Anyone in the northeast

Bob · 03-08-2009, 11:30 AM

uncover your basjoos yet? After 70 degrees yesterday I was really tempted. After this winter though I'm guessing the P-stem is toast, the lowest low was -4 and we just had too many days more than the normal amount of single digit days. I planned all along to wait till beggining to mid April but if you took a peek at yours I'd like to hear about it.

Michael_Andrew · 03-08-2009, 11:45 AM

I uncovered a mat that tree limbs fell on a couple weeks ago. Your guess is correct the pstem was mush. I dug out the corm and cut off the soft stuff and treated it with fungicide and put it in the basement. I think its gonna be fine but there goes my attempt of saving some pstem. I reached in the cage of my largest basjoo and the stem just feels like it all dried up to nothing. It's not mushy at all. Couldn't get to the ground level so maybe some of it is ok but I doubt it.

Michael

turtile · 03-08-2009, 03:20 PM

I'd take it off and put it back on. Next week is going to be cold again . We're predicted to go down to 31F (Coastal DE) next week (which will likely be lower).

enigma99a · 03-09-2009, 03:27 AM

Lewes, DE .. With temps these cold, yes good ideas to leave it on

Wednesday, Mar 18
Low: 24 °F

Thursday, Mar 19
Low: 25 °F

Friday, Mar 20
Low: 26 °F
-----

And Morris Plains, NJ

March 18, 19, 20th.. all low 20s (23F to be exact).

Hopefully the plants will be coming out like crazy next month. Really gotta hand it to you guys.. amazing the work you put into the corms/pstems. And I'm crying over here when it gets down to 28F once a season.

lwabirds · 03-09-2009, 07:49 AM

I checked my pstems and they look great. I'm not uncovering mine until april 15th. I'm in southern ohio.

plantguy · 03-10-2009, 12:32 AM

Bob, Yes, it was nice to get that heatwave the other day. I still have the tarp on mine though.
Vinny

angsaidso · 03-10-2009, 08:20 PM

I am trying to figure out the best way to prep the ground to plant my basjoo outside this year and try to get it to grow here. We do drop very cold and I am worried I will kill it, but they claim it will grow anywhere with proper care ... Well, I live in Upstate NY and am not so sure this is true ... I guess I will fidn out, but anyone who has any tips and pointers ... please share them with me. Thanks!!!

Michael_Andrew · 03-11-2009, 05:53 AM

Hi Ang. What type soil do you have? I have really nice draining sandy loam so I don't have to do much. I just throw in some compost, water it well every couple of days and fertilize it. But they are spose to grow in about anything. I think I'd wait till after the danger of frost before planting. Then if you plan on leaving it in the ground you will have to protect it next winter. Using the search feature will lead you to all kinds of info on specific questions and topics. They like lots of sun and if you have a place to protect them from the wind it will keep the wind from tearing the leaves. I kinda like a few torn leaves myself. Anyway good luck with your basjoo.

Michael

stumpy4700 · 03-11-2009, 06:50 AM

Bob I did, I uncovered one of them. I took the tarp off and my heart dropped....Yep its dead to the ground. I don't have much hope for the other one, but I still have some that are potted in the garage and some that I dug up...Oh well I guess I know how to overwinter next year.

Ueberwinden · 03-11-2009, 08:25 AM

Iwabird,

Where in southern Ohio are you?

I'm in Florence, KY just 16 miles south of Cincinnati. I grew up in Cincinnati, then went into the military. When I returned married we relocated to NKY.

Michael

Michael

Bob · 03-11-2009, 08:26 AM

Stump and Ang, I think I'm going to uncover and have a peek myself. I really doubt the P-stem made it though. It was just too cold for too long this year. Still I'm betting the corm will turn out ok. If I get a chance I'll do it today and post with pics. If not, by the weekend for sure.

angsaidso · 03-11-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael_Andrew

What type soil do you have? I have really nice draining sandy loam so I don't have to do much.

Michael

Michael -

I have crappy, rocky, nasty soil. Eveything I plant is usually something I prepare a bed for except my tomatoes and rhubarb. I want my little basjoo, who is now a foot + tall, to have a good start. But I am in zone 5 (thank GOD no colder) and worry about the warmth factor for the winters. Protection, yes, I am aware. But I was wondering if I should even go so far as to put a heater (very low wattage, just enough to keep the firgid air out, but still cold enough for him to stay dormant) in there with the poor thing. I plan to try and get him in the ground and was wondering about maybe planting him in a LARGE container in the ground .... like a sunken garbage can or a sunken tire pot. Has anyone tried something like that???

Bob · 03-11-2009, 04:47 PM

I couldn't stand it another minute so I just went out to the ugly brown tarp(still beats blue though

ripped that off then took off the remay I was sure would add that little bit extra protection( even 1 degree can't hurt right?

under this were 4 bales of straww meticulousy bound to prevent any and all damage to my beloved 3 1/2 ft P-stem

Which flopped over deader than good will on wall street.
I pulled all the mushy goodness away to find

The corm hard as a rock about 1 1/2inches high and looking good.
Not the success I'd hoped for but after this winter not a failure at all.
Wait till next year!..I'll show ya!!!!

angsaidso · 03-12-2009, 08:28 PM

Well, Bob ... I am wondering what I would have to do to keep my baby alive. Yours froze up but the corm stayed good? ... how long before she starts to grow??

I wonder if doing the tree lights and bubble wrap along with burlap and Then straw would work> I saw pics of this guy in I think Michigan who grows a palm tree in the ground that way and it has been alive for YEARS. I would have to try to find that info again, but maybe we should write him????

angsaidso · 03-12-2009, 08:30 PM

PS .. has anyone tried regular house insulation and wrapping it the p-stem that way prior to the straw bales??? Just curious.

stumpy4700 · 03-12-2009, 09:01 PM

Sorry Bob, Looks like we are in the same boat here. I havent removed the bales of straw yet but it looks the same. After tonights unexpected snow hopefully it'll stay warm to where I can finally unwrap them for good. Good luck buddy.

Bob · 03-13-2009, 06:39 AM

Ang, I'm going to modify things a bit next year maybe using the insulation. The Christmas lights work but I'm more in to low tech( unless I were trying an edible variety that would be a different mindset for me then. Check out the tuckedawayfarm .com website. he advertises here as TA farm. It shows there pretty clearly how he wraps his palms for the winter. What it doesn't show is that he also uses lights for additional warmth during below zero weather.

Thanks Stump , after this unusually cold winter I'm not disappointed with losing the p-stem. Next year maybe additional............something. Still the corm is as hard as a rock so I think late March/ beginning of April I'll uncover again and put a plastic tent or maybe a wall'o water over it to jolt it in to growth.

lwabirds · 03-13-2009, 08:29 AM

I'm in Waverly, Ohio.
I put cypress mulch around the base of mine basjoos, cut them back to abour a foot tall and place 4 black garbage bags of leaves around the plant with 2 over lapping on top. I haven't lost my psuedostems yet.

Michael_Andrew · 03-23-2009, 07:54 PM

September 2008:

January 2009:

March 2009:

I think I see a pup:

Michael

saltydad · 03-23-2009, 09:43 PM

Michael- Good news!

I haven't dug mine out yet, but I fully expect to find a p-stem of mush and a good corm also with the basjoo. Hopefully the lasiocarpa and sikkim will also have made it through this colder than normal winter. I know that I have a needle palm that has had no problems previously but is almost toast now.

03-08-2009, 11:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,560 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Anyone in the northeast uncover your basjoos yet? After 70 degrees yesterday I was really tempted. After this winter though I'm guessing the P-stem is toast, the lowest low was -4 and we just had too many days more than the normal amount of single digit days. I planned all along to wait till beggining to mid April but if you took a peek at yours I'd like to hear about it. __________________

03-08-2009, 11:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Michael_Andrew Michael_Andrew's Photo Gallery Location: Toledo, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Michael Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 517 BananaBucks : 67,740 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 248 Times Was Thanked 384 Times in 182 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 226 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I uncovered a mat that tree limbs fell on a couple weeks ago. Your guess is correct the pstem was mush. I dug out the corm and cut off the soft stuff and treated it with fungicide and put it in the basement. I think its gonna be fine but there goes my attempt of saving some pstem. I reached in the cage of my largest basjoo and the stem just feels like it all dried up to nothing. It's not mushy at all. Couldn't get to the ground level so maybe some of it is ok but I doubt it. Michael

03-08-2009, 03:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
turtile Junior Member turtile's Photo Gallery Location: Delaware Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: John Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 235 BananaBucks : 46,291 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 181 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I'd take it off and put it back on. Next week is going to be cold again . We're predicted to go down to 31F (Coastal DE) next week (which will likely be lower). __________________ http://www.unusualplants.net/

03-09-2009, 03:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
enigma99a enigma99a's Photo Gallery Location: Rocklin, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 476 BananaBucks : 99,610 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 103 Times Was Thanked 277 Times in 129 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Lewes, DE .. With temps these cold, yes good ideas to leave it on Wednesday, Mar 18 Low: 24 °F Thursday, Mar 19 Low: 25 °F Friday, Mar 20 Low: 26 °F ----- And Morris Plains, NJ March 18, 19, 20th.. all low 20s (23F to be exact). Hopefully the plants will be coming out like crazy next month. Really gotta hand it to you guys.. amazing the work you put into the corms/pstems. And I'm crying over here when it gets down to 28F once a season. __________________ Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches Last edited by enigma99a : 03-09-2009 at 03:37 AM.

03-09-2009, 07:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
lwabirds Junior Member lwabirds's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 91,753 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 68 Times in 23 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I checked my pstems and they look great. I'm not uncovering mine until april 15th. I'm in southern ohio. __________________ May you be in heaven a half an hour before the devil knows you're dead

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03-10-2009, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
plantguy Location: Long Island, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 BananaBucks : 4,063 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Bob, Yes, it was nice to get that heatwave the other day. I still have the tarp on mine though. Vinny

03-10-2009, 08:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
angsaidso angsaidso's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 9,446 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 10 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I am trying to figure out the best way to prep the ground to plant my basjoo outside this year and try to get it to grow here. We do drop very cold and I am worried I will kill it, but they claim it will grow anywhere with proper care ... Well, I live in Upstate NY and am not so sure this is true ... I guess I will fidn out, but anyone who has any tips and pointers ... please share them with me. Thanks!!! __________________ Peace ~ Ang "Can you imagine a world without?"

03-11-2009, 05:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Michael_Andrew Michael_Andrew's Photo Gallery Location: Toledo, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Michael Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 517 BananaBucks : 67,740 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 248 Times Was Thanked 384 Times in 182 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 226 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Hi Ang. What type soil do you have? I have really nice draining sandy loam so I don't have to do much. I just throw in some compost, water it well every couple of days and fertilize it. But they are spose to grow in about anything. I think I'd wait till after the danger of frost before planting. Then if you plan on leaving it in the ground you will have to protect it next winter. Using the search feature will lead you to all kinds of info on specific questions and topics. They like lots of sun and if you have a place to protect them from the wind it will keep the wind from tearing the leaves. I kinda like a few torn leaves myself. Anyway good luck with your basjoo. Michael

03-11-2009, 06:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 36,876 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Bob I did, I uncovered one of them. I took the tarp off and my heart dropped....Yep its dead to the ground. I don't have much hope for the other one, but I still have some that are potted in the garage and some that I dug up...Oh well I guess I know how to overwinter next year.

03-11-2009, 08:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ueberwinden Ueberwinden Ueberwinden's Photo Gallery Location: Florence, KY Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Mike Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 246 BananaBucks : 46,744 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 158 Times in 86 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Iwabird, Where in southern Ohio are you? I'm in Florence, KY just 16 miles south of Cincinnati. I grew up in Cincinnati, then went into the military. When I returned married we relocated to NKY. Michael Michael __________________ White Horticulture Rare, Tropical, Unique

03-11-2009, 08:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,560 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Stump and Ang, I think I'm going to uncover and have a peek myself. I really doubt the P-stem made it though. It was just too cold for too long this year. Still I'm betting the corm will turn out ok. If I get a chance I'll do it today and post with pics. If not, by the weekend for sure. __________________

03-11-2009, 04:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,560 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I couldn't stand it another minute so I just went out to the ugly brown tarp(still beats blue though ripped that off then took off the remay I was sure would add that little bit extra protection( even 1 degree can't hurt right? under this were 4 bales of straww meticulousy bound to prevent any and all damage to my beloved 3 1/2 ft P-stem Which flopped over deader than good will on wall street. I pulled all the mushy goodness away to find The corm hard as a rock about 1 1/2inches high and looking good. Not the success I'd hoped for but after this winter not a failure at all. Wait till next year!..I'll show ya!!!! __________________

03-12-2009, 08:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
angsaidso angsaidso's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 9,446 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 10 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Well, Bob ... I am wondering what I would have to do to keep my baby alive. Yours froze up but the corm stayed good? ... how long before she starts to grow?? I wonder if doing the tree lights and bubble wrap along with burlap and Then straw would work> I saw pics of this guy in I think Michigan who grows a palm tree in the ground that way and it has been alive for YEARS. I would have to try to find that info again, but maybe we should write him???? __________________ Peace ~ Ang "Can you imagine a world without?"

03-12-2009, 08:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
angsaidso angsaidso's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 9,446 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 10 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast PS .. has anyone tried regular house insulation and wrapping it the p-stem that way prior to the straw bales??? Just curious. __________________ Peace ~ Ang "Can you imagine a world without?"

03-12-2009, 09:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 36,876 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Sorry Bob, Looks like we are in the same boat here. I havent removed the bales of straw yet but it looks the same. After tonights unexpected snow hopefully it'll stay warm to where I can finally unwrap them for good. Good luck buddy.

03-13-2009, 06:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,560 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Ang, I'm going to modify things a bit next year maybe using the insulation. The Christmas lights work but I'm more in to low tech( unless I were trying an edible variety that would be a different mindset for me then. Check out the tuckedawayfarm .com website. he advertises here as TA farm. It shows there pretty clearly how he wraps his palms for the winter. What it doesn't show is that he also uses lights for additional warmth during below zero weather. Thanks Stump , after this unusually cold winter I'm not disappointed with losing the p-stem. Next year maybe additional............something. Still the corm is as hard as a rock so I think late March/ beginning of April I'll uncover again and put a plastic tent or maybe a wall'o water over it to jolt it in to growth. __________________

03-13-2009, 08:29 AM	#18 (permalink)
lwabirds Junior Member lwabirds's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 BananaBucks : 91,753 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 68 Times in 23 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast I'm in Waverly, Ohio. I put cypress mulch around the base of mine basjoos, cut them back to abour a foot tall and place 4 black garbage bags of leaves around the plant with 2 over lapping on top. I haven't lost my psuedostems yet. __________________ May you be in heaven a half an hour before the devil knows you're dead

03-23-2009, 07:54 PM	#19 (permalink)
Michael_Andrew Michael_Andrew's Photo Gallery Location: Toledo, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Michael Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 517 BananaBucks : 67,740 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 248 Times Was Thanked 384 Times in 182 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 226 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast September 2008: January 2009: March 2009: I think I see a pup: Michael

03-23-2009, 09:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
saltydad saltydad's Photo Gallery Location: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Howard Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,552 BananaBucks : 174,302 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 14,712 Times Was Thanked 4,662 Times in 1,778 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 824 Times	Re: Anyone in the northeast Michael- Good news! I haven't dug mine out yet, but I fully expect to find a p-stem of mush and a good corm also with the basjoo. Hopefully the lasiocarpa and sikkim will also have made it through this colder than normal winter. I know that I have a needle palm that has had no problems previously but is almost toast now. __________________ Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men" "Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon "If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal." John F. Kennedy, September, 1960 http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

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