iz

Gonna be 41 degree for couple hours in morning and tomorrow night here in Dallas..I haven't winterize my orinoco, california gold, texas star, truly tiny bananas. I hope the trunks makes it till this weekend...what is the lowest temp. for it to be bad news?

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

sunfish

41f isn't a problem wet soil may be

Richard

None of those are zone-7/8-banana-types. They should all survive overnight lows of 35.

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nph

I have IceCream, Saba and Orinoco and I usually dont worry unless it is expected to drop below 35.
Am I off?

iz

Thanks for the info. How are you winterizing them? Are you taking it inside or leaving them outside; covered? I'm particularly interested how you are doing with the Saba. I plan on getting Saba; love plaintain.

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

nph

Good question, see my other post that I just put in. I haven't decided on the Saba yet and am asking for advice on that one in particular.

How do you do with your Dwarf Orinoco?
Really interested in how to handle that one. Mine is about 6 feet right now so decent size p-stem.

iz

Keep me posted on your Saba. I want to get one for next summer. As for the D.Orinoco, it is the best healthiest and biggest one I have. It is about the same size as yours with nice fat d.green leaves. Plan on winterizing it in garage when I get a time. Next year I will plant it in a better soil to be winterize outside.

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

nph

Since mine is in good soil already do you recommend to keep it in the ground then? I am really torn about that one. I took a pup today with lots of roots so it should be a good "backup". Problem is I cant decide between moving it into the garage or keeping it in the ground. This is one plant that I really hope to get some fruit from, especially if I keep it in the garage.

for my Saba, I plan to keep it in the ground since I don't expect fruit, just a really nice big plant in the corner of my yard.

What do you think am I off here, should i do the opposite?

I also have 5 Ice creams, 2 big ones in front of a southern wall, plan to leave one and then dig up the other. Then I have three smaller ones around the pool, was planning to dig up one of those as well. Basically, thinking about digging up no 1 and 3 from the left. What do you think given the southern wall should I leave no 3 i the ground or not?

Attached Images

Icecreams.JPG (576.4 KB, 21 views)

iz

If your D.Orinoco is already on good drainage soil and you have a backup for the just in-case, then being in zone 8, I would give it a try-winterizing it outside. Unless you don't want any chances of losing fruit next summer, then you know the answer to that; winterize it inside, and next year have 2 matured D.Orinoco for inside and outside-but make sure it is well protected &winterized for outside. Good call on planting it on the south side. It might be ok for the 3rd little one being it is in the south side provided it has been in ground for a while(planted early spring/summer) and good established roots. For the little ones or smaller, based on observation, I'd still bring the small pups inside to ensure survival.

I've read enough info. how to winterize it. Here is a few advice given to me below. And as for the Saba, keep me posted after winter.

Jack frost is coming, time bundle up!!!

Musa 2011 pictures by wilson1963 - Photobucket

Storing bananas for winter!!! UGH!!!

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

GardenBee

I am worried too, here at Virginia. I have four misi luki banana plants just planted in a bed. We had lots of rain today and the ground is wet. It's going to be 41 at 2 am. Some quick advice would truly be appreciated.
Thanks.

Abnshrek

If you aren't getting below 40F I would not be worried. Mine froze and are pushing up pups now.. :^)

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drobbins

you're lucky, I'm just a little ways away in central NC and it's supposed to get down to freezing. Got my babies in pots and brought em in but some basjoo are in the ground and pushing out leaves. I guess they'll be ok, maybe burn the new growth a little
time will tell, it usually doesn't get a cold as the forecast this time of year
weather man has to cover his butt

Dave

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GardenBee

Hi Abnshrek:
As weather is unpredictable, it went below 40 to 36 degrees f. And since we had so much rain, I had flooding in the back yard. But I was determined. I went out an placed my usual plastic covering over the banana plants. There was 25 mph winds as well. So far, as you can see in the pics, I think they survived. Tomorrow I will send pics of the banana plants under the plastic. I have totally covered them and air goes at the bottom. I will remove the plastic tomorrow since the weather will be above 50 degree F. The leaves seem stiff but not soggy, so I am assuming they survived. Please see gallary for pics.

GardenBee

GardenBee

I have placed my banana woes pic in Species banana photo gallery. Not sure how to use this site and in bit of a hurry.

GardenBee

Thanks for you interest...

The biggest banner plant you see is 4-5 feet tall with a stem diameter midway of approximately 1 1/2 inch. There are smaller ones just a foot tall. I had my banana plants in the garage during the winter in pots. I laid them out on the bed in early April.

The lowest temperatures have been going down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in February and March. Now until last week they have gone down to 43-47 degrees. Additionally some mentioned in our posts that the cold may not kill the plant but the cold or wet ground. I have raised the bed a wee bit as you can see but the area floods sometimes in heavy rain.

My banana plant is a misi luki. Usually the become mushy and die (leaves brown and look burned) when the is a frost or snow. Luckily I went out just before it hailed that day and placed a plastic cover over it.