GpD79

Hi Everyone,

Two years ago I bought a couple of Musa Basjoo plants from ebay to put next to our pool. To make a long story short, they never left the pots because my father thought they would never survive the winters in our Central Jersey, 6A climate. Needless to say, they're very nice, but I wish they were in the ground!

Anyway, my parents recently purchased a summer home in South Eastern NJ (Barnegat) as a get away the whole family could enjoy. I was thinking of doing a little landscaping at the house as a small way to say thank you. I was wondering if the beach would be a better fit for my two Musa Basjoo's. The problem is that there are some variables that I do not know how to address and I was hoping some of you could lend some assistance. Here are the specifics:

Zone 6b/7a and sits directly on the bay.

Soil is VERY sandy, almost like a beach.

Backyard is essentially in the bay, jutting into the bay with a bulkhead dividing the yard from the water. That being said, I'm sure the soil (or really just sand) below is rather wet and there is salt spray from the bay.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Anything you can provide would be MORE than helpful and greatly appreciated.


Here are some pictures:

The first is of the Musa Basjoo in their pots by the pool at their current home. They each would have sat where the small evergreens are (one is not pictured) if my father allowed them to be put into the ground.



The next two are of the front and back yard. We've already begun to remove the hedges on the front of the house, so that'll soon be a clean canvas. The hedges are about as tall as I am (6' tall) and almost hide that side of the house. They are too large & overgrown to save.





Thanks!

Bob

Barnegat's on the mainland side right? You should be able climate wise to keep them in the ground there more successfully than up in 6a where I am. The bay will help too moderating the temps in the winter but this effect only goes a short way from the water. I once gave some basjoos to non gardening friends on LBI but it wasn't protected and didn't make it. You're going to need to add lots of compost and probably some composted manure as well. Maybe even a bale of peat. you'll be surprised how much the sand will suck up. Then test the soil after is set a while. I would think you should be successful there though. I'm interestedto see how you do.


Sorry I had typed in one answer and re read your post(it's early) so changed my response.

__________________

GpD79

Hey Bob,

Thanks for the info. Yeah, the house is on the mainland side of the bay. In fact, you can actually see the Barnegat Light House in the picture of the front of the house. It's right above the two black cars in the driveway, next to that wood pole thing. It's hard to see, it's really small. Anyway, that's unimportant.

So do you think I should plant them right next to the water instead of in front of the house? Would that be better? What you're saying seems like it's almost more difficult to over winter it down the shore than to it was back home. But would all that stuff be an initial effort and then I could just leave it? I also wouldn't mind cutting it down and covering it outside w/ mulch an plastic for the winter, but I really don't want to rely on pots and have to bring them in and out as I do now. It just looses that tropical effect; but considering we're in NJ... there's not much tropical effect to work with! lol.

Bob

If it was me I'd find the sunniest spot away from the water, they're going to get the occasional super high tide and don't think they'd take the salt well. If you've got a spot that will allow you to see them when you want and possibly a sunny, wind protested location( between houses is popular down the shore) that would be an ideal spot. Start with a heavily ammended planting hole , the sand really sucks them up.

__________________

GpD79

So, if I did decide to go ahead and do this, the way I would need to amend the soil would be to use lots of compost and probably some composted manure as well? Do I toss that into the soil (which is VERY sandy) or do I just place it on top? Also, do I toss the peat into the soil as well, or do I apply that on top. If I do toss it into the soil, how big should I make the plant hole? My father actually insists that we use the copious amounts of seaweed that washes up on the shore next door. He says putting it inside the hole is a great form a fertilizer. I was just concerned because I thought there may be some salt on the seaweed and would kill the plants. What are your thoughts regarding the seaweed? Sorry, I'm such a novice!

john_ny

Well, my friend Bob has given you some good advice. I must say that salt, in any form, is not going to do your plants any good, whether it's spray, or a bath from a high tide. Not saying that it's going to kill them, but it certainly isn't going to help. As far as amending the soil, it is, frankly, not going to be easy. (of course, every little bit helps) Depending on the size of the area, I would say you would probably need a truckload, or more, of compost/peat, etc., and probably need something like a Bobcat to mix it. I think, if you dump it on top, it'll be gone in the first storm. (My BIL lives in Barnegat, and they have many beautiful plants, but they're not on the beach.)

__________________
John

GpD79

Well, I'm certainly not getting a tractor and truckload of compost/peat to mix and amend the soil. If it requires altering the environment that much in order to make it hospitable for a banana plant to grow, then it's just not worth it!

Thanks guys!

Bob

Actually you can amend a smaller area and keep it concentrated and give it a shot. Don't let it intimidate you in to not planting. Of course very large pots would be adequate as well. Then just over winter dry like a plumeria.I gather seaweed from your area every year and amend the top layer of my garden soil with it. My bananas are doing well so they must like it. I'd go for itmyself.

__________________

Eric

Huh...!? Why not...!? It'd get a real charge out of the neighbors...! A real 'attention getter'...! But I'm a little (a little!?) eccentric . I'd jump at the chance to toss a few nanners around like that!!

turtile

Plant them in the most sheltered area near your house. If you plant them right next to the house, the heat from the house will keep the plant warm all winter. Musa basjoo grows great in the soil on the Delaware Coast once established. They'll need a foot or two of mulch to keep the ground warm the first winter.

__________________
http://www.unusualplants.net/