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View Full Version : help planning my yard!


FranH
01-02-2013, 01:28 AM
I am trying to put together a list of bananas and other plants to use around our pool this year, but could use some help. I have some basjoo, Mekong giant and some m. lasiocarpa. as well as some canna. I am in wildwood crest nj which I think is 7b. what other bananas or elephant ears can survive here. Also have a few ensete that I dug up and potted for the winter. My other dilemma is that we shut down the house for the winter since its our summer home so anything I would have to dig up I would have to bring back to Philly with me so I would want plants that I can leave and protect in the ground.
Thanks
Fran

Illia
01-02-2013, 11:48 PM
I've never tried it myself but I hear M. velutina can survive zone 7b. Best to mulch it during the winter just in case though. They're a fast fruiter too with pink fruit and flower, which is always a plus. Other than that, I don't know for sure. Most others tolerate zone 8 and up. If I were in zone 7, I'm crazy, I'd try some of the most cold hardy edibles and do what I can to keep them around anyway. Whether that be digging them up and overwintering them in a cool dry room or wrapping them and padding them up real good, - I'd do what it takes.

edited to add - I'd personally go for dwarf cold tolerant edible types, so that when they get big enough, lugging around a 5 footer is much easier than an 8 footer!