to 3' in the back and makes pstem storing alot easier to get them in and out.
soundofthemusic1
09-28-2011, 07:18 PM
Rae,
Not sure how houses are built in your area, but here, houses are built with a "crawlspace" under the house. This can vary in height from a couple feet to 4-5 depending on the slope of your lot. My house has a crawlspace that is about 2.5' and makes moving around it difficult, but still works. I also store some in a friend's crawlspace which is about 5' down to 3' in the back and makes pstem storing alot easier to get them in and out.
Randy,
I thought crawlspace was what you meant as my late father-in-law had one, too. My house does not come with a crawlspace, so I can’t apply the same methodology to any of my plants on a trail basis. I don’t have banana plants, but your idea is very appealing when I think about my nine feet tall giant bird of paradise.
Thank you very much for your clarification. I learn something new from you today. :)
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