brianrumsey

That's very similar to how I protected my basjoo the year before last. What part of Illinois are you in? There's a big difference in winters between Rockford and Cairo.

mari@adams.net

I'm in zone 6a from the zone maps....10 miles into Illinois from Hannibal, MO (home of Mark Twain) that's along the Mississippi River. We can get 10-15 below zero, but not for long if we do. Last winter, I think we got down to -13* a couple of days, some nice winters, only to 0*.

sirdoofus

Holy crow, that is some serious insulation, anyone of us could probably overwinter inside that cozy looking bungalow

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mari@adams.net

That was the first year I overwintered a banana plant and wanted to do all I could to get it to come back next year. Might have over-did it, but didn't know what I was doing......put plastic fence around it as I didn't want the straw to blow away.. I figured if I was going to put 3 bales of straw over them, might as well do 6 or 7. Tarp was to keep it dry. Even Mother came back but lost her due to taking all the insulation off too early. Our weather/temps can be quite 'iffy' in the Spring, 70* one day and below freezing the next. Mother didn't like it at freezing.

sirdoofus

Go big or go home right?

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mari@adams.net

What do people in your location do for over-wintering?

sirdoofus

Not sure what others do around here. Don't personally know anyone else growing bananas (a friend planted a basjoo this year but hasn't overwintered it yet) although I do see a few plants here and there.

In the past with sikkimensis I have just mulched (nothing like your program) the mat with extra leaves, straw, etc and wrapped the p-stem with water tank insulation and then plastic which has worked well in zone 8a-bUSDA

I had a basjoo a couple of years ago here (6bUSDA) which I did the same with, however that was before I knew they don't like to be wet in the winter and it was in a fairly wet area. Survived the first year, but the second year it didn't make it. I am sure, however, it was due to being wet, not cold.

Just jumping back into banana growing this year, but nothing outside yet.

Am looking forward to seeing what the different varieties will require in this area. We don't tend to get long freezes. We can get down to -12C some years but it usually is only for a few days at a time and then back to 5-8C. Our biggest issue is most definitely wetness. Our water table in the winter is right at the surface on much of my property, which means I will have to make sure all bananas are in raised areas/beds.

I do, however, like your idea of just throwing a few hay bales and a tarp over the mat. Easy peazy.

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