Log in

View Full Version : Basjoo Bye Bye????????


duluthga
01-06-2014, 03:30 PM
Supposed to be around 6 in the morning, 20's now and windy here in NE Atlanta. I've posted before that I've had luck leaving them out with no protection other than the dead leaves hanging down but this is pushing it. Good news is that temps are forecast to be above normal next week. I'm going out now and putting pine straw around the bottom of the trunks, that's about all I can do. Will report back after this cold spell as to what has transpired.

lmswayne
01-06-2014, 05:50 PM
good luck I hope things improve quickly.

cincinnana
01-06-2014, 06:31 PM
Supposed to be around 6 in the morning, 20's now and windy here in NE Atlanta. I've posted before that I've had luck leaving them out with no protection other than the dead leaves hanging down but this is pushing it. Good news is that temps are forecast to be above normal next week. I'm going out now and putting pine straw around the bottom of the trunks, that's about all I can do. Will report back after this cold spell as to what has transpired.
Your good still.

sman87
01-06-2014, 06:35 PM
That p stem will be frozen hard as a rock after this artic blast... lets all prey for a banana miracle and hope we can scrape through this without massive damage. It's gonna be upsetting hearing everyone's damage reports.

Olafhenny
01-06-2014, 06:51 PM
Hi Duluthga,
that does not sound like your real name? A first name, (even if it is not your real
one) would make conversations a lot easier and friendlier.

Now to your problem: You can kiss your leaves goodbye, maybe even your PS.
However, it is unlikely, that your corm has suffered any damage after such a brief
period of temps in the twenties. If you want to make sure, you can dig a little hole
nearby and see how deep the frost has gone, If the soil is not frozen deeply enough
to reach your corm, it will be alright. Everything else will regrow in spring.
Though you should use the pending warming to pile on anything you can find; leaves
sawdust bark/wood chips etc. If some of the PS still looks sound after the weather
has warmed, create some airspace around it, by sticking a bucket, pipe or whatever
covers it, over it and the insulate. An old quilt will do (can you spell "Sally Ann?)
as long as you protect it all with a plastic bag or such to keep the rain out.

There is a huge cold front invading much of the US. so you may not have a lot
of time, if a break in the cold weather occurs.

Best of luck,
Olaf

George Webster
01-06-2014, 11:01 PM
My Basjoo's froze to the ground back in October. It has been below freezing since Saturday. Low this morning -8. High today was Zero. It is supposed to be -6 in the morning. By Thursday it is supposed to get above freezing for a couple hours each day.

I expect come June, pups, a dozen or so, will appear and grow quickly to 20 feet plus. This is colder than this mat has experienced but I am confident they will come through. They always freeze to below ground level.

Temperature now (10 PM) is -3.

George

Bradford
01-07-2014, 11:49 PM
Mine got burned bad last night. My only condolance is that most of my corms are pretty big and will come back with a vengeance in the spring with lots of pups to repopulate the yard.

Bradford
01-08-2014, 12:13 AM
I stay in Brunswick at times near the ocean ....you live in a beautiful area.
Wow ....I would not think you could get that cold there.
Being so close to the water.
Good luck with your plants!

Being surrounded by the water kept us from going into the teens I think last night. Water temp is high 50's, was 25 this morning. BRRRRRRR!

sandy0225
01-08-2014, 08:34 PM
I have basjoo that have been out for around 7 years here in Indiana. They will be back this summer. I predict that the one I put out this last summer will come back too. Don't worry, they are really tough and resilient plants.

Funkthulhu
01-09-2014, 01:20 PM
This was my first year experimenting with leaving a few outside. Then we get the coldest period in 20 years. I'm not holding my breath.

But if, after a hard freeze and air-temps down to -15F, they still come back I will be pleasantly surprised at the tenacity of this corm!

duluthga
01-10-2014, 09:40 AM
Bad news.......all of the stems have collapsed into a big mushy mess. Base diameter of some of these were around 8 inches. It got to 6' with heavy winds a few days ago. My plan is to just leave them as they are as the collapsed stems and foliage should protect the corms...I hope! Man I'm dreading getting in there and removing the mess, yuck! As soon as the material dries out some I'll start the clean up. Leaving that mushy material on there could cause rot if I wait till Spring. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Weird that they survived last year as it got to 10'....may have been the heavy winds.

Bradford
01-10-2014, 05:24 PM
I'd be interested in hearing others experience with leaving the stems. I usually cut the burned leaves off and cut the stem down to where i can see some fresh green. Usually 3-5 feet from the ground. Most of the stems will then put off a new leaf from there for the next season. If after a week or so things seem like they're getting mushy i then take the stem off at the base to keep all that mush from rotting the corm. What do the rest of ya'll think?

sandy0225
01-10-2014, 07:23 PM
You all just don't get it down South! They are supposed to get all mushy and they collapse down to the ground,leave them alone until spring. The stems will serve as mulch until then. They will come up right through the dried mulch from last year. You don't dig on them or cut on them or anything. Benign neglect. That's how I do it here in Indiana.

cincinnana
01-10-2014, 09:00 PM
Here is a link to a previous post that I created for us Basjoo lovers.
It is an alternate way to overwinter your plants in severe weather.
Note the size of the plants.

.http://www.bananas.org/f10/hibernating-basjoo-19512.html#post235281

designshark
01-10-2014, 10:30 PM
I did a total stem protection last year with heat tape, straw, cage and tarps. The stem mushed out to about 12" from the ground. I kept chopping slices until I saw green in the slices, it took right off to about 12' in 3rd year. I just used leaves, cage and tarp this year and we'll see what happens. It was -16 here for nearly 24 hours this week with a foot of fresh wet snow.
:0487:

orinoko
02-10-2014, 05:57 AM
Most of the stems will then put off a new leaf from there for the next season. If after a week or so things seem like they're getting mushy i then take the stem off at the base to keep all that mush from rotting the corm. What do the rest of ya'll think?

I thought mine were dead but under the brown/dark of the stem its green which new rollers should appear from in Spring so I am told...Just peel the outer dark skin come spring.

I am in the UK where its very wet, and now frosty but will leave mine wrapped.