OverWintering in Zone7
 

Around the first or second week of November (right before the first freeze here) I am going to dig up the plants and trim the leaves off and store them in my outside Bldg. which is not heated...There is a refrigerator and freezer in there and I think maybe they put off a little heat, plus the bldg. is insulated really well ....

I used this method last year and didn't loose a Plant. Oh yea, it's not dark in my Bldg. and the Plants have no problems going dormant. Then come early April, I plant all of them back in the ground ! Whew this year it's going to be a lot more work ( More Banana Plants)....but I think it's worth it, to see them beautiful Banana Plants growing in my Backyard!! Hope this helps a Few :banana_ba

Good Luck,

Frank

Re: OverWintering in Zone7
 

Do you know anyone in Zone 8 that uses this method, or do most Zone 8'ers just wrap their nanners instead? I don't think I could keep a shed reliably cool - some days during the winter it gets positively warm here!

Be well,
Mike

Re: OverWintering in Zone7
 

Mike,

Sorry Mike, I don't know anyone raising Bananas in Zone 8.......But I think this will work for you also!
If the Bldg. is Insulated pretty good, I really don't think you will have a problem with the Plant getting too hot??. Sometimes here in Dec. and Jan. I work out in the backyard in a short sleeve shirt! Remember, I am right on the edge of Zone 7-B. so we have a lot of warm weather during the Winter.....Feb. is our coldest Month usually!!.

Hope this Helps,

Frank

Re: OverWintering in Zone7
 

It helps a lot! Thanks! Feb is also our coldest month too.

We have 2.5' of crawlspace under our house too - can easily fit a saba down there. :) It's not quite sealed up yet tho - one side is open. More work...

I'll have to try several methods and just see which one works best in my area. And then decide - crawl-space or shed. I like the digging up method because, well - if it just gets just freakishly cold (like we've actually had a white Christmas once!), you have more control over the environment than if they were just wrapped. I think the record here is -3 but that was loooong ago. But wrapping seems easier especially when dealing with 9' orinocos and 20' sabas! The hay method would work with the dwarfs I have, and a trashbag of leaves plunged over my SDC's would work too (the ones that stay in the ground anyway). I need to work out the logistics now while the large nanner bed is still in the preparation phase...

But, that's what I love about trying to grow tropicals here - it really forces one to get inventive!

Thanks,
Mike