bananas in MN
 

anyone growing bananas in MN---and leaving them outdoors throughout the winter. tried some one winter, protected them nicely etc., but unfortunately one of our downspouts had 'come loose' a little and drained water into their area and froze their corms/roots, so we had MUSH!

i do want to try again, we had some pretty cold nights this last winter, but otherwise our winters have been tracking pretty warm latey.

live just west of the twin cities, zone 4. we live in and OLD church, so you can imagine insulation is not real good, and it helps 'raise the zone level' next to the building a bit!

thanks all

Re: bananas in MN
 

I am interested in your questions as well. I am in western South Dakota. Zone 5a. The coldest temp I've seen here was -14 for a few hours, then back up to -5 to around zero for a few days.

All the responses I've seen to these questions are reports from zones 6 and above.

Re: bananas in MN
 

Not all. Here's one that's about Zone 4: http://www.bananas.org/f15/still-thi...html#post52906

Re: bananas in MN
 

I'm in zone 5 & would never leave a nana out all winter. Last yr in May - 10 days after planting a ice cream, we had frost overnight - temp to 29-30f. I wrapped the stem & left the leaves out. The leaves died but the plant is OK. It stayed inground all summer & then we dug it up in Oct & potted it & brought inside.

Re: bananas in MN
 

yes u can insulate good enough this last winter was a long cold one and not alot of my basjoos came back im in zone 4-5 middle of wisconsin

Re: bananas in MN
 

thanks,

ok, i'm really good with adding some protection i like trying "things". i'm even good with digging up the plants. i'm not good with having them potted and hanging around in my house. i have enough plants indoors already that i like and i don't need to add to the crowd.

am i able to cut off the stems and store the corms like a canna? i know some have said to cut the leaves off and leave the stems long, dig em up and store them, but remember this is zone 4 not 6 or 7and i don't have a heated garage.

'if' i can't do it by storing like a canna, what do you do with those long stems in the spring? does the whole thing green again?

thanks for all your help!!!!!

Re: bananas in MN
 

Here is what some of us do in cold climates
http://www.bananas.org/f15/time-put-...inter-310.html
If this doesn't show, read "Time to put bananas to sleep for winter" right above this thread.