Log in

View Full Version : I got a few through winter


Stonecutter
04-01-2017, 06:38 PM
I haven't posted in a while, sorry, I have a few plants that got through the freeze we had.

I had a plant that flowered in the fall last year. I knew the fruit wouldn't make it but I had to try.
The bananas on this plant got frost burned, so I chopped it down to give more room to cover the pups.
3 pups made it through the second freeze in which we had 40 mile an hour winds and 22 degrees F temps.

Here is the flowering plant right before the first freeze in central Texas.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61340 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61339&ppuser=23136)

Stonecutter
04-01-2017, 06:41 PM
The frost burned bananas.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61341 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61340)

Stonecutter
04-01-2017, 06:47 PM
This is how I got them through the freezes of the winter.
Insulation, tarps, and frost blankets, but still the bananas couldn't be saved.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61338><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61339 border=0></a>

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61338 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61337)

Stonecutter
04-01-2017, 06:53 PM
So here is the main pup that made it and it's pup.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61342 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61341&ppuser=23136)

And the separated pup in front, with the main one in the background. Hoping for one or more to flower this year!!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61343 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61342&ppuser=23136)

BTW i ran a 60 watt lightbulb inside the covering during freezes and uncovered them when it was nice weather.

37.667910
04-01-2017, 08:01 PM
Wow. Thats amazing they made it through that freeze. Well done!

Tytaylor77
04-02-2017, 12:59 AM
Awesome job.

HMelendez
04-02-2017, 03:49 AM
Kenny,



You did a very good job!......:2723::bananarow::2723:

Stonecutter
04-02-2017, 12:16 PM
Thank you everybody for the kind words and all of the "thanks"!!

I love growing banana plants. There is a main stand that I let grow wild also. Good place to look for strong pups to transplant here and there.

Best of banana growing to all!!

RoundRockMan
04-03-2017, 08:44 AM
I live just a few miles from you and just started growing. What type of plants are you currently growing? Might need some tips for our area.:03:

Stonecutter
04-03-2017, 01:20 PM
I live just a few miles from you and just started growing. What type of plants are you currently growing? Might need some tips for our area.:03:


Hi Lonnie!!! Yep not far at all considering I live close to Braker lane and I-35 in North Austin. :ha:

I'm growing Texas Star, dwarf Cavendish, super dwarf Cavendish and Truly Tiny.

I have some pups that you're welcome to if you like. I can spare 1 Truly Tiny, and 3 or more super dwarfs. And if you want a good size dwarf Cavendish that came back from a cut back from last year, you're welcome to it as well. It's growing too close to another big one that came out of a cut back.

Tips for this area...hmmmm....Well I put composted cow manure around them about once a month when they're growing well. I also put a time release fert once a month in between the manure times. I may use some k sulfate on the flowering ones. I water the established ones and stands at least once a day in summer, sometimes twice if the wind is high and the temps are high.
But this is my way for my soil and sun exposure. So adjust accordingly.

It's good to plant them close to the house or a fence, just not too close. They get protection from wind and the ground tends to be warmer in the winter close to a house or above ground pool. But I haven't seen a winter here that could kill the mat. They can die to the ground and still come back in spring.
I wait to see how far they are going to die back, if at all, in the winter before they get cut just below the dead area. You can always cut them lower if they die back more in winter. But the taking off tools work much better than the puttin back on tools you know, lol.

I'm not an expert really, just a home nanner gardener lol. There are real experts here that can give much better advice in general, but if I can help with growing bananas in central Texas I'll try to help. :0517:

Stonecutter
04-03-2017, 01:53 PM
Lonnie, there are a couple super dwarfs that you can have out of this stand and a Truly Tiny on the left. Possibly a Texas Star also.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61346 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61345&ppuser=23136)


and one Super dwarf can be taken from this little mat. (There's 3 there.)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61345 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61344&ppuser=23136)


This is the one that came back from the first cut back. You are welcome to it as it is too close to the other big one. I believe it's dwarf Cavendish but other folks may id it for sure.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61344 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61343&ppuser=23136)

RoundRockMan
04-03-2017, 02:16 PM
Hi Lonnie!!! Yep not far at all considering I live close to Braker lane and I-35 in North Austin. :ha:

I'm growing Texas Star, dwarf Cavendish, super dwarf Cavendish and Truly Tiny.
Tips for this area...hmmmm....Well I put composted cow manure around them about once a month when they're growing well. I also put a time release fert once a month in between the manure times. I may use some k sulfate on the flowering ones. I water the established ones and stands at least once a day in summer, sometimes twice if the wind is high and the temps are high.
But this is my way for my soil and sun exposure. So adjust accordingly.

It's good to plant them close to the house or a fence, just not too close. They get protection from wind and the ground tends to be warmer in the winter close to a house or above ground pool. But I haven't seen a winter here that could kill the mat. They can die to the ground and still come back in spring.
:0517:

Thanks for the reply. I currently don't need any extra plants. I got some in from TY and have places for them. I have unlimited access to free cow & chicken manure, so that will be very helpful. I just don't want to over fertilize them :) I posted pictures of my start in the gallery and plan on posting progresses. Good to know someone near by :0519:

Tytaylor77
04-03-2017, 04:34 PM
So here is the main pup that made it and it's pup.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61342 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61341&ppuser=23136)

And the separated pup in front, with the main one in the background. Hoping for one or more to flower this year!!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61343 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61342&ppuser=23136)

BTW i ran a 60 watt lightbulb inside the covering during freezes and uncovered them when it was nice weather.


You should have 2 very nice dwarf Orinoco bunches from those pstems you saved. Very nice work. Keep us updated when they bloom soon!

Stonecutter
04-04-2017, 11:02 AM
You should have 2 very nice dwarf Orinoco bunches from those pstems you saved. Very nice work. Keep us updated when they bloom soon!

Thank you Ty very much for identifying these plants and for the encouragement!! I'll update when they bloom. :2738:

Stonecutter
11-10-2017, 02:58 PM
The big one bloomed.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62603 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62602)

Stonecutter
11-10-2017, 02:59 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62605 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62604)

Stonecutter
11-10-2017, 03:02 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62606 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62605)

Stonecutter
11-10-2017, 03:04 PM
This one made it through last winter with no protection.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62604 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62603)

cincinnana
11-11-2017, 08:25 PM
Great photos...

Awesome pics....

MusaZombie
11-14-2017, 07:15 PM
those are some amazing pictures. Glad you got them to fruit :)

Tytaylor77
11-15-2017, 12:27 PM
Amazing job! In my opinion any zone 7a-8a grower should learn from this! This method should work for you guys to keep cold hardy Musa pstems over winter! It needs to be an old school incandescent bulb for heat!

Try it and report your results! What do you have to loose? Other than your own bunch next year!

Stonecutter
11-17-2017, 03:48 AM
Thank you very much Ty!! That means a lot to me!! :nanadrink:

Stonecutter
11-17-2017, 12:59 PM
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62625><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62625&size=1 border=0></a>

Stonecutter
11-17-2017, 01:01 PM
7 hands on it.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62624><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62624&size=1 border=0></a>

Stonecutter
11-17-2017, 01:07 PM
The newest one is coming along.
I really didn't have much hope for this one to finish but
they say it's going to be a warmer winter around here
so just have to wait and see.


<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62626><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62626&size=1 border=0></a>