Log in

View Full Version : Learning as I go


amantedelenguaje
10-27-2013, 10:58 AM
I've been heavy into bananas and tropicals since 2010. This is my fourth year over-wintering plants. The first two years, I put my limited store of plants in my house by a sunny window. The third year, I used my house and a greenhouse that I built. The funny thing is that the amount of plants I own keeps multiplying, especially those darn banana pups.

Last year, my greenhouse hit temperatures of 34F degrees for a couple of hours. This happened several times. None-the-less, all my plants survived and thrived during the spring/summer. One even produced bananas. Hmm...I was expecting dead plants at 34F. Time to rethink things. My new strategy is to keep the plants from freezing and dying, whereas my old strategy was to keep them actively growing.

My first ever in-ground bananas: The bananas are enclosed by large tomato cages that are filled with hay. Plastic is placed over the cages to keep out moisture. Additionally, the bananas are planted adjacent to my house on the south side to maximize warmth. If these bananas survive and produce fruit, I am going to put a lot more nanners in the ground.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i185xhgWzrY/Um0pkOxiRuI/AAAAAAAADSg/exJwgAVFOd4/s320/2013-10-27%2B10.47.19-776311.jpg

Greenhouse plants: The goal is no longer to keep them growing, but just to keep them alive.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLI59PDSUrU/Um0plJauEwI/AAAAAAAADS4/6fDkpA5LeRE/s320/2013-10-27%2B10.48.09-779341.jpg

Covered porch plants: My research on avocados shows that they can take temperatures around 32F and even a little lower. These plants are going to stay on my covered porch on the south side of my house. I will bring them inside at night if temperatures are to go below freezing, else they will stay on the porch.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXuUgcPm6GQ/Um0pl4SaWzI/AAAAAAAADTQ/6rpAQH_sxr0/s320/2013-10-27%2B10.47.40-782549.jpg

House plants: Several plants are in my house because there is no more room in the greenhouse. I have a banana that is about to flower, dragon fruit, and several citrus. The citrus generally flower when I bring them indoors. This gives me the chance to pollinate without having to go out to the greenhouse. My Meyer lemon is carrying a load of fruit already.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TG4uO8in5IA/Um0pjc0vUsI/AAAAAAAADSQ/PNexVHdqBzI/s320/2013-10-27%2B10.50.54-772559.jpg

edzone9
10-27-2013, 11:19 AM
Everything looks great ! good luck with the bananas!

Olafhenny
10-27-2013, 05:19 PM
Last year, my greenhouse hit temperatures of 34F degrees for a couple of hours. This happened several times. None-the-less, all my plants survived and thrived during the spring/summer. One even produced bananas. Hmm...I was expecting dead plants at 34F.

My bananas (basjoos) have already survived temperatures of -2^C (28^F) sustained for a full
5 hours at that level and only suffered some damage at the exposed ends of the high leaves (see
pictures here: http://www.bananas.org/f2/flag-too-late-again-ready-just-19209.html#post231770.

I am fairly certain, that goes for all banana plants. The frost has to penetrate into the leaves
for long enough and deep enough to form ice crystals. There are tropicals, of which the sap gels
at low temperatures but still above freezing. That blocks the infrastructure of the plant and
subsequently kills it, if it prevails for too long. But I do not think, that any banana falls into
that category.

The hardiness of the various varieties pertains to the corm. How that is affected by
sustained exposure to low (above freezing?) temperatures I do not know and that is what
probably varies in accordance with the variety.

Congratulation to you successes with tropicals. I am also interested in your experience
with citrus. See Here: http://www.bananas.org/f9/citrus-forum-19286.html#post232531,
scroll down to my second post read it and then click on the link.

Best,
Olaf
PS: my E. Maurelii also survived these temps.

Snookie
10-27-2013, 05:51 PM
Dat's what I'm talking about:}

Looking Good!

Simply......


http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-fake-a-southern-accent-2.png