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View Full Version : Mushy Lasiocarpa corm.


john_ny
05-24-2009, 02:49 PM
I uncovered some basjoos a few weeks ago. I tried to keep as much of the p-stem as I could, and they did fime. All came back, and all were alive right to the top. When I covered, in the fall, there were four plants. When I uncovered, there were eight. The 4 were pups that had sprouted in '07. The mother plant had gotten broken off, late last summer, but I cut it back to about a foot, and threw it in a pot, which I overwintered, in the cellar. The stem had been broken at about ground level, with just a slight swelling, at the bottom. There were no roots. This spring, I found the stem rotted out, but a nice healthy 18 inch pup in the pot.
Next to the basjoos, outside, I had a lasiocarpa but, when I uncovered, the stem was soft. It may, or may not be toast.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17639&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17639&ppuser=826)

Yesterday, I decided to dig up the corm , and have a look. The center was mush, but there was about a ¾ inch layer, around the edges, shaped like a coffee cup, that was green and firm, with a bunch of firm roots coming out of the bottom. I got a little encouragement, when I read posts by RobG7, and Salty, in the thread, "Are these all hardy?". I know the p-stem is gone, but am hoping I might still get a pup, or two.
The picture shows the corm mostly black, but that was only the outer (onion-skin thick) layer. Under that, it was mostly green.

saltydad
05-24-2009, 02:55 PM
John, I'm off to my brother's birthday BBQ and law school graduation for my to-be nephew-in law (?), but when I get back or tomorrow, I'll post pix of the lasiocarpa and sikkim. Good luck, and I think you should indeed plant the corm after cutting away the mush.

john_ny
05-25-2009, 02:35 PM
Guess I should have taken the picture AFTER I peeled off the black "skin". I did, however, replant it, right after I looked at it.