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View Full Version : Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!


Randy4ut
11-04-2007, 07:35 PM
Well, today was their day. My M.Basjoo went under the knife for the winter. They had yet to have any damage from 2 very light frosts over the past week, but it wouldn't have been long. With the holidays coming up and limited daylight hours after work, I decided to go ahead and cut everything back for the winter. The first pic is from last fall when I cut them back for the winter. The second is of this summer in all their glory. Lastly, are pics taken today, after I did the deed. Man, it sure did hurt!!!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1358.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2260.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2295.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2337.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2335.jpg

GATrops
11-04-2007, 10:21 PM
I know how you feel Randy. I spent the weekend getting everybody ready for the winter also. It sure is tough. Your bajoo's looked great in those summer pictures.

Remember, spring is closer today than yesterday.

natedogg1026
11-04-2007, 11:01 PM
I feel ya Randy, I chopped my Basjoo tonight.:0491:

BGreen
11-05-2007, 10:19 AM
Randy I feel for you, but you have to look at it in a more positive light,
Now your water bill will go down for a few months :0520: :0520:
What are your plans for winter care? Do you just cage them? I wish I could save that much pseudostem on mine each year.

Tangy
11-05-2007, 10:50 AM
Wow! Great photos, I too am curious, what are you going to do next? I am still trying to figure out my winterizing plans.

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 11:12 AM
I do not do anything else to them. I lose quite a bit of pstem during the witner, but I still have several feet when I start. I could wire cage them to try and save more of the pstem, but I never have tried and they just keep getting bigger and bigger...

musa_monkey
11-05-2007, 11:14 AM
wow spectacular pix, look on the bright side, they may be even bigger and better next year

MediaHound
11-05-2007, 11:16 AM
...and now, a moment of silence...

Tangy
11-05-2007, 11:21 AM
I do not do anything else to them. I lose quite a bit of pstem during the witner, but I still have several feet when I start. I could wire cage them to try and save more of the pstem, but I never have tried and they just keep getting bigger and bigger...

Thanks Randy, I value your advice as you are one of the closest members to me in terms of physical proximity although I guess I am slightly higher and colder than you. I wonder if I could get away with what you do??? :flouenaner:

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 12:17 PM
Tangy,
If you are only interested in foliage from this particular banana, it should be fine as long as you have them mulched to give the corm some protection. Below are pics of one mat progressed through 2 years of growth using my "lack of protection"... First pic shows what I started with in spring of 2006 after cutting pstems back to good cell structure in the middle of stem.

Spring '06

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/5870.jpg

Summer (same mat, four months later)... White fence in back was removed / replaced that spring...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_0962.jpg

And then 3 months later:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1277.jpg

End of season, 2006:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1358.jpg

Summer 2007 same mat...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2274.jpg
Same mat, yesterday...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2337.jpg

Good luck in whatever method you decide to use...
Randy

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 04:48 PM
...and now, a moment of silence...
Jarred,
I appreciate the sound addition and it is definitely fitting. Now all I need is a 21 gun salute!!! LOL Man, this is a fun board and great to see humor in all the information... Thanks again!!!!

Last pic kinda looks like I am waiting for a funeral procession don't it!?!?! And the fourth pic, my head bowed in a moment of silence and reflection...

tophersmith
11-05-2007, 05:04 PM
Tangy,
If you are only interested in foliage from this particular banana, it should be fine as long as you have them mulched to give the corm some protection. Below are pics of one mat progressed through 2 years of growth using my "lack of protection"... First pic shows what I started with in spring of 2006 after cutting pstems back to good cell structure in the middle of stem.

Spring '06

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/5870.jpg

Summer (same mat, four months later)... White fence in back was removed / replaced that spring...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_0962.jpg

And then 3 months later:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1277.jpg

End of season, 2006:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1358.jpg

Summer 2007 same mat...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2274.jpg
Same mat, yesterday...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2337.jpg

Good luck in whatever method you decide to use...
Randy

Randy,

Ok I saw some things of interest in your pictures what type of Philodendrum is that next to your black magig colocasia? Do you leave it in the ground? Same goes for the Pindo Palm do you leave that in the ground?

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 05:19 PM
Chris,
The pindo palm you see is one of three that stay out year round. The one in the pic has been in the ground for 3 years now and have only covered it with frost cloth a couple of times when temps got into low teens and only as precautionary step. Never had any damage to it. The other two were put in this past spring and were nice sized (15 gallon) when I put them in.
The philodendron is a P.selloum or P.bipinnatifidum. This will be the first year outside. I have cut all the foliage off the plant and plan on stuffing leaves into a large plastic bucket inverted over the plant. I have other people in my area that have had success overwintering them by simply cutting them to the ground, covering with a piece of plastic and then mulching over the plastic. I got them last fall and overwintered them in pots in my unheated garage and didn't even lose a leaf...
I really hope they make it as I like the texture and shape they add to the feel of this bed...
Thanks for inquiring...

wamstick
11-05-2007, 05:58 PM
Hey Brother Randy--I feel your pain sir. However, things will be bigger and brighter in the spring. Chin up, old chap, and all that rot.

Tony

Taylor
11-05-2007, 08:08 PM
Randy,
Where do you put all of those leaves?

Taylor

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 08:32 PM
Taylor,
You ought to see the pile of vegetation I have to haul off. With the nanners, ee's, cannas, etc., it is by far the largest pile I have ever dealt with. I was thinking while I was cutting everything down that this will have to be done differently when I get another few years on me. Don't want to be hauling this stuff off when I am using a cane or walker...
Anyway, a good friend of mine let's me haul it out to his field to dispose of. Thankfully, this stuff decomposes fairly quickly compared to woody plants...
Good to see you back on board...
Take care,
Randy

Taylor
11-05-2007, 08:36 PM
Randy,
I have had quite a bit of vegetation too, but not to that extent. I have put mine on top of the compost pile to hopefully get rid of it. It is very nice of your friend to help you dispose of it all.
Why do you cut your Canna? Do you leave yours in the ground? Here, we just let the frost knock them down, but I might try your method on the smaller mats of it for appeal.

Thanks for the welcome,
Taylor

Randy4ut
11-05-2007, 08:43 PM
Taylor,
I do leave the cannas in the ground and let the frost knock them back, but I am real busy with work and the holidays coming up, I have to do what I can when I can. Like I said, I usually let the frost knock everything back, but I still cut the stems to the ground afterward just to keep the yard a little neater...

modenacart
11-05-2007, 09:46 PM
Randy,

Did you carry those hugh groups of bananas under the house? If you did, were you able to do it by yourself?

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 05:50 AM
Modenacart,
The clumps of basjoo have stayed outside throughout the past 3 winters unprotected. The pstems do have some die back, but I still usually have several feet to start with in the spring...

mrbungalow
11-06-2007, 08:15 AM
You're still wearing a t-shirt and you're chopping basjoos?? You chopped them way too early if you ask me.

Some of mine are still unchopped & uncovered and will probably only be covered when a frost more than -2 celsius is forecasted for an extended period. They are still green, but look bad. I wouldn't chop & cover until absolutely necessary.
I am in a zone 8, 60 degrees north. We have had "winter" for 2 months allready. I can't help but believe Tennessee must be much warmer, even the overnight lows.

Erlend

tophersmith
11-06-2007, 09:20 AM
Taylor,
You ought to see the pile of vegetation I have to haul off. With the nanners, ee's, cannas, etc., it is by far the largest pile I have ever dealt with. I was thinking while I was cutting everything down that this will have to be done differently when I get another few years on me. Don't want to be hauling this stuff off when I am using a cane or walker...
Anyway, a good friend of mine let's me haul it out to his field to dispose of. Thankfully, this stuff decomposes fairly quickly compared to woody plants...
Good to see you back on board...
Take care,
Randy

Randy,

I used my cuttings to start mulching my questionable Colocasia and Bannanas, is that wrong?

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 12:56 PM
You're still wearing a t-shirt and you're chopping basjoos?? You chopped them way too early if you ask me.

Some of mine are still unchopped & uncovered and will probably only be covered when a frost more than -2 celsius is forecasted for an extended period. They are still green, but look bad. I wouldn't chop & cover until absolutely necessary.
I am in a zone 8, 60 degrees north. We have had "winter" for 2 months allready. I can't help but believe Tennessee must be much warmer, even the overnight lows.

Erlend

Erlend,
I agree that they were probably cut too early, but I have to do what I can with them when I can from a time constraint issue. They are calling for a frost/freeze warning for my area for the next two nights, and I am sure they would have been "toast" by this weekend anyway. Since I do not get home from work until right at dark during the week and my "better half" wife has me helping her shop for our 5 daughters Christmas presents on the weekend, that doesn't leave me much time for anything else this time of year. So, I have to do what I have to do when I can.
Randy

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 01:01 PM
Randy,

I used my cuttings to start mulching my questionable Colocasia and Bannanas, is that wrong?


Chris,
I personally think that is an excellent option for you to do with your vegetation. The only reason I do not is because I use 3-4" of cypress mulch on my beds year round and didn't want to pull it back to add the leaves, and then pile it back on top. I have thought of creating a compost pile, but I really do not have a good place for one right now that would be hidden away from view. I live in a neighborhood that is pretty tight and like to keep my place from getting too cluttered. Hopefully by this time next year, I will have created a spot to have a compost pile that I can use some of the excess vegetation to make some "black gold"....

Tangy
11-06-2007, 01:10 PM
Tangy,
If you are only interested in foliage from this particular banana, it should be fine as long as you have them mulched to give the corm some protection. Below are pics of one mat progressed through 2 years of growth using my "lack of protection"... First pic shows what I started with in spring of 2006 after cutting pstems back to good cell structure in the middle of stem.

Spring '06

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/5870.jpg

Summer (same mat, four months later)... White fence in back was removed / replaced that spring...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_0962.jpg

And then 3 months later:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1277.jpg

End of season, 2006:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202006/100_1358.jpg

Summer 2007 same mat...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2274.jpg
Same mat, yesterday...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/100_2337.jpg

Good luck in whatever method you decide to use...
Randy


Thanks Randy! I amazed at how much your plants grew in one year. Lows in the high 20's tonight..........:coldbanana:

MediaHound
11-06-2007, 02:49 PM
Jarred,
I appreciate the sound addition and it is definitely fitting. Now all I need is a 21 gun salute!!! LOL Man, this is a fun board and great to see humor in all the information... Thanks again!!!!

Last pic kinda looks like I am waiting for a funeral procession don't it!?!?! And the fourth pic, my head bowed in a moment of silence and reflection...

LOL!!!!!
Yea that's what made me think of it!
This thread was dying for some audio effects... glad you got a kick out of it!

Here's your 21 gun salute:

frog7994
11-06-2007, 04:29 PM
have they ever bared fruit?

mrbungalow
11-06-2007, 05:17 PM
Oh yes, the time issue... I would imagine 5 daughters takes up more than a little time! And I am here complaining about 2 jobs...

I took in my potted basjoos I told you about today, and they looked horrible, but green and very much alive. The ones in the ground are also covered. Snowstorm approaching this friday, so I also have some other protection to do tomorrow. Even the oil-workers in the north-sea are called ashore, so we are expecting the worst.

Nice Butia by the way. How long has it been planted in the ground?

Erlend



Erlend,
I agree that they were probably cut too early, but I have to do what I can with them when I can from a time constraint issue. They are calling for a frost/freeze warning for my area for the next two nights, and I am sure they would have been "toast" by this weekend anyway. Since I do not get home from work until right at dark during the week and my "better half" wife has me helping her shop for our 5 daughters Christmas presents on the weekend, that doesn't leave me much time for anything else this time of year. So, I have to do what I have to do when I can.
Randy

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 06:42 PM
LOL!!!!!
Yea that's what made me think of it!
This thread was dying for some audio effects... glad you got a kick out of it!

Here's your 21 gun salute:

Thanks again, Jarred...
Now my nanners can rest in peace!!!

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 07:01 PM
Nice Butia by the way. How long has it been planted in the ground?


Erlend,
The butia in the pic has been in the ground for 3 years now. It was a 5 gallon little fellar' when he went in the ground in the spring of '04. It has really put on the growth this summer. I put two more in this past spring that were 15 gallon, so I have 3 that are about the same size. The one you were asking about has been covered with frost cloth maybe twice since being outside and have never sustained any damage. I hope my winters stay mild. Sure makes protecting alot easier...
Take care and stay warm and dry. I'll be waiting for your weather info this coming weekend.

frankthetank
11-06-2007, 07:22 PM
5 daughters!

I have a newborn son and i think i have it rough!

The bananas look great. I probably could have kept mine going up until this past weekend, but i chopped mine down and dug out the corms about 2 weeks ago. Lying down in the basement sleeping for the season. We actually had our first confirmed snowfall yesterday (nothing stuck), so the season is close.

Should be interesting seeing your pictures next August, hopefully they can "max" out this year...

Randy4ut
11-06-2007, 08:40 PM
Frank,
Looking forward to seeing them next summer as well. The only thing is, I plan on redoing the bed with the basjoos that my youngest daughter is standing in front of which is the same on I am standing beside with the butia on the other side. The basjoos in that bed will be dug, sold off to help pay for the expansion of the bed. I have another (larger) mat of basjoo and over the past year, I have accumulated quite a few other varieties of nanners that I want to get in and test them out. I also have more ee's that I want to test, so this bed will be enlarged and mainly have "test" plants and a few young palms. With limited space in my backyard, I don't have alot of choices. Should be interesting this spring trying to dig them up. EE's are intertwined amid the mat so, looks like a combo sale!!!
Randy

Njoynit
11-07-2007, 12:12 PM
I really enjoyed seeing your basjoo pics(and the pool!)you've convinced me to carry my sis a banana plant for christmas.I'm a lil sick that your bananas look better than mine.I think I'll water them more.I don't cut mine back till its warmed.I'm digging my large one this year with pups& GH it as am re working that spot of bed this winter.I might just put them all together where I'm moveing them.
5 girls...so when ya getting them chasity belts? :2755:

compost suggestion....compost tumbler!makes it faster :2215: and might work your situation better.I live in the country,so its wildlife that sees my pile.

mskitty38583
11-12-2007, 02:10 AM
this is for randy4ut.... if you want to start a compost pile, you can, even at your place. find the biggest planting pot you can find. start layering your greens and browns. take a black plastic bag and poke holes in it for a cover so it will heat up the compost and your neighbors wont know whats in it. you can even put it out by the shed or the house and they will think you have more plants then you really do. i have 3 of these going on, i just need to get them covered, after i get all my leaves raked up and everythig cut down. i have even put builders sand in them...when the compost is ready i wont have to worry about drainage. so you can accomplish a few things in very little time.

Randy4ut
11-12-2007, 08:38 AM
Thanks for your input on the composting. I may give it a try next summer. Problem I have is the sheer amount of vegetation I have in the fall from cutting eveything back. What I have done this year, yesterday, was to place all the cut vegetation in a pile that roughly covers the extension of a bed I have planned for next spring. I figured that it may not looked great, but it will be hidden from the street and hopefully will kill the grass and decompose some before time to work the area for the addition.
BTW, I see you are from Sparta, TN. Pretty cool seeing someone else from my area. I live in Cleveland, so if you are ever this way, drop by and introduce yourself. Thanks again...

mskitty38583
11-12-2007, 10:10 AM
:waving: :waving: yeah, i dont live that far from you.i told my mom i wanted to start a pile and she said your yards gonna be nasty. the wild animals are gonna love you. i told her i didnt care what the neighbors thought! at least my yard has pretty colors iin it instead of old ,non-working,rusted out cars and tires! besides i used the buckets the same way, and you dont know whats in them till you look in them. using them this way keeps the rabbits, squirrles, and grandpa oposum out of it. it still lets the earthworms get into it so it will break down. however the doe that visit still gets into it on occasion. as long as she doesnt eat my daylilies or my lambsears shell be ok. where did you order your bamboo?? i planted some of the varigated about 8 yrs ago at the house we used to live in...i had to leave it ALL. i went up there last spring and asked if i could have a clump or 5 and she said yes.( i told her that i planted it) i planted it in my yard and hopefully next spring well have bamboo. but i tell you one thing...a runaway panda bear would love your yard.

Njoynit
11-14-2007, 11:38 AM
Hey Randy
maybe look up 'lasangna gardening' you've already started it by laying the leaves over old grow spot.you PLANT in it in spring.

I know ya hated to see them go :nanerwaveytrain: