scottu

OK this seems too simple and I am sure the real banana farmers are doing something like this already.
You all buy mulch in the spring and you all buy bags of manure, peat moss, or any sort of all types of planting soils etc.
Don't wait until spring to buy anything you might purchase, get it now in the fall and even if you get your mulch etc. in bulk in the spring Buy it now in the fall in bag form and don't open the bags, use them to build a fortress around the plants you are going to leave outside You might even save some $ in the process.
You can build walls around your plants as high as you want and then fill in with leaves etc. and cover etc.
I just bought 50 2cuft bags of mulch, 10 bags of planting soil, 5 bags of manure, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite etc. and am in the process of doing it and it looks pretty feasible.
Anyone ever try this?

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sunfish

Won't the bags deteriorate and leave a big mess?

scottu

I think they are made to be abused a bit and should last a few months in the ground, if not get a rake.

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sunfish

10-4

scottu

I think those plastic bags are made to last through a season without breaking down as I'm sure they make them in excess with that in mind and tough enough to be moved more than once.
in the ground is a different story, but even if they start to fall apart some, seems it would still be workable.
Don't you think?

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Blake09

I overwinter mine with some big 60gal barrels with straw on the inside and with a thick layer of mulch on the bottem. I think that I an going to use the drums again this year for me Ice cream and basjoo (to get a flower and bananas ) and with all the other basjoos I am just going to put a thick layer of mulch down and chop em to one and a half ft in hight.

A link to my thread:


The time has come...







.

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A banana plant in the autumn gale -
I listen to the dripping of rain
Into a basin at night.
~ Basho Matsuo (1644- 1694)

eric27

I use straw bales and build a wall around the stems. Same idea different product. The results are amazing. I no longer use leaves straw etc that is broken up. Less messy too!

scottu

So what do you use on the inside in place of leaves? This is my first time over wintering outside, i've been reading for some time about it but this is my first practical experience and would love any and all input.Thanks Guys

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scottu

I am not getting exactly what you are doing, can you explain it a little better?Blake09

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scottu

now

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nucci60

Actually not a new idea (but a good one). Folks have been doing this with bags of fall leaves for a while. It is used when you want to save some pseudostem. Four bags of leaves ( or mulch in your case) around the perimeter of the stem and one bag on top. You can tie the bags together with twine. Not very pretty though, LOL

scottu

Thanks for the imput but the possibly "new" idea more specifically is to use and purchase a bagged form of the products you will buy anyway in the spring, by buying them now in the fall you can save money since these produts are cheaper now and get a second use from them, the draw back is the possible break down of the plastic etc.
I buy a "lot" of mulch, top soil etc.n the spring.
If this works, from now on, I will just buy it all earlier in the fall instead and use it to help insulate and keep the babies warm.
It is a work in progress and any input is welcome.
Thanks All for your input!
Scottu

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Dreaminofthetropics

Just thinking about this idea with my 40-50 bananas in the ground is making me laugh this late at night... I probably could have a paintball course in my yard with this HAHAAH! I'm thinking of doing a lean to greenhouse type set up on the side of my house as I have 14 varieties there and they're all close to the house.... I'm thinking just simple plastic over them with 2x4s to hold the plastic, but not sure if that would be enough ? We normally only get a handful of nights in the 20s however the last couple winters have been awful... Has anyone thought of a way to do multiple stems at the same time or maybe a temporary greenhouse type structure around them without costing an arm and a leg??? I didn't want to start thinking about over wintering this soon but I guess its getting close to that time huh? Definitely post some pics once you get it all set up I'd love to see it!

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Kat

Check out my website
http://www.ilovemyplants.com

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
Bill Gates

stevelau1911

Leaf bags will work, but last winter, just to take it up a notch, I also applied a plastic bag as well as tarping materials for further insulation before adding the bags, and it seemed to work great, on one of them. The other one pushed a leaf through, puncturing the bag, leaving the plant exposed to freeze and die to the ground so it looks like having a solid barrier like a bag around the banana is pretty important.

Here's the blog on it.
Steve's garden: Uncovering the Musa basjoo

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I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas.

my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/

http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

scottu

Kate, yes with 40+ that would be crazy to do what I am doing. But if you lived this far north you would have to do a lot more for each individual plant since we are guaranteed 0 degree weather multiple nights in a row.
You don't need a long lasting fortress for them, you need something like those temporary Pvc pipe and plastic contraptions. I have taken a lot of pics but have been waiting til the final stage of covering them to post and that might be another week of two since it's supposed to be in the 80's for the next few days.

Steve, I have started a much more substantial structure of bags surrounding my basjoo and the 10 pups. I want to keep them as tall as possible and will push the limits on that note. I am going for at least 3 feet but I think when I do the actual covering up, I may get even more. You gave me something else to think about with your bajoo growing through the top after being covered. Excellent job on that blog, very informative.

Thanks guys

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scottu

a few pics for now

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sunfish

Looks good