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Cold Hardy Bananas This forum is dedicated to the discussion of bananas that are able to grow and thrive in cold areas. You'll find lots of tips and discussions about keeping your bananas over the winter.


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Old 05-08-2008, 11:36 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Default Musa velutina hardiness.

Does anyone have any solid facts regarding Musa velutina winter hardiness. I realize hardiness is a site specific situation, but I'm wondering if mulching in the coast region of the Pacific Northwest is possible? (zone 8b)
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Old 05-09-2008, 05:05 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

I can only speak for myself, but I live in SE TN which is 7a/b, and it has done exceptionally well in my backyard. I use about 3-4" of cypress mulch and they come back bigger and better each year. The reason I have tried to get the seeds out to anyone that wanted to try them, was to try to see just how hardy these little "gems" are. If you want anymore information about mine, pm me and I will try and help you with that and anything else you may need...
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Old 05-09-2008, 08:54 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

I had a small mat come back for me this year after a winter low of between 6F-11F in Knoxville, TN. Our official low was 11F, I think, but I'm in a bit of a cold spot and am quite a few degrees colder for winter lows. Didn't use any protection either, except for maybe an inch of mulch. I would think that you should have great success in your zone 8b!
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Old 05-09-2008, 09:42 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

Thanks for the input regarding Musa velutina. The examples I have are small still and are in one gallon pots. I'll grow them on to a larger size before planting them out. I guess I'll just treat 'em like I do my Musa basjoo. Well maybe not quite, I never winter mulch those. This winter was mild enough that the pseudostems remained, only the leaves got frosted. This year they've picked up right where they left off last season.

Cheers, Barrie.
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Old 05-09-2008, 10:38 AM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

Barrie,
I started mine off from one gallon containers 4 springs ago, and the clump in my photo gallery is from a one gallon container that I have divided off quite a bit from. I honestly think in your location those one gallon containers are plenty large enough to go ahead and plant out. You know how much faster they grow in the ground versus in a pot and if you are nervous about leaving them out, dig a pup to overwinter and see what happens. Hey, just a suggestion.... Best of luck with whatever you decide to do...
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Old 05-09-2008, 09:33 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

Hi Barrie,

I noticed some Musa velutina at the local Canadian Tire store in Courtenay. I didn't think that I would bother but after reading this I just may give them a try too.

Your Basjoo's pseudostems made it? The Town of Comox had several planted, and all were left out without protection this winter. They froze to the ground and the town's landscapers replaced them with something else. It's too bad, I've been watching them and wanted to see how they did.

P.S. Barrie, How did your Ensete Maurelli do using the insulated structure you built? I need some of those
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Old 05-09-2008, 10:35 PM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

sunsetsammy,
The gallon sized Musa velutina I have where purchased at the CT store in Courtenay! Small world really.

Ya, shame about the removal of those Musa basjoo in Comox. They would have been a great focal point as they grew larger over the years.

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii' pulled through just fine. It did suffer the indignaty of a freak snowfall on April 19 but is doing fine.

I never protect my Musa basjoo and some years the pseudostems stand and other years they collapse. This year they're picking up right where they left off from last season. They are 10' to 12' now and growing like crazy.

Cheers, LPN (Barrie).
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Old 05-10-2008, 12:15 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

Barrie

It's good to draw from your experiences growing these types of plants in this area.

I've learned a lot from your posts here and also on the UBC botanical forum.

Thank you.

Sam
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Old 05-11-2008, 11:01 AM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

velutina hardy is variable, i know people from zone 7 and 8 that couldn't overwinter it even with protection.

i think cold snaps are dangerous they probably do better where temperature falls are gradual.
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Old 05-11-2008, 11:15 AM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

Lodewijkp,
Not so sure about that, as mine have seen drastic drops in temps and rebounded fine. I am talking about going from 70s to lower 20s within 24 hours and also from the 50s to mid teens within 24 hours in the winter and stay down for several days. They have also seen gradual decline in temps. Either situation resulted in the same, bigger and better each returning year. Right now, mine are running about 2' overall height... It is an interesting little nanner to pin down, that is for sure...
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Old 05-11-2008, 01:05 PM   #11 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

they won't survive here (Holland) because its too wet and too dark in winter.Maybe that the growing season is also to short..
we also never get warm spells in winter of 70 F or so.
maybe 55 F but then its also raining etc etc.

If mine will grow large and will make much pups I will try one next year outside in full ground
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Old 05-11-2008, 01:24 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

I think Musa velutina can be tricky to bring through the winter. You can luck out and plant them in the right spot and have them be very dependable for you, or plant them in a less-than-optimum spot and they will die over winter. Drainage seems to be key, but I think the more important factor is freeze duration. Here in zone 7a Tennessee, we only see a couple of days with a high below freezing, on average, per winter. A zone 7 further up the Atlantic coastline, like in Washington D.C or Maryland, can stay below freezing for several days at a time (I'm not sure about the averages for that area). If you are in a zone where you get more than say four or five days with a high below freezing each winter, then you should probably site M. velutina up against the south foundation of a house in a raised bed with excellent drainage, and apply a few inches of mulch for protection in winter.

This year was the first time I've brought it throught the winter successfully in the ground. It was only the second time that I've left it in the ground though, and last year's corm looked solid but with no growing points. I think termites ate on it. The other couple of times I've tried to overwinter M. velutina was under the house, and both times the corms turned to dust.
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Old 05-29-2008, 05:44 PM   #13 (permalink)
 
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Angry Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

I have not seen any sign of my velutina since I removed the mulch at the end of April. My basjoo are now over 6 ft. tall. I'm discouraged. I planted it last year near the house in a location where dahlia come back (and that's not supposed to happen here). I had the main plant and 4 pups, which I cut at around 12". Have to try again, unless anyone thinks I still have a chance for them to show? My hedychium ginger just popped out from last year, so maybe I still should hope! Still waiting on my Illustris and amorphophallus konjac.
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Old 05-29-2008, 07:55 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: Musa velutina hardiness.

I planted a small velutina last summer and it came back for me this year. I have it in a raised bed, covered with an inch or so of mulch. Don't give up on your illustris, mine just popped out this week. I also have some ice cream bananas that are just now starting to come up. Give everything a little more time, I think thing are waiting on the HOT weather.
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