It's finally time to plant em all out

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-05-2015, 01:44 PM

Up here in the Great Lakes we've had two consecutive brutal winters, it feels so good to get the tropical plants growing outdoors again.

As you can see this year was a good test of musa basjoo's hardiness.

Here they are late 2014 right before bedtime.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psc8955271.jpg

And here they are this afternoon.

I managed to save some p-stem but have over twenty little ones coming up, it appears I didn't lose any.

Here are my tropical ones up by the house, in these shots are Cavendish, SDC, Zebrina and ensete Glaucum and Maurelii.

It sure is sizing up as a great summer show to come, I hope everyone else up north has similar good luck this spring.

pmurphy · 05-05-2015, 01:51 PM

Congrats on their survival!

Here on the west coast we had a very mild winter - if you can call it that - and everything is at least 3 weeks ahead of last year. I even put most of my tender bananas and hardier tropicals (cycads, some palms and coffee tree) outside at the end of March.....they sulked a bit when the night temps dropped below 8C but are starting to grow now

drobbins · 05-05-2015, 06:06 PM

looking really good
am I correct in thinking everything besides the basjoo spent the winter inside or in a crawl space?
I overwintered some ensete inside that are rocking now and I wonder about trying to leave them outside. My winters here are much warmer than yours
looks like your have huge p-stems, how old are they?

Dave

Dave

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-05-2015, 06:56 PM

Quote:

am I correct in thinking everything besides the basjoo spent the winter inside or in a crawl space?

Yes, I had two glaucums, I decided to experiment and sacrificed one of them to see if I could reproduce them in the same manner as maureliis, by division, sadly it was a fail, the other one was huge a six foot p-stem...so I cleaved it with a machete down to about 20 inches, threw it in a huge pot and set it out in my heated north facing sun room with all the rest of the tropical plants for the winter.

Quote:

like your have huge p-stems, how old are they?

All of my ensetes are going into their third season, the maureliis were a decent size when I bought them, about a foot of p-stem, and the glaucums were mail order and tiny seedlings. Last year they were huge but never started to rock until mid June, they are about a week away from getting there right now, so I'm stoked.

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-05-2015, 07:09 PM

Quote:

I even put most of my tender bananas and hardier tropicals (cycads, some palms and coffee tree) outside at the end of March.

March...wow I'm jealous, two years ago all my tender bananas went out on April 28th only to get set back a month by a super rare light frost on the May 24 weekend, it also killed all my cukes and tomatoes. It's rolling the dice planting out this early ...especially in my zone 5/6, but the pay-off can be big come August.

I'm guessing you're in zone 7 or 8.

pmurphy · 05-05-2015, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longwoods Tropicals

March...wow I'm jealous, two years ago all my tender bananas went out on April 28th only to get set back a month by a super rare light frost on the May 24 weekend, it also killed all my cukes and tomatoes. It's rolling the dice planting out this early ...especially in my zone 5/6, but the pay-off can be big come August.

I'm guessing you're in zone 7 or 8.

Micro-climate zone 8b so I get to experiment with plants and even have some zone 9 "tropicals" that have survived the winters without protection including a couple of bottlebrush (one of which is getting ready to flower) as well as several palms - including sabal minor and bamboo palm Chamaedorea microspadix (this one is only about a foot tall so it does get winter protection)......

Nate74 · 05-06-2015, 03:03 PM

Everything looks like its off to a great start. Can't wait to see how it all fills out this year.

drobbins · 05-06-2015, 03:57 PM

I have 2 glaucums that are a year behind yours, they're currently in pots and thriving. Looking at your pics I guess I need to get to work and build a couple of beds so I can get those guys in the ground.
And we do all this work so we can have HUGE plants we gotta drag inside in the winter, I guess we got it bad

a.hulva@coxinet.net · 05-10-2015, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmurphy

Congrats on their survival!

Here on the west coast we had a very mild winter - if you can call it that - and everything is at least 3 weeks ahead of last year. I even put most of my tender bananas and hardier tropicals (cycads, some palms and coffee tree) outside at the end of March.....they sulked a bit when the night temps dropped below 8C but are starting to grow now

This is a test for uploading a photo

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-14-2015, 05:57 AM

Well.. you know that bit about how planting out this early is rolling the dice?

Here's the scene this morning.

The temp was 31 F so I expect some setback...how much is TBD, but ultimately it is what it is...LOL

Nate74 · 05-14-2015, 07:26 AM

Oh nooooo!

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-14-2015, 12:55 PM

It is now apparent which ones were most affected by this mornings temps.

I'll post some photos later.

As expected the Cavs the regulars and SDC were hit hardest. I've had to cut back P-stems in previous years..this time the leaves (which were badly sunburned and on their way out anyhow) are toast but the base of the spears are still green and firm and look to be carrying right on, so that's good.

The Basjoos and Zebrina seems to be barely affected, as is the Maurelii, the Glaucum has some significant browning but the spear, at least the base of it looks good.

Unfortunately both the European and GFS weather models are forcasting similar lows next Tues/Wed and Saturday a week from now.. hopefully that changes, either way I'm ready for it.

JCA433 · 05-16-2015, 09:23 PM

Frost in May really sucks! It should never get that cold in May even that far north. The temperatures here have been in the 80s F from about 8 in the morning until almost midnight! That is too warm and feels like summer for sure! Some of that chill from up north would be really refreshing down here.
I hope your plants recover fast. Growing your own bananas is tremendously rewarding!

subsonicdrone · 05-17-2015, 08:17 AM

heavy looking frost !

Longwoods Tropicals · 05-23-2015, 07:11 AM

One more dip down to about 30 f again this morning, it looks as if the Cav's will get cut back to the ground, oh well.

The worst of it is my Glaucum appears to have succumbed to the cold, it appeared okay after the initial cold morning nine days ago but after a week it was obvious that it was under heavy stress, after this morning I imagine it's done for.

The basjoos though continue to grow with little adverse effects visible.

Nate74 · 06-13-2015, 10:02 AM

So, how did everything make out?

Snarkie · 06-14-2015, 07:43 AM

Hey LT-

I put my basjoos out the second week in March, and two nights it dipped down like yours. I covered them with Totes and put a droplight in each one. Since yours are bigger than my yearlings, next time try the same approach with your covering. Drape them all the way, and put a light in there. It should do the trick.

BTW, what are the spindly looking things in the background of pic 2 that look like thin yuccas?

Longwoods Tropicals · 06-14-2015, 11:53 AM

Thanks Snarkie, I may give that a try next year.

The spindly things are common accent spikes green and red ones...aka cordylines, they are 2 or 3 years old (brought in for the winter in small pots), there is also a ponytail palm in with them.

Also to update the present situation almost a month after the freeze/frost
Everything seems to have survived

even the cavendish and ensete glaucum that I had all but wrote off a week after have recovered. All of the basjoos that I divided and moved are now thriving in their new permanent homes.

I'll upload some progress shots in about a week.

Nate74 · 06-14-2015, 12:13 PM

that is great to hear

Longwoods Tropicals · 07-09-2015, 08:20 AM

Just a quick update:

The basjoos are healthy yet battered in appearance due to several windy, rainy, low pressure systems. They don't have the normal vigor, mostly because of the lack of sustained heat. Late May seems to be the peak of this summer.

The cavs have all lost some p-stem except for the one on the left side of this shot. Also note this maurelii on the right didn't skip a beat.

Here are the super dwarf and the zebrina (both at the back), not bad, especially the zebrina.
Sorry for the poor focus quality.

The poor ensete glaucum is alive but lacking any vigor whatsoever.

Hopefully things will improve through August, everything will probably look great early October...right before they get put to bed or in the house..LOL.

05-05-2015, 01:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	It's finally time to plant em all out Up here in the Great Lakes we've had two consecutive brutal winters, it feels so good to get the tropical plants growing outdoors again. As you can see this year was a good test of musa basjoo's hardiness. Here they are late 2014 right before bedtime. http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psc8955271.jpg And here they are this afternoon. I managed to save some p-stem but have over twenty little ones coming up, it appears I didn't lose any. Here are my tropical ones up by the house, in these shots are Cavendish, SDC, Zebrina and ensete Glaucum and Maurelii. It sure is sizing up as a great summer show to come, I hope everyone else up north has similar good luck this spring.

05-05-2015, 01:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
pmurphy always pushing the limits Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Name: Pam Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 344 BananaBucks : 55,674 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 168 Times Was Thanked 512 Times in 214 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,312 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Congrats on their survival! Here on the west coast we had a very mild winter - if you can call it that - and everything is at least 3 weeks ahead of last year. I even put most of my tender bananas and hardier tropicals (cycads, some palms and coffee tree) outside at the end of March.....they sulked a bit when the night temps dropped below 8C but are starting to grow now

05-05-2015, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
drobbins Location: Central NC Zone: 7b-8a Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 96 BananaBucks : 16,664 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 147 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out looking really good am I correct in thinking everything besides the basjoo spent the winter inside or in a crawl space? I overwintered some ensete inside that are rocking now and I wonder about trying to leave them outside. My winters here are much warmer than yours looks like your have huge p-stems, how old are they? Dave Dave __________________ Central North Carolina zone 7b-8a Find me on the map!

05-06-2015, 03:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nate74 Location: Abbotsford BC Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Elevation 133m/436ft Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 84 BananaBucks : 35,886 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 113 Times Was Thanked 243 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 91 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Everything looks like its off to a great start. Can't wait to see how it all fills out this year. __________________

05-06-2015, 03:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
drobbins Location: Central NC Zone: 7b-8a Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 96 BananaBucks : 16,664 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 147 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out I have 2 glaucums that are a year behind yours, they're currently in pots and thriving. Looking at your pics I guess I need to get to work and build a couple of beds so I can get those guys in the ground. And we do all this work so we can have HUGE plants we gotta drag inside in the winter, I guess we got it bad __________________ Central North Carolina zone 7b-8a Find me on the map!

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05-14-2015, 05:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Well.. you know that bit about how planting out this early is rolling the dice? Here's the scene this morning. The temp was 31 F so I expect some setback...how much is TBD, but ultimately it is what it is...LOL

05-14-2015, 07:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Nate74 Location: Abbotsford BC Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Elevation 133m/436ft Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 84 BananaBucks : 35,886 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 113 Times Was Thanked 243 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 91 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Oh nooooo! __________________

05-14-2015, 12:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out It is now apparent which ones were most affected by this mornings temps. I'll post some photos later. As expected the Cavs the regulars and SDC were hit hardest. I've had to cut back P-stems in previous years..this time the leaves (which were badly sunburned and on their way out anyhow) are toast but the base of the spears are still green and firm and look to be carrying right on, so that's good. The Basjoos and Zebrina seems to be barely affected, as is the Maurelii, the Glaucum has some significant browning but the spear, at least the base of it looks good. Unfortunately both the European and GFS weather models are forcasting similar lows next Tues/Wed and Saturday a week from now.. hopefully that changes, either way I'm ready for it.

05-16-2015, 09:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,547 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Frost in May really sucks! It should never get that cold in May even that far north. The temperatures here have been in the 80s F from about 8 in the morning until almost midnight! That is too warm and feels like summer for sure! Some of that chill from up north would be really refreshing down here. I hope your plants recover fast. Growing your own bananas is tremendously rewarding!

05-17-2015, 08:17 AM	#14 (permalink)
subsonicdrone Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,303 BananaBucks : 14,053 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,651 Times Was Thanked 1,851 Times in 637 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out heavy looking frost !

05-23-2015, 07:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out One more dip down to about 30 f again this morning, it looks as if the Cav's will get cut back to the ground, oh well. The worst of it is my Glaucum appears to have succumbed to the cold, it appeared okay after the initial cold morning nine days ago but after a week it was obvious that it was under heavy stress, after this morning I imagine it's done for. The basjoos though continue to grow with little adverse effects visible.

06-13-2015, 10:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
Nate74 Location: Abbotsford BC Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Elevation 133m/436ft Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 84 BananaBucks : 35,886 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 113 Times Was Thanked 243 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 91 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out So, how did everything make out? __________________

06-14-2015, 07:43 AM	#17 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 154,988 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,970 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Hey LT- I put my basjoos out the second week in March, and two nights it dipped down like yours. I covered them with Totes and put a droplight in each one. Since yours are bigger than my yearlings, next time try the same approach with your covering. Drape them all the way, and put a light in there. It should do the trick. BTW, what are the spindly looking things in the background of pic 2 that look like thin yuccas? __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

06-14-2015, 11:53 AM	#18 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Thanks Snarkie, I may give that a try next year. The spindly things are common accent spikes green and red ones...aka cordylines, they are 2 or 3 years old (brought in for the winter in small pots), there is also a ponytail palm in with them. Also to update the present situation almost a month after the freeze/frost Everything seems to have survived even the cavendish and ensete glaucum that I had all but wrote off a week after have recovered. All of the basjoos that I divided and moved are now thriving in their new permanent homes. I'll upload some progress shots in about a week.

06-14-2015, 12:13 PM	#19 (permalink)
Nate74 Location: Abbotsford BC Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Elevation 133m/436ft Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 84 BananaBucks : 35,886 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 113 Times Was Thanked 243 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 91 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out that is great to hear __________________

07-09-2015, 08:20 AM	#20 (permalink)
Longwoods Tropicals Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 31,369 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: It's finally time to plant em all out Just a quick update: The basjoos are healthy yet battered in appearance due to several windy, rainy, low pressure systems. They don't have the normal vigor, mostly because of the lack of sustained heat. Late May seems to be the peak of this summer. The cavs have all lost some p-stem except for the one on the left side of this shot. Also note this maurelii on the right didn't skip a beat. Here are the super dwarf and the zebrina (both at the back), not bad, especially the zebrina. Sorry for the poor focus quality. The poor ensete glaucum is alive but lacking any vigor whatsoever. Hopefully things will improve through August, everything will probably look great early October...right before they get put to bed or in the house..LOL.

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