New Banana Guy

[bob21801]

I just want to say hello and ask a quick first question. My name is Bob. I live in Salisbury MD, Zone 7a. I'm an avid gardener but new to growing bananas and other tropicals, except a bit as houseplants. I've recently purchased a Musa Basjoo, about 6 feet tall, an unnamed red banana tree about 4 feet tall, an 18" what I believe to be Musa Basjoo, as well as a 3 foot tall windmill palm. I'm planning to crate a tropical area in front of my home, where I can enjoy the look and feel of it this summer. I'll ask my first question here, but you can count on me posting in other areas of the forums as I need more info.

We're warming up (finally), but in the past couple days, we've dipped back into the upper 30's and low 40's at night. I'm wondering how low of a temp am I safe to keep my banana trees outside during the night. I assume these were grown out in a heated greenhouse, and don't want to set them back now.

BTW, I'm glad I found this forum and I'm looking forward to learning more about growing bananas and other tropicals in my area.

Thanks!
Bob

[Abnshrek]

Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. The Red Banana will need to be potted up during the winter.. and the others might need protection in place depending on how cold you get there.. :^)

[bob21801]

Thanks Abnsherk, but what I'm wondering has to do with now (early spring), where's we're just getting into warm temps during the day, but still have cold nights.

Am I safe to keep my new trees outside when nighttime temps will get down to 40 degrees? Am I save even down to 35 degrees? Or should I bring them in if it will drop down to 50 degrees at night?

As I said, I'm afraid of leaving them out on chilly nights. I don't want to damage the new growth they put on in the greenhouse before I purchased them.

[Abnshrek]

If what you say is correct the only one you have to worry about when it gets below 50F is the Red one.. Red's no matter the type don't like cold.

[bob21801]

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

If what you say is correct the only one you have to worry about when it gets below 50F is the Red one.. Red's no matter the type don't like cold.

Last night got down to 39 here... tonight is suppose to be 36. It's suppose to start warming back up a bit after that, but we won't see 50 at night until mid week. Thanks for the info on the red one.

[bob21801]

What about the Musa Basjoo? To what temp is it safe to leave those out at night? Again, I'd like to avoid damaging any new growth this time of year.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by bob21801

What about the Musa Basjoo? To what temp is it safe to leave those out at night? Again, I'd like to avoid damaging any new growth this time of year.

Not for the size plant your talking about.. If it were a lot smaller you might be pushing it..

[bob21801]

If it gets down to 32 degrees tonight, can I leave the Musa Bajoo outside without damaging the new growth?

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by bob21801

If it gets down to 32 degrees tonight, can I leave the Musa Bajoo outside without damaging the new growth?

That's the number I don't leave no Banana outside w/o protection.. All Banana's freeze.. I wouldn't do it...

[bob21801]

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

That's the number I don't leave no Banana outside w/o protection.. All Banana's freeze.. I wouldn't do it...

So should my cutoff point for leaving the Musa be around 40 degrees? or 45?

Thanks again for the replies.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by bob21801

So should my cutoff point for leaving the Musa be around 40 degrees? or 45?

Thanks again for the replies.

40F for everything but the Red, that I'd say is more like 50F..

[bob21801]

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

40F for everything but the Red, that I'd say is more like 50F..

Perfect! Thanks!