View Full Version : Outside Basjoo - when did your corms start growing this year?
geissene
04-08-2015, 01:02 PM
Hi there
I live in PA and was curious to know when everyone's overwintered/dormant basjoo corms start to grow this spring.
If you leave your basjoos outside over the winter, please let me know when and also what your location is. Thanks!
I have one basjoo corm that seems to have survived outdoors without rotting away! It hasn't started to grow yet - although we only had 3 or so 65+ days here.
Erik G
near Philly
scottu
04-08-2015, 05:30 PM
I am planning on uncovering this weekend, tho the ground is still pretty cold.
raggedyredhead
04-08-2015, 08:54 PM
Hi there
I live in PA and was curious to know when everyone's overwintered/dormant basjoo corms start to grow this spring.
If you leave your basjoos outside over the winter, please let me know when and also what your location is. Thanks!
I have one basjoo corm that seems to have survived outdoors without rotting away! It hasn't started to grow yet - although we only had 3 or so 65+ days here.
Erik G
near Philly
Mine came up middle to late May. I live in central Jersey.
RogerEvenBove
04-08-2015, 11:56 PM
I think mid or late May in West Chester. I assumed that I had lost it and put in a new one, but the old one caught up.
cincinnana
04-09-2015, 04:50 AM
I stuck my finger down the hole and still a little mushy:ha:
In my area zone 6 they start popping mid/late April and are still coming up 5 weeks later. You can almost time them with Daffodils.
What I have noticed is the pups/offshoots come up first and then followed by the main stem but that is not always the case.
When I took this series of photos last year some of the plants were at 5 feet yet others were like photo shown....go figure.
.https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/14165182384_e5dab50807.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nzJgdu)spring growth (https://flic.kr/p/nzJgdu) by Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/people/110357684@N02/), on Flickr
SixtySix
04-09-2015, 05:08 AM
I'm just north of Atlanta.
Had pups up two weeks ago, a frost knocked them down. They are back and are currently about 7-8" tall.
It was in the mid 80's here yesterday.
geissene
04-09-2015, 08:19 AM
Thanks everyone! I guess I know what to expect for this year.
Kevin2685
04-10-2015, 08:37 AM
I live in indiana haven't uncovered mine yet but really curious if they will come back as last year was my first year growing them. Will be uncovering them soon and will let you know how they turn out
Kevin2685
04-13-2015, 09:40 AM
Well I uncovered mine yesterday and I am happy to say I think everything looks
Great. Looks exactly like the day I cut them down. Doesn't appear to be any rot and all the pups that were pushing out when I covered them up are still nice and green. I will update you on when they start pushing out growth.
I'm so happy they made it as this was my first year at overwintering them. :08::08::08::nanadrink:
geissene
04-13-2015, 12:53 PM
Congratulations! Amazing that you had pups stay green over the winter. I assumed they would just brown out with freezing temperatures. You must have a good winterization scheme!
Kevin2685
04-13-2015, 03:45 PM
Here is a picture of one of the little pups. This is couple mins after I uncovered so it looks brown and wet it just from the mulch and such. I pushed on all the stumps from the big ones I cut down and the are all nice and hard we will see if everything stays that way it's still only between 66 and 70 during the day and around 45 to 50 at night.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/538CE350-8B32-47CD-83B3-25BEF68DDB92_zpsisfq6qea.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/538CE350-8B32-47CD-83B3-25BEF68DDB92_zpsisfq6qea.jpg.html)
Funkthulhu
04-15-2015, 08:26 AM
Ugh...
Solid corm, no rot, and has been in the ground for 11 days. Has been watered and rained upon several times, soil temps in the 40's-50's, several days of full sun, and air temp has been 60-70's degrees every day.
Still no activity, no push, no green.
I'm about ready to dig up and check for soft spots or something.
Kevin2685
04-15-2015, 09:52 AM
Mine hasn't started growing either but it looks like everything survived. Maybe they just need some more time to wake up I will post when mine starts pushing out new growth.
SixtySix
04-15-2015, 12:37 PM
Since we're sharing pics....
http://i.imgur.com/vTsLEgZ.jpg?1
Longwoods Tropicals
04-16-2015, 05:38 AM
I uncovered my patch last week. I tried to save some P-stem, from 2-5 feet, I appears I was able to save about half of that height, not bad considering I saw -24 F and had an average Feb. temp of 8 F.
Just one week into it's spring season there is much elongation and some true leaves are already unfurling. Any one who doubts basjoo's ability to withstand a zone 4-5 winter should re-examine their skepticism.
Kevin2685
04-19-2015, 08:01 AM
Mine is waking up. Temps this week are going to drop at night so I have to keep a eye on the weather and make sure the don't get hit with frost. One guy down the road didn't cut his down as far left maybe a foot on each looks like his is pushing up their first leaves. He has been growing them for couple years now.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/E1269577-2CB0-4E1F-8B61-2F5A77BDF626_zpsoi76oaka.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/E1269577-2CB0-4E1F-8B61-2F5A77BDF626_zpsoi76oaka.jpg.html)
drobbins
04-19-2015, 11:39 AM
I saw first signs of life about 3 weeks ago but now everything is pushing something up. I know it's milder here than for a lot of you folks but we still had a nasty winter, low single digits a couple of times and I didn't mulch or anything.
Of course the ones in the ground are basjoo.
Here's a pic from today, the 2 in the background are ensete glaucoms that overwintered in the basement
http://drobbins.net/bananas/20150419_122641.jpg
pnwpdf
04-27-2015, 02:25 AM
Usually I start looking for my bananas poking their tops out of the mulch in March, but I got lucky this year and most of my bananas never even froze back, they just lost their leaves. I don't protect them over the winter either, I just let the dead leaves insulate the pseudostems until March. I bet most people didn't expect conditions like that in a state adjacent to Canada. I'm expecting quite a few banana flowers this year!
cactus6103
04-28-2015, 06:00 AM
Mine started to show in early April. Now they stand 24"-30" high. I'm in NC just outside of Asheville. Looking forward to seeing the plants grow big I hope if the winds leave them alone!!
Red
Funkthulhu
04-28-2015, 08:42 AM
Okay, we're coming up on a month in the ground and not even a twinge of a push from the middle.
I'm beginning to give up hope...
geissene
04-28-2015, 11:38 AM
Mine isn't growing either but we just had a spring freeze a few days ago.
I wouldn't give up hope yet. Last year, I thought my basjoo was all rotted but it did produce some pups in late May. Not bad - since the corm was outside in soggy soil for part of the winter.
Erik G
siege2050
04-30-2015, 12:55 AM
zone 7a here, started emerging around April 1st, and are about 1 1/4 foot tall now.
Jim P.R.
05-01-2015, 08:37 PM
Mine isn't growing either but we just had a spring freeze a few days ago.
I wouldn't give up hope yet. Last year, I thought my basjoo was all rotted but it did produce some pups in late May. Not bad - since the corm was outside in soggy soil for part of the winter.
Erik G
Thank you very much for this post and this entire thread. It's May 1st and both my Basjoos haven't popped yet. I wrapped both and both were knocked back to the ground and are pretty mushy. The corms are solid about 2 inches below the soil. One of the two grew to about 8 feet last year with a fairly thick pseudo stem, I hope I get similar results this year.
cannasrus
05-15-2015, 08:04 AM
I uncovered mine about 4 weeks ago, two of the biggest ones looked like a glob of mush...thought we lost them, they have sice started growing some over 3 feet tall now. all the pups are back up, it was a sucsessful winter here in s.w, Indiana. My first Year wintering them outside too I wonderded if it would work....we just used straw and alot of it.
geissene
05-17-2015, 07:06 AM
I guess I spoke too soon. I dig up my corm this weekend and most of it is just mush. I guess the winter was too harsh and I didn't do enough to save it. Oh well... at least the pups I removed in fall are still alive and thriving!
Funkthulhu
05-19-2015, 09:21 AM
We're now at 45 days in the ground, no rot going in and no temps below 35 since they were planted. . .
Still nothing.
I'm about to give up, especially since all the elephant ears around them have decided it's time to grow. The question for me now is, do I give up for this year or go find some replacements before summer gets rolling?
The only "nanner" I have left now is a battered and belittled Ensete (which oddly enough is bouncing back and thriving at the center of my banana mound/display).
geissene
05-19-2015, 02:58 PM
I'm sorry to hear that! So much for a cold hardy plant, right?
Last year, I did get some basjoos to sprout from a partially dead corm but they were very slow to grow. They only got to 2' by the end of summer. Perhaps starting from new pups would be wise....
This fall I will try to minimize the amount of time the plants are dormant and also not put them into my unheated basement until the basement temperature starts to drop below 60F. I may even try to keep one outside in a styrofoam structure like OlafHenry made.
Erik G
sandy0225
05-20-2015, 07:54 AM
mine have just started in the last week or so, same with hardy hibiscus. Customers were already coming in asking to buy replacements. I told them to give it some more time.
Kevin2685
05-20-2015, 12:07 PM
My basjoo is doing great here is a pic from today
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/3B69DE22-999C-41B4-9E30-EE60FF2F994F_zpsidjdjslt.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/3B69DE22-999C-41B4-9E30-EE60FF2F994F_zpsidjdjslt.jpg.html)
My hibiscus just started coming to life about 2 weeks ago. They are starting to pick up some but it has been cold last couple days.
Pic from today
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/63F782B7-C464-4900-A4A4-B8DDBCE583ED_zpsokscjpbv.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/63F782B7-C464-4900-A4A4-B8DDBCE583ED_zpsokscjpbv.jpg.html)
Funkthulhu
05-26-2015, 08:34 AM
Huzzah!
I was weeding the banana patch yesterday (which is amazingly easy as there are no bananas) and noticed I have a tiny sprout!
The elephant ears are all sprouting and there is one 3" little 'nanner also pushing through. Perhaps not all is lost! (also, we finally got above 60F soil temps, so maybe that's it.)
Jeff_Ajax
06-03-2015, 01:42 PM
Took my box off in early April and this is what I had about 3 weeks after...
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11081286_10155726762500001_4279259861759609199_n.jpg?oh=b7bea7f2 adc3c528bb8518537028dc0f&oe=55F5D69A
siege2050
06-04-2015, 01:11 AM
Took my box off in early April and this is what I had about 3 weeks after...
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11081286_10155726762500001_4279259861759609199_n.jpg?oh=b7bea7f2 adc3c528bb8518537028dc0f&oe=55F5D69A
Wow, you are in zone 5 and you saved that much Pstem, what kind of box did you have on them?
Jeff_Ajax
06-04-2015, 10:31 AM
I use 1.5" rigid insulation (meant for foundations) and build a small wood frame then attach the insulation to it. Inside the box I have two set of shop lights (4' double t12 tube pull cord style). I hook these up to a thermostat set at 5 degrees and they push through the winter with no issues. Here's a photo today of the bunch.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11377150_10155877646700001_8594363437672302907_n.jpg?oh=d25f4a05 fc973b9676619d9e6b627a75&oe=55F7EE9C
Kevin2685
06-04-2015, 01:53 PM
Wow those look good. Might have to experiment some this year and try building a enclosure for mine
Snarkie
06-14-2015, 02:33 PM
I'm just north of Atlanta.
Had pups up two weeks ago, a frost knocked them down. They are back and are currently about 7-8" tall.
It was in the mid 80's here yesterday.That's about when they came here in Charlotte, too. They're in the six to eight foot range now.
GStone
06-17-2015, 09:28 PM
When you're able to save the stem like that Jeff, they obviously have a head start. Does that mean they'll get taller this year than they would have if you'd cut them down, or is that determined more by the maturity of the rhizome?
The reason I ask is that the bananas I just got this year were practically unharmed by the winter, except most of the leaves were dead. Unfortunately I had to cut them down to transport them. I'm just wondering whether it would be worth the effort to try to preserve them through the winter, or if I should just cut them back and mulch them really well.
Funkthulhu
06-18-2015, 10:49 AM
The race is on!
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/funkthulhu/20150618_182310_zpsm7ml7ynl.jpg
The Basjoo and the Zebrina are up, but the Elephant Ears have a big head start...
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/funkthulhu/20150618_182318_zpscrrlctvs.jpg
Ensete m. in the middle of the patch is playing referee?
Jeff_Ajax
06-21-2015, 09:55 PM
When you're able to save the stem like that Jeff, they obviously have a head start. Does that mean they'll get taller this year than they would have if you'd cut them down, or is that determined more by the maturity of the rhizome?
The reason I ask is that the bananas I just got this year were practically unharmed by the winter, except most of the leaves were dead. Unfortunately I had to cut them down to transport them. I'm just wondering whether it would be worth the effort to try to preserve them through the winter, or if I should just cut them back and mulch them really well.
The first year they were in the ground I munched them instead of the box and they started from the ground. Its just a lot slower for them to get any size. With the box I already have a pretty healthy looking set of banana's. I'll snap a photo tomorrow if what they look like 11 weeks in.
Funkthulhu
08-03-2015, 08:43 AM
So, anybody else having a really slow year?
I had 2 lumps of Basjoo and a small patch of Zebrina come back this year and they seem happy. However, we're now into the beginning of August and they're no even 3 feet tall. This time last year I had leaves over my head! Healthy leaves, healthy P-stems, adequate fertilizer and reasonable soil pH; is this what a long, cool, wet spring will get you?
Cheers,
Kevin2685
08-03-2015, 09:05 AM
My patch is doing great even though it was below temps for a while and a lot of rain. I trimmed off a bunch of lower leaves cause it looked a giant bush.
geissene
08-03-2015, 12:35 PM
Considering there are about 2 months of growing season left, my basjoo seem on track to reach the same height as last year. Maybe my spring wasn't as cold... and now we are having heat waves!
Erik G
North wales, pa
Kevin2685
08-03-2015, 01:33 PM
Yeah mine did well it's in its second year and I cut it all the way to the ground last year. It's reached the same height right now as last year and I still have till October left for it to grow. Mine never seem to lose leaves which is weird Still had some of its leaves from spring. Out of the all the leaves I trimmed the other day only one was yellow. I will post a picture later when I get home from work.
Jeff_Ajax
08-03-2015, 01:49 PM
Mine looks as if it will be taller than last year. I also have 3 stems with flowers/fingers as well so that's not too bad. I maybe lose a leaf per stem for the whole season not including ones that get broken or folded down and even those I leave on as they stay green.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/1457681_10156055404935001_4282767586000211983_n.jpg?oh=1b533970d f421b946a4c047626b96b2e&oe=56460A48
Here's a photo from 2 weeks ago showing the one bunch of fingers (2 pics) and a second bud coming out (now emerged). The third one is also now out, I'll get some more photos.
Kevin2685
08-03-2015, 02:22 PM
Are they in their third year ?
Jeff_Ajax
08-03-2015, 03:25 PM
Are they in their third year ?
Mine? 4th Year
Hammocked Banana
08-03-2015, 11:41 PM
Wow Jeff!! Things look amazing again this year! Can you post a pic of the whole mat? I still need to make that trip over there.
Longwoods Tropicals
08-04-2015, 05:24 PM
So, anybody else having a really slow year?
I would call it about average, here are mine from this past Friday (along with some of the grand-kids).
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/DSCN1499_zpshuac6qcm.jpg
Jeff_Ajax
08-07-2015, 04:43 PM
Wow Jeff!! Things look amazing again this year! Can you post a pic of the whole mat? I still need to make that trip over there.
So a quick shot of my front yard, my Musa Basjoo and a shot from the backyard forward of my Ensete Maurelli.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11794102_10156117170605001_2040291271491973036_o.jpg
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11831694_10156117170625001_2313259941427119498_n.jpg?oh=e3212def d0a7b1bfc237557e620ac136&oe=563A3CD7
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11012883_10156110203980001_4875942714609384502_n.jpg?oh=ab1ecff2 b74e17fa09dba4d1288e8c8a&oe=564F6398
Kevin2685
08-08-2015, 01:41 PM
Jeff you have a beautiful yard. How do you over winter your windmill Palm?
Here is my basjoo patch this morning.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/EDA4FA38-E1D5-4868-B85C-F00A0B007F4C_zpss59pznsn.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/EDA4FA38-E1D5-4868-B85C-F00A0B007F4C_zpss59pznsn.jpg.html)
The cats like to lay under it and nap on warm days.
http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b498/kevinmeredith1977/69482C99-48F7-419B-9A40-BB4DE989E2DC_zpsztqsq2aq.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/kevinmeredith1977/media/69482C99-48F7-419B-9A40-BB4DE989E2DC_zpsztqsq2aq.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
08-08-2015, 03:29 PM
Jeff your yard looks absolutely amazing and we still have our best month of growing ahead of us.
Kevin, that's gorgeous mat! Can't blame the cat, that's where I'd be hanging out too.
Jeff_Ajax
08-09-2015, 09:02 AM
Jeff your yard looks absolutely amazing and we still have our best month of growing ahead of us.
Kevin, that's gorgeous mat! Can't blame the cat, that's where I'd be hanging out too.
Thank you and yes we do if the temos don't drop too much.
Also for everyone. I'm up for People's Choice in the Ajax in Bloom Competition this year. The judges aren't fans of my garden but the public is. I invite everyone to visit the Town Of Ajax Website and go to Ajax in Bloom Competition page and click People's Choice and vote for my house at 42 Lincoln St.
Thanks
Hammocked Banana
08-09-2015, 09:18 AM
I'll submit my vote. I like people who do something different.
sman87
08-11-2015, 09:12 PM
My basjoos got crushed by the arctic winter last year. Of the 12 I had prepped for the long outdoor cold, only 3 corms survived... I mulched, wrapped, covered as much as I could but nothing could brace the impact of that polar low we had. It sent temperatures at my house to -30 degrees below zero on 3 separate nights!! I'm not exaggerating when I tell you these temps either... My basjoos were actually doing quite well up until about new years checking corm hardness and p-stem. Once weather finally broke and the snow completely melted.. nearly St. Patties day... I removed mulch and prepped the beds. I put a black tarp down as well after hearing it helps absorb heat quite well. Even with that My remaining basjoos did not poke out until mid or late May! I had a lot of catching up to do since then but since May - Aug they are about 3-4 feet tall, and for me I think that is a modest victory given the hell the plants and I went through lol
Jeff_Ajax
08-12-2015, 09:08 AM
My basjoos got crushed by the arctic winter last year. Of the 12 I had prepped for the long outdoor cold, only 3 corms survived... I mulched, wrapped, covered as much as I could but nothing could brace the impact of that polar low we had. It sent temperatures at my house to -30 degrees below zero on 3 separate nights!! I'm not exaggerating when I tell you these temps either... My basjoos were actually doing quite well up until about new years checking corm hardness and p-stem. Once weather finally broke and the snow completely melted.. nearly St. Patties day... I removed mulch and prepped the beds. I put a black tarp down as well after hearing it helps absorb heat quite well. Even with that My remaining basjoos did not poke out until mid or late May! I had a lot of catching up to do since then but since May - Aug they are about 3-4 feet tall, and for me I think that is a modest victory given the hell the plants and I went through lol
Guys, I know everyone likes to put the least amount of protection on their Banana's, maybe for bragging rights but I'd prefer not to tell the story of how the "winter" got me this year. My box never dips below freezing and always hovers around 5C. 1.5" Rigid Foam insulation, 2 sets of shop fluorescent lights and a thermostat set to 5C is all it needs to thrive. Energy consumed by 4 - 4' tubes is minimal as they are not always on, even when we get -25C, it maybe comes on for 2-5 minutes, 10 times a day at most and that goes for my Palm boxes also.
Funkthulhu
08-12-2015, 09:42 AM
Jeff,
Seeing your results when you have the same zone as me makes me a bit jealous. I now declare you to be my 5b banana nemesis!
(seriously, though, awesome growth!)
Jeff_Ajax
08-13-2015, 07:58 AM
Jeff,
I now declare you to be my 5b banana nemesis!
(seriously, though, awesome growth!)
I usually consider myself a 5b Banana Master
:08:
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.