Another Overwintering Question:
 

Something that hasn't been clear to me (although I may well have misread so please excuse me if it was answered already)

My bananas (all currently potted) are going to be stored in my basement, in a dark closet, with plastic bags over the roots (to prevent soil mess where possible), but the temperature will be most likely above 60 degrees, and it may be very slightly damp in the closet. Will this work? Is it absolutely necessary for the temperature to be below 55?

My garage will go waaaaay below freezing, and I have no crawl space or other options. Greenhouse is not happening this year, and only the smaller plants (and palms which I dare not store) will be able to grow indoors.

Do you guys think my bananas might make it - stored say mid-late Sept to mid April?

Thanks for your advice,

~Joe

BTW, Its already been said, but Frank's overwintering tutorial was absolutely fantastic! Thanks for your hard work!!!!

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

Joe,

Are you talking about keeping them Potted, or bare rooted??

Frank

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

Frank,

Most likely bare rooted, unless it would be wiser to keep them potted given my temperature restraints. I know a couple of the plants are extremely pot-bound so for them it may not make a difference.

What is the difference stored one way vs. the other?

Regards,

~Joe

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

Joe, I "bare Root" mine! If you keep them potted and they have moisture and not enough light or heat they could ROT. They don't have to be in the dark to go Dormant. I bare rooted several last year,trimmed off the leaves,then put the root ball in a plastic shopping bag and put them in my outside bldg. luckily it didn't get below 32 in the bldg.. Didn't loose a single one.

I believe your Banana Plants will go Dormant in your basement, regardless of the temps of 55 or 60, stick the root ball in a plastic "walmart bag" .... bare root them and keep them dry.:0493:

Good Luck,

Frank

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

Thanks for your advice Frank! Nights here are getting as low as 45, and I've probably only got a couple of weeks left before everything has to come in!

Regards,

~Joe

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

I agree that the closet idea would probably be a good way to store your bananas, but I'd really reconsider the plastic bags. I lost a whole lot of bananas in storage last year, and the only difference we'd made was putting them in plastic bags, instead of just storing them bare root on an old skid... Just line the floor of the closet with plastic, then set the plants in roomy cardboard boxes, so that they can breathe. I'm going to also spray my plants with a fungicide spray and let it dry well before storing them this year. Be sure and check on them for time to time for dryness and also for signs of rot. We have to store the plants a lot longer in zone 5 than they do in the southern states.
Sandy @ Northern Tropics

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

Sandy, do you cut your pups off or leave them on, when you store your plants??

Thanks,

Frank

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

I leave the pups on if the pups are small, or if I don't have room in the greenhouse to pot them up, or if it's a kind of banana that I'm not trying to really propagate. I take them off if they are large, or if the whole clump is just too much to handle by me and my hubby, or if it's something I'm trying to increase my numbers of..I try not to remove any pups under three feet unless I'm planning on potting them up, and I don't try to store any bananas with trunks under three feet dormant.

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

I would suggest as noted before I you keep them downstairs I would definitely bare root them. I left two in their pots last year, and both of them rotted. Leave the pups on until they start to grow again next year them seperate them to give them the best chance at surviving.

Re: Another Overwintering Question:
 

When I "Bareroot" my nanners for the Winter, I put the plants root ball in a plastic "Walmart Bag" and tie a knot around the base of the plant and then punch a few holes in the bag for air circulation!! Hope this helps!! Have not lost any Plants storing them this way, in my outside Bldg.

Good Luck to everyone, on storing their Nanners!!

Frank