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GARDENHOBBIT
12-05-2012, 03:41 PM
I just found this site today and would like to say how much I appreciate everyone who posted in the overwintering thread.

This is my first year growing a Banana Plant and I hope to keep it alive over the winter.

It is in an unheated drafty Greenhouse that I built out of scrap material.

I wonder if I need to cut the leaves back on the Saanich Peninsula.

I don't know what type of Banana it is.

Abnshrek
12-05-2012, 04:12 PM
Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. Post some pics to your gallery and some maybe able to help w/ your Banana ID. :^)

Illia
12-05-2012, 07:56 PM
Welcome!

In your zone, I really wouldn't be too worried. I've got an unheated not too well insulated greenhouse in zone 8, and my 5 foot Namwahs survived several freezes (P-Stem, not the leaves) without any added protection for a while. My best advice is to keep that stem wrapped nicely with insulation, don't worry about the leaves if it is a cold hardy cultivar. If you want more warmth without money sucking heating, my best advice is to look into passive solar heating. (heating via water and/or cement; use a solid north backing on the greenhosue, preferably white to reflect heat and light, and use black pickle barrels to fill with water so they soak heat during the day and release it at night)


Edited to add - I'd keep the leaves if I were you until they are burned from frost. If it's a cold hardy variety. Otherwise it doesn't matter. A freeze at some point will kill them regardless if it kills the entire plant or not, all you need to worry of is the main stem and its base/corm.

cincinnana
12-05-2012, 09:32 PM
Welcome to the forums ,where lots of people know lots of stuff!!!
Have fun here!

GARDENHOBBIT
12-10-2012, 06:06 PM
Thanks Illia,

I think it's cold hardy as it still has green leaves after the two or three frosts we've had so far.