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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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03-12-2016, 06:10 PM | #21 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
this is my third year playing with bananas and I know the first year I wanted pics of other people stuff
here's a progress report the one in the foreground was just cut off a few hours ago I hope this good weather holds up |
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03-13-2016, 08:55 AM | #22 (permalink) | |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
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03-13-2016, 11:51 AM | #23 (permalink) | |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
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I also have some elephant ears that never made it with just mulch but add a tarp and they seem to do much better |
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06-30-2016, 11:38 AM | #24 (permalink) |
Zone: 7b & 8a Border
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Hi Drobbins,
Can we get an update on your Basjoo? I live on the border of 7 & 8 too and just planted my Basjoo this year. They are about 4-5 feet now. I've been searching for zone 7 & 8 wintering info and your post is the only thing I could find. Also, I have a few friends in our exact zone who do not cut their P-stems at all and they say they come back with no problem and even fruit. Can you shed any light on this? Thanks!
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06-30-2016, 01:10 PM | #25 (permalink) | |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Quote:
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07-01-2016, 09:38 PM | #26 (permalink) |
container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Yes.........How much light.......
Last edited by cincinnana : 07-01-2016 at 09:43 PM. |
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07-02-2016, 05:59 AM | #27 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
A few lumens or so...
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07-20-2016, 08:26 AM | #28 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Hi Folks,
Haven't been reading the forums lately, the weather's too nice outside. I overwintered 4 mats of basjoo, 2 were on the north side of the house where it's always a little shady, the other 2 were at the edge of the yard by woods so they don't really get full sun either. The ones by the house get taken a little better care of. I cut the pstems off about 3 feet tall last fall, threw some leaves a neighbor had raked up and left by the curb on them for mulch and covered them with a tarp.The ones by the woods I put some mulch on but that's all. They all survived but the ones by the house are much bigger now, probably over 15 feet tall. The other ones are about 5 feet. Hard for me to believe the difference is only how I overwintered them. The ones by the house probably get pampered a little more with water and fertilizer. They also may get some more sun. An interesting note: my wife knows someone in Memphis Tenn with basjoo. Their climate zone is about the same as here. They had one bloom back the second week of June. That simply blows me away, I've never had a bloom. Anyway, here's some pics From ground level [IMG][/IMG] From my deck 8 feet in the air [IMG][/IMG] The ones by the woods |
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07-20-2016, 08:34 AM | #29 (permalink) |
Zone: 7b & 8a Border
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Great looking Basjoos! Your deck and where you planted them near your deck almost looks identical to mine! Crazy!
I've been hearing more and more about people in our zone(7b & 8a border) that don't mulch them at all and the Basjoo survives just fine were they left off from the previous year.
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Growing: Basjoo, Blue Java (The Real One), FHIA-01 American Goldfinger, Manzano, Tall Orinoco, Raja Puri (USDA TARS), Veinte Cohol (USDA TARS), Patupi, & SH-3640 High Noon (USDA TARS) |
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07-20-2016, 08:43 AM | #30 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Hey DR-
What kind of bamboo is that? Does it stay sparse or take over?
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07-20-2016, 09:17 AM | #31 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
it's called Vivax and you should run from it as fast as you can or it will catch you
They raise it for lumber in Japan. It took it a while to get going but now it will shoot up runners 1-1/2" in diameter 35 feet from the nearest shoot. I'm afraid it might actually damage the foundation of the house and plan to kill it off Bananas are much safer |
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07-20-2016, 09:21 AM | #32 (permalink) | |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Quote:
I use it mainly because it makes free compost. I do like the tarp though. I see others around here not use them but I'm sticking with mine, maybe more for those elephant ears you can see than the bananas |
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07-20-2016, 09:42 AM | #33 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
It gives a really nice, jungly feel to the whole area, but my jungle is nowhere big enough to handle it, I reckon.
Right now, I have more grass growing in my driveway than the damned yard, so I can imagine what would happen if I turned that stuff loose next to the driveway. I'd need a 4x4 just to get from the street to the garage.
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07-20-2016, 09:44 AM | #34 (permalink) |
Location: Edmond, OK
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
I to over wintered several varieties last year and had good results. Lost a couple Basjoo's. Applied mulch with straw and covered with a tarp. When I uncovered the were wet. I never could decide whether they froze or just got too wet. I think the tarp held in too much moisture or not. I would think the tarp would keep out most water but it would may just hold it in. We had a very mild winter no lower than +15 for a day or two. I am going to try a coarser mulch along with some new ideas.
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07-20-2016, 10:28 AM | #35 (permalink) | |
Zone: 7b & 8a Border
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
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Depending on how you had the tarp setup, I'd guess condensation formed most of the days when the sun came out and the ground heated up a little. maybe try having the tarp raised off the ground a little so it can breath but still keep the heavy water out? I know this has probably been advised/explained a million times on this forum but I'm planning on constructing a cage around the p-stem using rebar and concrete reinforcing wire (this is a sturdier material than chicken wire) if I can find some with the holes small enough to hold mulched leaves. Then add mulched leaves in the cage around the p-stem. This seems easier than making a pvc or wood cage frame in my opinion. Plus, less on an eye sore too. There is an article I googled here that explains it: Article on Hardy Banana Trees | Musa, Musella, Ensete From the testimonies I hear of the basjoo growers in my area/zone, I think this should be plenty for the basjoo p-stem to survive in zone 7b or 8a. Some of my friends that grow basjoos near me just leave the p-stems whole and do nothing and they come back every year just about right were they left off. I want to do the cage/mulched leaves method just for an insurance policy for my first winter as i only have 1 pup so far. I believe it's definitely a trial and error type of thing which works best for someone and their tailored scenario. I'm sure any method will work if you learn the tricks/hacks for that specific method. I'm far from an experienced banana grower as this will be my first winter with bajoos so I have zero experience with this. I came up with this conclusion just going by all the testimonies I've received from the folks in zone 7b and 8a. Almost every youtube video I see of people wrapping their basjoos in bubble wrap directly on the p-stem most always come back and say they didn't make it through the winter. It's obvious the p-stem needs to breath to avoid condensation after a rain or from its own heat from the winter sun. When I get edible varieties, I'll be using a different method I learned about from a good friend on this forum.
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07-20-2016, 12:30 PM | #36 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Good information. I like the pine needle idea. Try hardware cloth. It comes in 1/8" to 1/2" square mesh. I was thinking about using ground up styrofoam inside the tube and around the base of the plant. Not sure yet. ???
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07-20-2016, 12:41 PM | #37 (permalink) |
Zone: 7b & 8a Border
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Pine mulch instead of needles. Not sure if pine needles hold too much heat but breathable for sure.
I'll definitely take a look at this. Thanks!
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07-20-2016, 03:55 PM | #38 (permalink) |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
I used hardware cloth last year with 1/2" mesh and filled it with chainsaw slash and sawdust. It looked nice and neat, and it worked well.
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08-23-2016, 05:45 PM | #39 (permalink) | |
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Quote:
So I have a new one this year, (planted right next to the old one) and it's doing great. I'm thinking of wrapping this one in insulation, then plastic. I think that's what I saw on this site. I do have tomato cages... I could add one of those for strength. I really wan to have the p-stem survive so I get more height next year. |
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08-23-2016, 08:15 PM | #40 (permalink) |
Location: Palm Bay, Florida
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Re: Overwintering Basjoo
Denver is dry, I am surprised you had moisture problems.
Anyway, I think, from everything I have heard, if you get a good strong plant before frost, you should be able to use a layer of mulch around the base and not even worry about the pstem. Also, since moisture is the biggest killer, I would make certain I have plenty of sand in the hole before planting. I look to nature to get an idea what keeps them alive in the wild. Apparently it's simply the natural mulch on the forest floor and the protective wrapping of dead banana leaves hanging around the pstem. I could be wrong, and thankfully, I don't live in the cold north anymore so I can't try it out, but this is my theory.
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