frankthetank

I wonder if you couldn't have insulated your area that you planted your bananas? Just used some inch pink foam board down a few feet around the border? I say this because you are losing some of that heat to the soil that doesn't need to be heated. I guess you could also insulate the bottom, but you have to leave some drainage holes.

Everything looks very good. The growth on those is tremendous. My clump made it to around 12ft starting with pstems almost 6ft tall (dormant) in April. With heat on the roots i could only imagine the growth. Your palms look amazing and i'd be interested in hearing on how you are protecting them!

I'm tempted...very tempted to try it, heat cable, now. Even a "kick start" of one month or 6 weeks (May) would probably add a lot of growth.

I'd insulate just because i have some foam laying here not being used.

momoese

I'd be worried that the insulation would limit the root growth and possibly the drainage.

jimhardy

Hey Bill,I think the key is you thought ahead and put the cables underneath those nanars/palms,heat rises so as long as the cables are directly below....your good to go.Now all you need to do is dig a moat around your colony of nanars(-;

BILL MA

Thanks Jimhardy,
I know we talked about this in the palm world too. Gdd days are the most important things for growing the nanas/palms we grow. roots are the most important! I know I sound like I'm pitching the heat cables but I have NO influence on the place that sells them! That is only the cheapest place I could find them, along with the cheapest place I could find the banana fuel.

I would say I boosted my gdd from 3400 to 4600 under my nanas and washys? What do you guys in warmer/hot zones think about small plants in 3 months? 14 feet?

Bill

austinl01

Bill, this post is a lot of fun! Aren't you glad I persuaded you to post here in the ORG? I hope those bananas are still looking good, my friend.

__________________
Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

BILL MA

This site is Awesome Austin! I have learned so much here in the last few years just reading others posts, (very knowledgeable people) I would like to try and give back now if I can.

The basjoo's are still growing even though they have slowed down now. Funny thing the local news paper came out today to take some shots of my nana grove! They seemed pretty shocked with the growth these guys can put on. I'll post a link to the paper when they run it.

Bill

jeffreyp

I knew a fellow in Long Island that grew Trachycarpus palms and he swore by root heating cables. Seems to make a big difference.

BILL MA

These bad boys are still green and decent from last night 25.6 low! By the way this is a 10 degree weather man screw up. They called for 36 low, Thanks weather men for nothing! I could have saved lots of things if I knew even at midnight!

I can't believe there still green, tons of banana fuel and heat cable might have helped. I wish I had interests in these companies maybe I could get free stuff!
The only other thing that did ok where sikkimensis but that was burnt too! my little 3 gal. lotus nanas did great as rajas, maurelii, burnt pretty good. My large maurelii in a pot on the east side of the house had 10% damage maybe. Tough bugger!

I'll post some pictures tomorrow!

Bill