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View Full Version : Too late to order TC plants in zone 9?


Kat2
09-11-2013, 06:53 PM
I do not have a greenhouse or cold frame. Frosts are few here but it happen as can an actual freeze or more. I can bring pots inside for a couple of nights or I could toss a tarp over them; they'd be ganged and "wrapped" with another tarp and placed in a protected area. I can wait until spring to order but would love to get a head start if it would mean some actual growth this fall/winter. How tender are TC plants?

sunfish
09-11-2013, 08:40 PM
I do not have a greenhouse or cold frame. Frosts are few here but it happen as can an actual freeze or more. I can bring pots inside for a couple of nights or I could toss a tarp over them; they'd be ganged and "wrapped" with another tarp and placed in a protected area. I can wait until spring to order but would love to get a head start if it would mean some actual growth this fall/winter. How tender are TC plants?

Why not grow inside all winter

Kat2
09-11-2013, 08:45 PM
Why not grow inside all winterI maybe could clutter my bathroom sink (have a skylight) but would prefer not to if possible. Is that the only choice? Remember I'm a transplant from snow country where nothing survives once winter comes; in this area in protected areas a tomato or pepper (technically perennials) can live to set fruit again. I'm trying to find my weather bearing so indulge me. Are TC plants like seedlings or babies cloned from stem cuttings in regards to fragility?

edzone9
09-11-2013, 09:18 PM
I bought 4 D-Namwa/Blue java TC lat fall , kept them in the kitchen till spring , now there huge ! ... got them from Wellsprings ..

I live in St Augustine fl ...

Ed..

Kat2
09-11-2013, 09:28 PM
In their original pots or redone? I could keep a few little pots in side but gallons even quarts would probably drive me bonkers. You're just south and east of me so you're a good source of information IMO.

edzone9
09-11-2013, 09:33 PM
They came in small pots , i kept them on a small table near the kitchen window.. so i got a head start for the spring , they have grown fast !.

Hope this winter is not as cold as last year..
Good luck....

Ed..

Kat2
09-11-2013, 09:37 PM
The 2 to 4 I'd order from Wellspring I could keep them inside. Any special things you did? Did you fertilize and if so how? Or did you just keep them hydrated?

edzone9
09-11-2013, 09:44 PM
I kept the soil moist & fertilized once per month with coffee grounds after new growth emerged..

They got plenty of sunlight via the litchen window , i will post up pics tomorrow on there progress , they grew really well and have 2-3 pups per plant ..

Im happy with my wellsprings purchase.
You might want to check out your local Walmart for some hidden gems.
Yesterday i found 2 ARH plantains at a Walmart in Palatka , $7.50 per plant and they where a good size..

Heres the the D-Namwa i bought last fall from Wellsspring.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54478&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54478)

Good luck..

Kat2
09-11-2013, 09:53 PM
Walmart in Jacksonville is offering "banana plants" unnamed for the same price but very tiny. I think they're DC; I already have one I purchased at Lowes in Cocoa. Supposedly I have 4 maybe 5 pups "cooking" down in Cocoa for me from a free pickup I found from a member here on CL before I joined; they weren't planted quickly so we'll see. ARH was on my list! Great find!

I can find a way to keep babies through winter inside; thanks for relating your experience.

Abnshrek
09-11-2013, 10:14 PM
Keep your list down or you'll end up w/ something like this.. lol :^)
http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/Bucko13f/AMF_zps2a0f76fd.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/Bucko13f/media/AMF_zps2a0f76fd.jpg.html)

Kat2
09-11-2013, 10:24 PM
If I hadn't lost a HD, I could show you more than 1500 figlets rooting in my basement with 95% success and I tossed most because I had no space or traders for all. I totally understand how quickly "let me just do another" multiplies; I have learned my lesson. 2 to 4 inside and that's IT!

But thanks for the reminder.

edzone9
09-12-2013, 12:18 PM
This is what they look like today , pretty stout..

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54525&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54525&ppuser=14807)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54524&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54524&ppuser=14807)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=54526&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=54526&ppuser=14807)

Kat2
09-12-2013, 09:19 PM
WOW! Now I just have to narrow it down to 4 or less...

edzone9
09-12-2013, 09:25 PM
4=16 bananas.

Kat2
09-12-2013, 10:13 PM
Enabler? I have limited growing space just now so have to rein myself in. Quick question--how soon did your TCs pup? I finally have 2 off of this DC I planted mid May--plant is very healthy but her name is not Myrtle.

edzone9
09-13-2013, 05:49 AM
Mine took quite a while to pup , but once the 1st pup arrived , they kept on comming..

Ed..