ktbown

Hello All...... just dug up some banana plants 2 fairly large ice cream , and a bunch of EV's .....going to store under the house as bigdog has been doing.. kinda nervous about 6 months with no water.....this thread is really informative..... thanks again for all the info

Patty in Wisc

Virtuosity (sp?) & Kent, don't worry! Yes, you can dig up a healthy growing nanna & shake off all/most dirt on rootball & it will just go to sleep in a cool dark place. It will know that winter is around the corner. It won't need water. I was leary too, but it works.
You are both in warmer climates than me, so maybe it's a little soon for you to dig them up? I have one still inground but will dig it up tomorrow & pot it to go in sunroom. This year, I will keep it potted for winter. I figure the more time it has growing, the sooner it will flower.
Last year I laid it on cool sunroom floor to sleep & covered it to keep it dark.
I potted it up in late March or April (in sunroom) & gave it a little water & it sprung a leaf very soon....it just woke up & had a early start for summer. Then after letting it get used to outdoors, I replanted inground end of May & it took off. I sure am hoping for a flower next year!
Patty

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Patty
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v1rtu0s1ty

Thanks Patty.

What about my second question, can you please share how I would plant them come spring assuming they're 7 or 8 ft tall? Do I bury the pstem 1 or 2 ft below so that wind won't be able to take them or blown them down?

Patty in Wisc

Good point. The stem on mine is now 5ft & overall height is prolly just over 8ft. Going out now to dig it up & pot it. They do have shallow roots but the rootball is heavy. There might be some concern when you first plant it if there is a big wind storm ahead. I didn't plant any deeper than just above root ball.
How about a big stake next to it when you plant next spring!? I had no problem with wind taking it down this year, but I may put a treated 2X4 next to rootball & tie onto it next summer. Thanks for the idea...better safe than sorry!
Patty

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Patty in Wisc

Here's a pic of the freshly dug up I.C. nanna. You can see the pup still attached (leaf unfurling) & the rootball is sitting on the dolly. The tree in center is a pup I chopped off about 2 months ago. The one on right is Dbl Mahoi. The big IC is now in pot & in sunroom for winter.
If this doesn't flower next year, it will take more than just me to dig & pot it!

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v1rtu0s1ty

Ah, I wasn't aware before that folks here stake it when they replant their bananas. Thanks for the tips!

Patty in Wisc

I wasn't either, but it sounds like a good idea!

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Heater

Dug up my bananas and put them under the house for the winter today. I hope it wasn't too early, but we've had our frosts start here in NC. This is the first time I've tried the digging up so I hope and pray it works. The biggest (which was a bear to move) was about 12-14 feet tall.

Normally, I just cut them down and mulch them big time. Man, I hope this works.

Before


After


Nestled for their winter slumber

Patty in Wisc

Don't let the rootball get wet. And, maybe cover it to keep it dark & keep frost out.

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Heater

While I'm here -- can anyone tell me what kind of banana I have on the lef there?

frog7994

Any one have a comment or openion my Rhino Horn? Over the last 2 weeks I got some cool weather here I'm in zone 10 but in the morning I can see my breath. The AF is really taking a beating are they that cold sensitive?

v1rtu0s1ty

Good evening folks. Here is my overwintering in the ground experiment for a 4 month old 2 ft p-stem Basjoo. We'll see if it's going to survive our zone 5a winter. I put mulch around the base then covered it with insulation, then covered it with trash can then finally covered it with trash bag. I'll post pics in May 2009 either dead or alive. I'm sure this can serve as a lesson. So, don't follow my experiment for now. Hehehe.

Patty in Wisc

That handsom young man looks too proud of a job well done. I'll bet he did all that insulating!!!
I'm glad you are trying this. I just read about basjoo & 2 places say they can survive winter into zone 3, & maybe only some leaves will die ---I don't believe that! Am looking Fwrd to May. Good luck.
BTW when it snows, pile all you can on it for more insulation.

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jeffreyp

I would suggest using a pipe heating cable to wrap around the stem (set the thermostat to 40 degrees.)

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dablo93

yesterday i brought the last bananas inside because the temperature was already for a long time betwen the 0 and 10 celcius and my zebrina was getting softer so im just right on time.
only the basjoo is still standing outside, he will stay the whole winter outside. this week we get frost, around -2 and snow so we'll see how it will look after that
it doesnt get any protection for -2.

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Pamlico Betty

Great thread! Most of my tropicals are planted at my coastal cottage. We are experiencing hard freezing temps a month and a half early this year. Tues I drove nearly 6 hrs round trip to save my favorite bananas. Finished digging by flashlight. It's comforting to know what some may view as extreme measures is considered the norm for this board.
Mitzi

Panaroma

I did some insulating experiments myself in in the past. Insulation is great but one has to allow somekind of airmovement. Prone to rotting is the main problem. So always insulate and circulate, works best for me.