norteno

I have three well rooted Orinoco pups now. I planted one out just for fun to see if it will make it through the winter outdoors, the other two I potted in 5 gal containers and will overwinter indoors. I was wondering if anyone has experience with these in west-of-cascades Northwest? I read that they are way hardy enough for here, but we have that unique cold and wet winter. What methods of protection will work? Does it even need protection if fruit is not the goal?

chong

If fruit is not your goal, you only need to keep the pseudobulb from rotting, so you need some rain protection over the plant to prevent it from getting too wet. On the other hand, you do not want it to be completely dry, either. I've had some Abyssinian bananas that I've overwintered outside in the driveway here in Seattle for 5 years without any problems, but the 6th year, although we had a "mild" winter, we had over 60 days of non-stop rain. When I saw one of the plants listing, I tried to straighten it out and it just fell the other way. Both had rotten pseudobulb.

So, you'll want to really ensure very good drainage in your soil where you plant your Orinoco. I have several surviving Dwarf Orinocos that I've had for 5 years now, going on the 5th winter that is, that have survived the single digit winter of 2006, and the lingering "mild" cold winter of 2007. They were in citrus cans, and some I've just transplanted into larger pots recently.

If you really want a hardy plant, you might try an Orinoco derivative called the California Gold. I have personal experience with that as well. If you want height, try the M. Basjoo. But they are not as pretty as the CA Gold nor the Dwarf Orinoco.

norteno

Is there a post in the forum about rain protection? My basjoos do fine with a light mulch and a frost cloth wrap, but I have never thought about having to keep rain off of them. It almost seems like pulling them out of the ground and storing in basement like the people are doing in much colder zones would be the easiest thing to do for them? Do you really shock the plants when you do this or do they tolerate fairly well?

winsorw

Hi guys,
Finally, I found you guys. I posted something in the gardenweb forum but didn't get many responses.
I live in Auburn and didn't have a good luck with dwarf orinoco last year. Perhaps it was too small to leave them out even though the soil is well drained. So this year I am trying again with both normal and dwarf varieties. My normal one is growing slower than the dwarf. But I plan on potting them up during winter.

I have had very good luck with Basjoo, I only cut them down to 1 foot and covered them with straw for the first two years. Now I don't cut them any more and they keep coming back for 3 years now. A few even bloomed.

I just got California gold this year. Chong, does your ever produce fruits? Do you leave them out or have any protection or pot them up?

Thanks.
Winaor

chong

I just got mine last June 2007 while I was working in CA. The I came back to Seattle in a couple of weeks, only to head out to Vegas for another work assignment in July. I took the plant with me there, and came back to Seattle again in September. From the time I got it until a couple of months ago, it had two leaves. Even through the winter. Now it's got 6 leaves. I have yet to transfer the plant to a bigger pot. Right now, it's in a 5-gallon pot. I will be doing so in the next week or so. I don't know if I want to plant it in a 30 or 50 gallon pot. I'm concerned about the weight of a 50 gallon pot for when I need to bring it indoors (unheated greenhouse) in the winter. It'll probably be next year before it can be big enough to fruit.

If I get pups, the first one will be planted in the ground, and will have some winter protection.

In the next couple of weeks, I'm thinking of planting a couple of Dwarf Orinocos in the ground. They will be heavily protected for the winter.

winsorw

What an adventure for the CalGold!!!
My CG is in the ground now and has 3 small leaves. I'm debating whether I will leave it in the ground during this coming winter with protection. It doesn't grow as fast as I want.

Have you guys heard of viente cohol? It's not cold hardy but is supposed to be producing fruit the first year.

Winsor

john_ny

Winsor - Where is Auburn? Here's a link to a thread about Viente Cohol.
Veinte CoholVeinte Cohol

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John

winsorw

Thanks John. Auburn in Washington, not in Maine. I'd like to know if anyone in PNW or colder climate has viente cohol that produces fruits.

seattlefiggirl

both my dwarf orinoco banana and cavenish died last snow storm. Some webiste said cold hardy 8A some say only to 9a. Well it is 9A and not 8A. I see its been many years since the first post. Wondering what is new with your banana trees since then have you successfully fruited any? I wouldn't recommend any that is taller than your greenhouse ceiling. since you will have to bring them in to protect from frost. I would stick with dwarf varieties. Or keept them planted outside with very good protection. Yes you need to protect them if planted outdoors!