View Full Version : wintering
cannasrus
09-16-2013, 06:06 PM
Looking for some answers about wintering my banana trees in south western Indiana. I brought them in last year, but now the base of the trees are 6 to 10 inches across. I am thinking They may be too big to dig. They are cold hearty, but I have lost some befor in the winter. anyone got some advice????
pmurphy
09-16-2013, 06:14 PM
It would depend upon a few things: do you know the type of banana you have (basjoo?) and your zone?
cannasrus
09-16-2013, 08:09 PM
I have a couple that are , and a couple Giant mecong ???? Not sure of the spelling. They all got huge this summer. I think I am zone 5 a ??? maybe
sunfish
09-16-2013, 08:11 PM
I have a couple that are , and a couple Giant mecong ???? Not sure of the spelling. They all got huge this summer. I think I am zone 5 a ??? maybe
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/)
cannasrus
09-16-2013, 08:16 PM
Ok, I am in 6a. is it best to dig stem and all and wrap up or cut off and a couple feet of mulch with a tarp over them ???? I have read so much stuff today and i am just confused
Olafhenny
09-17-2013, 07:11 PM
Hi Buddy,
here is a repeat of a post I placed just yesterday in a different thread on this subject:
There are various ways of bringing your bananas through the winter in frigid regions:
• You can leave them in the pot and keep them growing inside for the winter, either by a bright window,
or under growing lights.
• You can uproot them and store them lying on there side in basement or garage.
• Or you can, like I do, leave them outside and protect them by mulching heavily with leaves or such.
• Some people in a more farm like setting stash hay or straw bales around them.
I have now devised, what I believe to be a much better and in the long run easier solution: double
walled Styrofoam “hoods” filled with fibreglass stuffing, which can be taken off early in spring and stuck back
over quickly and easily, when frost threatens again. The polystyrene hoods cost me for three, one to cover
a whole pad and two for single stems well under $60.-for materials. The fibreglass stuffing costs another
$22.- or so per roll, but is only enough for two covers. I had enough for the third one still laying around.
You can find out about the details here: http://www.bananas.org/f2/permanent-banana-shelter-winter-spring-17855.html
In previous years I just waited until frost nicked the leaves, sliced them off and the pseudo-stem to a
manageable size built a 18” to two feet fence around the pad and filled that up with leaves. That has the
disadvantage, that it is more or less an “all or nothing” thing to uncover it in spring. You have to wait longer
to be sure and lose valuable growing time.
I am sure you have more questions, so fire away!
Best,
Olaf
I just want to add to that, that should you chose to store them dry root in your basement or garage, make
sure they do not come into direct contact with concrete. Place plastic sheeting on the concrete, cover that
up with card board and place your Pseudo stems on top of that. Direct contact with concrete risks rot.
cincinnana
09-17-2013, 07:27 PM
Well said Olaf !!!
No detail left out.
:woohoonaner:
orinoko
09-18-2013, 02:27 AM
Welcome to the forum cannasrus!
:nanadrink::goteam:
cannasrus
09-18-2013, 12:53 PM
Thanks for your Help Olaf. I have 5 big ones with maybe 15 pups between all of them, I think that i am going to dig them out and winter them in the garage.
Olafhenny
09-18-2013, 01:16 PM
Well said Olaf !!!
No detail left out.
:woohoonaner:
Not quite, I did not elaborate on why I consider wintering outside far superior to the dry root
method, not only less work, but also IMOEO much more conducive to the resumption of growth
in the following spring. :)
Westwood
10-08-2016, 02:06 AM
thanks guys reading and learning and Doing my Best here in oregon with 2 1 yr old Musa Cavendish , ill try them in the house and the 5 i just got Per Ty directions just started Raining like mad here in oregon Missing us all summer
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