Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

We lost a few, 2/13 out front in our line, both in places where we lost bananas before in less cold winters than this one. And unfortunately, we lost all three of them by the fish pond, but that totally makes sense because the bamboo perforated the pond liner over winter and drained the pond slowly over winter.
We also lost one that we had planted in practically all shade by the door. The one on the other side of the door is just fine. So out of 18 we had return on 12 with no mulching or protection at all besides planting them 2-4 years ago at a foot below grade. So not too bad!
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I sold all the basjoo that were big enough to plant a foot deeper this spring, so I got in another liner of 72 and I'm growing them as quickly as possible because people, including me, are waiting on them...

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

It was a terrible winter even down here in Arkansas. You will get back to normal with that nice flat of basjoos in no time. Do you ever grow velutina?

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Thanks for posting that......accurate planting information.... Again.
You rock:08:

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Last year, I was able to uncover my in-ground basjoos, and bring out the indoor ones on April 5. I had rigged a string of mini Christmas lights, under the cover, but sometime in March, a bulb blew out, taking the whole string out. The plants were still OK.
This year, I never got to rig the lights and, after a brutal winter, I was unable to uncover until mid May, but the plants were fine, and are growing well now. Go figure!

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

@ Austin - I'm in the Arkansas River Valley as well (Russellville AREA). Last year i started my first bananas (Basjoo tiny plants from Atwoods) had 13 pots with the largest about 4 foot by frost. I overwintered them in my unheated greenhouse and like you say, it was uncommonly cold.

All basjoo came back fine. I lost some tropicals. This year, I'm going to heat a small 8 x 8 section of the greenhouse to 40 degrees and see how that works.

What other banana varieties do you grow successfully? I want to think i know where a banana plant is that survives all winter, but they may cover or take it in. I'll be watching to see this winter. It's about a 8 footer and i know I've seen it pretty late in the year.

Anyone know how low a temperature a bajoo can survive without dieing back? Maybe the size when you put it in the ground has something to do with it too.

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Awesome! I'm just north of Little Rock. An established basjoo can take any winter we get without any protection. They will come roaring back. I have been highly successful with musella lasiocarpa and musa velutina over the past 8 years without any mulch--no winter protection--even last winter! I am now trying musa ornata since they survived around 0*F in Alabama last winter. Arkansas is a great state to grow bananas!

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Austin - thanks for sharing - I'll add Musa Velutina to my list to try. Only tropical i have is Musa FHIA-3 Sweetheart that i bought online last fall. It was a tiny TC plant from FloridaHillNursery. Ordered 2, only one survived. Kept indoors through winter. It's 4 foot tall and stem as big as my arm - looks good. I'll keep it in a container. I'll wait another month or so and post some pics before frost.

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Sounds good. Musa velutina is a must. Look at my pink bananas they produce to the left under my screen name! They are reliable!

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Hey Burris...if you are on Facebook, add the group Arkansas Palms and Exotics!

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Hello everyon. Im in zone6 and have grown tha basjoo for ten years never mulching and grew clumps with 30 trunks. Last year we had about 3 weeks at 10 or so an windchill minus 20 at times for weeks.didnt mulch or cover my clumps.everything came back so it a very hardy banana.

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

Hey Sandy how r your basjoos now.

Re: Basjoo update after terrible winter
 

just a little smaller than normal.
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a542/sandy02256/imagejpg13_zpsbd6f61e9.jpg