Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

My first year with Musa Basjoos overwintered in the ground in Zone 6 Ohio. Looks like they made it. Trunks are firm at the base and pups are still green and look as if they even grew some this winter. All i did was cut down to 16" and covered with 2.5 bags of cypress mulch each. I was kinda scared if they would make it because i didnt get them till late August early September. I uncovered them yesterday and will leave them uncovered until we get cold weather coming back. I figured the warm days will help them get a jump start on the growing season. Well here are the pics everyone is welcome to post their pictures and results in this thread also....Thanks


This was my largest one that grew to be about 6-7 feet last year.Trunk is still firm at the base and all 5 pups from last year look to still be alive.





The smaller one planted it real late in the season too. Was about 3.5 feet. Trunk is still firm at the base and the 2 pups from last year look to still be alive.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Nice! Looks like they'll be just fine! Thanks for sharing your experiences with the community!

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

I went out and checked on them today and the larger one has already started growing since i cut some off of it. And it has been rainy and overcast here for the last 3 days and its only been 4 days since i cut it down. It has only grown about an eighth of an inch but at least i know the mother plant made it and it will still grow!

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Way to go, Nate! That's awesome. I wonder if the decomposition of the Cypress mulch kept it just a few degrees warmer near the actual plant. I know that even in winter, a pile of mulch can be very warm, if not hot, just a foot deep. It's caused by the bacteria breaking down the wood, but that's about as specific as I can get. It even steams.

Thanks...I was wondering the same thing....It seemed to work pretty well i think i will add some plastic between a layer of mulch next year to keep them from getting so wet. I think that would help a lot. Plus maybe a cage made of chicken wire would help also. It would keep the mulch more consistent instead of a cone shaped pile of mulch.

So i woke up this morning to a surprise it snowed over night!! Thankfully i was ahead of the game and covered my basjoo up earlier up in the day because i saw it was gonna rain and get to a low of 28*. I will uncover again after monday cuz its all warm after that. But anyways here is a pic of my temperary protection and the snow on the ground...

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Cool, still looks alive.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Thanks, Yeah its still alive under there these things are tough. I hope i dont mess it up covering it back up after it was uncovered for a few weeks. Also I just noticed a few new pups coming up when i was putting the mulch back down. I put it on a lot lighter than i did before the winter and added a layer of plastic between the mulch because they are calling for more rain.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Wow, how cold is it suppose to get there? I think it's in the 80's here tomorrow.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

It is 32 right now it supposed to be 62* tomorrow but back to 30 on monday so ill prob uncover before i go to work monday morning then im in the clear for at least the 10 day forecast. I probably should have kept them dormant for a few more weeks but i was to eager to get these things growing im hoping for at least 12' of growth this year...

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

That sucks Nate. But it's been cold here too. Like 15F during the winter without protection for my bananas other than mulch.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Here is the new growth that ive already gotten in about 3.5 weeks. It is growing good!

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Awesome Nate, Great job. Now just hope mine have the same luck.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

It was loving these 80+ degree days...The low tonight is 38 and tomorrow 35 but after that its all good again.

It has been 3 days since my last pic and it has grown a lot probably a foot or so...

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Well I wish you all the luck of 14ft :^) It sure is coming along quite well. Nice Pic's :^)

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

That really gives me hope because I have 4 musa basjoo starter plants on order and I'm hoping that they gain enough size to get through the winter here. I'll also try to protect the entire psuedostem if that's possible.

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Ok heres another update it is growing good now check out all the new growth since my last pic 2 weeks ago. When it gets that full leaf out im sure it will really take off...




And here is a pic of the smallest one the pups really are growing but i dont think mom made it...Even though it was protect better and gets more sun..

This is it March 11th when i first uncovered it...




Now...

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

2 Months Uncovered Update.. **Mods Please dont merge posts**

2 months ago March 11...



Today May 10....



All new growth from the first pic. It is growing really good now. I give it a shot of 30-10-10 miracle gro every week and water it probably twice a day. Abnshrek thanks that would be sweet if it got to 14'. My family and friends though i was crazy planting a banana plant in Ohio. Then they saw it come back this spring now everybody wants one...lol

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Excellent growth. No worries on merging...I'm not merging any older posts anymore after I had to endure such odious drama/opposition over merging a few mundane updates in the past. Glad to see the progress of your success!

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

3 Months Uncovered Update...




It is around 6.5 feet tall now. It has already equaled its growth from last year. Will it continue to grow at this rate or do they grow faster the bigger they get?

Re: Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!
 

Nice job on overwintering those! My experience is that they sort of tend to go faster the larger they get, but that has more to do with heat than anything. The hotter it gets, the faster mine have grown. I would say you very well may get twice the height of of them this year that you did last. And, they will probably multiply again. Mine have always put up multiple pups, and mine are in pots. My largest one is currently about 9 feet tall.

I have some friends who have a FOREST of them in their back yard out in reston, VA which is farther west, colder DC suburbs. They started with two single plants 2 years ago. This is their third summer in the ground and there are now about 40-50 plants, and they usually get about to the top of the second story window, or about 16-18 feet high. They have so many they asked me to come take some to thin them out, and of course I did.

I can't wait to see how big yours get. Ill bet you get a good 10' maybe 12 feet out of them this year. Those things are very hardy, and VERY vigorous growers for sure.