Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe

Longwoods Tropicals · 10-06-2013, 02:45 AM

Here we are in early October and my basjoos are still pushing out new leaves every 8 days or so, they tend to look ratty this time of year but to my surprise my two bigger ones just had perfect six and seven foot leaves emerge, the larger one is three feet across, Wow!

The forecast is for more rain and thunderstorms this weekend so this is probably as good as it gets this year, maybe one more full set but under more trying environmental conditions, this last week has seen temps in the low 80s in the garden and dewpoints approaching 70. I don't expect to see those values until next May.

Regards
Harold

Olafhenny · 10-06-2013, 06:05 PM

"Don't mean nott'n", Harold, unless you tell us which hardiness zone you hail from.
If you live in HZ5, you have my full attention
If you live near the Florida cost, I am just yawning

Longwoods Tropicals · 10-06-2013, 10:06 PM

Hi Olaf
I'm in zone 6, about 45 minutes Southwest of London Ontario. Some call it a 6b but there are years where even 6 is a stretch.

I have been reading your posts about the Permanent Banana Shelter (THANK-YOU) and I have a question about your passive heat transfer device you've made. I am wondering how much of difference it will make? I plan on building a greenhouse next year and am exploring heating options, I have looked into a small home-built geo-thermal set up, the costs for that still seem prohibitive, my other option is a vented wood stove.

I am also quite interested in hearing about any progress you've made in propagating Ensetes, I think mine may be too big to handle after next year, if their growth this year is any indication.

Regards
Harold

Olafhenny · 10-07-2013, 08:42 PM

Hi Harold,

considering where you live your basjoos look mighty fine. Mine appear to be assuming “fall
colours”

I did not think they would acclimatize that fast in only a few generations.

I have just finished submitting a new thread about my failed experiment on non-destructive
propagation of the E. Maurelii. That was just my first try and I will try again next year, providing
I get it through the winter.

That “passive heating system” will only work with very tight insulation and then it will probably just
increase the temperature in the enclosure by 1 or 2^C. But I think, that the E. Maurelii can use
all the help, it can get. Mine has already survived a short 1 hour dip to -1^C, without showing ill
effects. I am sure, that I can keep its shelter frost free all winter. The question is: can it survive
5 months dormancy in darkness?

Well, stay tuned!
Olaf

Longwoods Tropicals · 10-20-2013, 09:28 AM

Well, here we are two weeks later and still going strong.
[IMG]

[/IMG]
It looks like Halloween will be the the first significant freeze up. There is still quite a divergence in the long range foercast, Accuweather has overnight lows in the 20s while the Canadian Weather Network and the Wunderground models have the warm Great Lake breezes keeping me in the mid thirties while most of Michigan freezes. Either way it has been a great Autumn so far, I was able to move and establish young pups in mid September, they are now growing and should be fine to overwinter. I think next March I will erect a small temporary lean-to around my main patch to give them a bit of a leg up early on.

Regards

Harold

Longwoods Tropicals · 10-20-2013, 10:06 AM

These are from this morning.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

[IMG]

[/IMG]

The Canna lillies have been flowering for nearly four months now, the Indicas have produced about a pound and a half of seeds so far, between dividing the corms and seedlings I will have more Cannas than I know what to do with.

Regards

Harold

Olafhenny · 10-20-2013, 10:53 AM

Good for you!
My cannas (Canna Australia) only have a few measly blooms left, though at their lofty
heights, the tallest is 10' 8" high, they are quite exposed to draft

As you can see here Flag too late again...ready to just get rid of them. the higher, more
exposed parts of my basjoos have also been nipped by frost already, while the more
protected lower leaves are still okay.

Best,
Olaf

Longwoods Tropicals · 10-24-2013, 11:01 AM

It finally happened, the first frost of the season.
These two (only one visible) were transplanted in early September, they are fully exposed to wind and frost.
[IMG]

[/IMG]
This is my main mat, mostly protected by the foundation of my barn. The banana leaves were only slightly affected, and only those farthest away from the foundation.
[IMG]

[/IMG]
I hope to get another two weeks yet of growth yet, as no major hard freeze is forecasted.

Regards

Harold

10-06-2013, 02:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 36,973 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe Here we are in early October and my basjoos are still pushing out new leaves every 8 days or so, they tend to look ratty this time of year but to my surprise my two bigger ones just had perfect six and seven foot leaves emerge, the larger one is three feet across, Wow! The forecast is for more rain and thunderstorms this weekend so this is probably as good as it gets this year, maybe one more full set but under more trying environmental conditions, this last week has seen temps in the low 80s in the garden and dewpoints approaching 70. I don't expect to see those values until next May. Regards Harold

10-06-2013, 06:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 292,681 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe "Don't mean nott'n", Harold, unless you tell us which hardiness zone you hail from. If you live in HZ5, you have my full attention If you live near the Florida cost, I am just yawning __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

10-06-2013, 10:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 36,973 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe Hi Olaf I'm in zone 6, about 45 minutes Southwest of London Ontario. Some call it a 6b but there are years where even 6 is a stretch. I have been reading your posts about the Permanent Banana Shelter (THANK-YOU) and I have a question about your passive heat transfer device you've made. I am wondering how much of difference it will make? I plan on building a greenhouse next year and am exploring heating options, I have looked into a small home-built geo-thermal set up, the costs for that still seem prohibitive, my other option is a vented wood stove. I am also quite interested in hearing about any progress you've made in propagating Ensetes, I think mine may be too big to handle after next year, if their growth this year is any indication. Regards Harold

10-07-2013, 08:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 292,681 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe Hi Harold, considering where you live your basjoos look mighty fine. Mine appear to be assuming “fall colours” I did not think they would acclimatize that fast in only a few generations. I have just finished submitting a new thread about my failed experiment on non-destructive propagation of the E. Maurelii. That was just my first try and I will try again next year, providing I get it through the winter. That “passive heating system” will only work with very tight insulation and then it will probably just increase the temperature in the enclosure by 1 or 2^C. But I think, that the E. Maurelii can use all the help, it can get. Mine has already survived a short 1 hour dip to -1^C, without showing ill effects. I am sure, that I can keep its shelter frost free all winter. The question is: can it survive 5 months dormancy in darkness? Well, stay tuned! Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

10-20-2013, 09:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 36,973 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe Well, here we are two weeks later and still going strong. [IMG][/IMG] It looks like Halloween will be the the first significant freeze up. There is still quite a divergence in the long range foercast, Accuweather has overnight lows in the 20s while the Canadian Weather Network and the Wunderground models have the warm Great Lake breezes keeping me in the mid thirties while most of Michigan freezes. Either way it has been a great Autumn so far, I was able to move and establish young pups in mid September, they are now growing and should be fine to overwinter. I think next March I will erect a small temporary lean-to around my main patch to give them a bit of a leg up early on. Regards Harold

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10-20-2013, 10:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 36,973 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe These are from this morning. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] The Canna lillies have been flowering for nearly four months now, the Indicas have produced about a pound and a half of seeds so far, between dividing the corms and seedlings I will have more Cannas than I know what to do with. Regards Harold

10-20-2013, 10:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 292,681 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe Good for you! My cannas (Canna Australia) only have a few measly blooms left, though at their lofty heights, the tallest is 10' 8" high, they are quite exposed to draft As you can see here Flag too late again...ready to just get rid of them. the higher, more exposed parts of my basjoos have also been nipped by frost already, while the more protected lower leaves are still okay. Best, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

10-24-2013, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 36,973 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Basjoo's Last Stand... Maybe It finally happened, the first frost of the season. These two (only one visible) were transplanted in early September, they are fully exposed to wind and frost. [IMG][/IMG] This is my main mat, mostly protected by the foundation of my barn. The banana leaves were only slightly affected, and only those farthest away from the foundation. [IMG][/IMG] I hope to get another two weeks yet of growth yet, as no major hard freeze is forecasted. Regards Harold

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