First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em?

Moonshiner · 11-15-2011, 12:22 AM

I received 2 basjoos in mid August. They were planted and have grown nicely to about 2 feet tall with nice sturdy stalks about 1.5" in diameter. I was going to go with protecting the entire p-stem, then mulching and surrounding with bags for the winter.

Am I wasting my time with these immature little guys? Should I just cut off the p-stem a few inches from the ground and then just mulch/protect the ground? Or would you try to save as much as possible, even though it wont add that much height to the plant next year?

Love seeing all the winterizing posts. From SaltyDad's amazing new indoor decor to Bob's NJ endeavors. Anything is possible.

tommyg · 11-15-2011, 04:01 PM

Why don't you just dig them up and winterize them in your basement. That is what I'd do with a plant that height. The leafs may fall off and it may look like its dying, but its just resting.

Moonshiner · 11-15-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyg

Why don't you just dig them up and winterize them in your basement. That is what I'd do with a plant that height. The leafs may fall off and it may look like its dying, but its just resting.

Aren't they a little young to go bare root in the basement? My thinking was there would not be enough 'energy' stored in the corm for that.

(Although that would let me plant them a little deeper next spring. Hmmmmm..... Maybe loosely wrap 'em in newspaper and hide them downstairs........)

tommyg · 11-15-2011, 08:12 PM

yup they should be fine. Let them conserve their energy.
Remember no light, light watering bi-weekly or so.. and you'll be fine.

sandy0225 · 11-17-2011, 08:08 AM

I'd say they are borderline for leaving outdoors in your zone at that size.
If you're not experienced or good with indoor plants, or have a nice sunny warm place to put them or a grow light indoors, then that being said, I'd leave them outdoors.
If you leave them out, mulch the area about 6' around the plants with about 6" of leaves.
Then place several bags(8-10) of leaves in a big mound over the top of the plants. Top that off with a plastic tarp to shed water.
Around here in zone 5, I've not had any success overwintering them the first year if they were less than 3 feet tall.
If you bring them in barerooted and store them in the basement, you're likely to make them permanently dormant at that size.

Moonshiner · 11-23-2011, 12:48 AM

Growing plants indoors is not a problem, but sunny windows is. My only available S facing window is covered with cacti and succulents. My DC grows in the SW corner. It loses 50% of the bottom leaves during winter, but recovers great once placed back outside in spring. I have 3 solid pups on that one and will probably put the mother plant in the warm ground next time.

So I mulched em, bagged em, stuffed chopped leaves around the p-stem and between the bags, then tarped(?) the whole deal. If they don't come back, I gave it a shot.

orinoko · 11-23-2011, 03:31 AM

Tommy,

Quote:

Remember no light, light watering

Is that the advice also for Musa sikimenses, youngster?

Thanks!

Moonshiner · 02-26-2012, 01:59 PM

Peeked under the tarp last week on a warm day. Saw green leaves all the way to the top. Glad it's been a warm winter.

11-15-2011, 12:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Moonshiner Moonshiner's Photo Gallery Location: Libertytown, MD Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Mike Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 83 BananaBucks : 26,678 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 79 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? I received 2 basjoos in mid August. They were planted and have grown nicely to about 2 feet tall with nice sturdy stalks about 1.5" in diameter. I was going to go with protecting the entire p-stem, then mulching and surrounding with bags for the winter. Am I wasting my time with these immature little guys? Should I just cut off the p-stem a few inches from the ground and then just mulch/protect the ground? Or would you try to save as much as possible, even though it wont add that much height to the plant next year? Love seeing all the winterizing posts. From SaltyDad's amazing new indoor decor to Bob's NJ endeavors. Anything is possible. __________________ Mike

11-15-2011, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
tommyg sunroom gardener Location: Worcester, MA Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 252 BananaBucks : 40,377 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 83 Times Was Thanked 234 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? Why don't you just dig them up and winterize them in your basement. That is what I'd do with a plant that height. The leafs may fall off and it may look like its dying, but its just resting. __________________ Blog: http://sunroomgardening.blogspot.com Photography biz:http://www.tomasharanphotography.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tomasharanphotography Worcester, MA

11-15-2011, 08:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
tommyg sunroom gardener Location: Worcester, MA Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 252 BananaBucks : 40,377 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 83 Times Was Thanked 234 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? yup they should be fine. Let them conserve their energy. Remember no light, light watering bi-weekly or so.. and you'll be fine. __________________ Blog: http://sunroomgardening.blogspot.com Photography biz:http://www.tomasharanphotography.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tomasharanphotography Worcester, MA

11-17-2011, 08:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 371,558 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? I'd say they are borderline for leaving outdoors in your zone at that size. If you're not experienced or good with indoor plants, or have a nice sunny warm place to put them or a grow light indoors, then that being said, I'd leave them outdoors. If you leave them out, mulch the area about 6' around the plants with about 6" of leaves. Then place several bags(8-10) of leaves in a big mound over the top of the plants. Top that off with a plastic tarp to shed water. Around here in zone 5, I've not had any success overwintering them the first year if they were less than 3 feet tall. If you bring them in barerooted and store them in the basement, you're likely to make them permanently dormant at that size. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

11-23-2011, 12:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Moonshiner Moonshiner's Photo Gallery Location: Libertytown, MD Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Mike Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 83 BananaBucks : 26,678 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 79 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? Growing plants indoors is not a problem, but sunny windows is. My only available S facing window is covered with cacti and succulents. My DC grows in the SW corner. It loses 50% of the bottom leaves during winter, but recovers great once placed back outside in spring. I have 3 solid pups on that one and will probably put the mother plant in the warm ground next time. So I mulched em, bagged em, stuffed chopped leaves around the p-stem and between the bags, then tarped(?) the whole deal. If they don't come back, I gave it a shot. __________________ Mike

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02-26-2012, 01:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Moonshiner Moonshiner's Photo Gallery Location: Libertytown, MD Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Mike Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 83 BananaBucks : 26,678 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 79 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: First year Basjoos. Cut 'em or keep 'em? Peeked under the tarp last week on a warm day. Saw green leaves all the way to the top. Glad it's been a warm winter. __________________ Mike

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