What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

I plan on getting a Thai Black this spring and when I was doing some reading about it some websites have it hardy to zone 6(the WIKI here has it reported to be zone 6) but others have it rated to zone 7 or 8. So what would some of you that have had one rate it at. Any succes in overwintering in zone 6??


Thanks, Nate

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

I'd say zone 6 if well protected and wrapped well on the south side of the house I'm guessing, worth a try! I'll PM you when I get one and we'll see how it does. :)

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

Can't speak for zn 6 (thanK God), but I'll let you know in a few days how my plant does with nights in the 20's. So far we've been down to freezing with no signs of damage. Mine is pretty well protected by my live oak's evergreen canopy, though. Pics are in my gallery.

Russell

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

Wow! No damage! Sounds hardy! Love to see how it goes!

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

How tall is your thai black and how long have you had it? That oak tree is awsome you have some nice pics.

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

Thanks.

I bought it last winter from ebay and kept it in a greenhouse until spring. It was about 16 inches tall when I got it, but now the p-stem is about 8 ft with leaves on top of that. Two pups now, both about as tall as me. Mid 20's predicted tonight, so we'll see how it goes.

Russell

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

My 12 footer got hit with 24f last night. I'll update you too....when it warms up a little!

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

How did it go? I'd really like to know! :)

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

At 7:30 this morning it was 20 degrees, an hour and a half later we've made it to 25. Everything looks really bad, and lower temps are forcast for the weekend. Trash pickup is tomorrow, I'm going to be busy today!

Russell

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

How did the Thai Black do was it completely destroyed??? Who knows you may be able to chop the leaves and save the p-stem.

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

I'll spare all of my big pstems for now, it is still too early to determine damage. Skinny one like ornata, Af. red, Siam ruby, bordelon - and all of my gingers - are goners. Leaves are starting to collaspe as it warms up.

Thankfully, this doesn't happen every year.

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

It's been a few weeks how is it handling the cold??

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

I guess about as well as can be expected. We ended up with something like 12 or 13 nights in a row below freezing - and many of those at or near 20 degrees. I cut the leaves off of everything because I hate the way they look. On the 9 ft. pstem it looks like I've lost the top 3 or maybe 4 ft.

Luckily, this plant was big so it will be fine. I'd have to rate hardiness as pretty high, all things considered. Some winters we get only a few frosts and light freezes, this one really beat the hell out of us. I'm more worried about my young plants I put in the ground assuming we'd have a typical light winter. I may be replacing alot of bananas this spring!

Russell

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

if they're really from Thailand, I wouldn't think they'd be all that in terms of cold hardiness actually. Not a real cold country!

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

Probably about 38 degrees since its a tropical banana. My cavendish seemed to get some frost damage around 38. You might try freeze pruf, that will add a couple degrees to the cold tolerance. Protection from cold wind also helps a lot, it you have a place up against the east or south side of your house or a building that would be ideal.

Re: What is the hardiness of a musa Thai Black??
 

I had no damage at all until we got hit with a HARD FREEZE. Siam ruby and tall red started crapping out at 45 degrees. That's a big difference.