when can I plant basjoos outside?

TrailGaiter · 03-29-2012, 05:26 PM

Yes, it's March, and I'm in southern WI, but we have had an incredible winter! My hostas are coming up well, raspberries are leafing out, strawberries are popping up out of the ground like they never left....it's amazing. We've already been in the 80's!

So I have the planting bug big time.... I planted some more raspberries and horse tail, because the raspberries HAD to go in, and I figured the horsetail could handle it (along our large, natural pond).

We've been in the 60's and 70's, with a few 80's...some lows in the 60's, but in looking at the extended forecast, the lowest low is in the upper 30's. My bananas have been inside, growing actively all winter.

I've been putting them outside on warm, not-so-windy days, to help them get adjusted, and just doing that has made them really throw those leaves out.

I'm sure it's way too early now....but how low, unprotected, can the low be to leave them safely outside?

revensen · 03-30-2012, 02:27 PM

That's a tough call. Madison usually has a good chance of frost/freeze up to the end of April. But then again this year has been very different. I would be more worried about the temp of the soil. Bananas do not like cool, wet soil. What are you going do?

TrailGaiter · 03-30-2012, 02:57 PM

Gonna hold out for now....definitely didn't plan on doing it quite yet...but if the weather pattern continues to be similar over the coming weeks, I may try. I got them a year ago. I very much remember...because of our crazy weather last year, they didn't go out in the ground until Memorial Day weekend! This year I'm hoping it will be much earlier! Will definitely keep in mind the ground temps....it's just been an amazing winter here! (some wouldn't think so, but I'm one who's lived here all my life, and just don't like winter after the first snowfall!! Y'all will know when I get 'em in! I just can't wait!! But, know I have to....because the weather is just teasing us I'm sure. We usually have snow on the ground now! And I've already gotten sunburnt, mowed the lawn, and enjoyed our first high of 82 degrees! Awesome....

revensen · 03-30-2012, 03:49 PM

What a treat it must be to have the summer weather already. I grew up south of Madison in Fort Atkinson and lived in Madison for about seven years before moving south. I remember the occasional late April snow after a week of 70 degree weather. That was such a tease, but at least it melted the next day.

Madison was a terrific place to live.

Olafhenny · 03-30-2012, 09:15 PM

Hi Angie,

it so happened, that I awoke my Basjoos from hibernation just today.

The one out front was in remarkably good shape. It turned out, that I just had to lob off one
more inch, than I had last fall, to get to sound PS tissue. Of the Basjoo/Canna combination
in the back of the house the result was not quite so happy. I had to dig down a couple of inches
to find healthy tissue.

Although I live in HZ 6, we did not have quite the warm weather you describe

This is what the Basjoos in the front looked like when the mulch was removed

After trimming the top inch off I installed my “Crystal palace” from last year again just modified
to sport a gable. This will give me confidence to -4^C; any colder weather forecast, I will just
hang an old quilt over the structure.

If you want to know how to how to slap this kind of protection together on the quick and on the
cheap, it is detailed here: Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse

Just keep in mind, that the sun is now as strong as around Sept. 10. Therefore heat monitoring
is just as important as cold monitoring, until you take the cover off, probably in mid May.

Good luck,
Olaf

RayS · 04-05-2012, 02:17 PM

Yes Angie, I have the planting bug too, and the winter was incredible here in
Massachusetts also. Last year I had the snow thrower out 2 - 3 times a week, this year it was out once! As Bob said the biggest concern is soil temp, still way to cold. Patience grasshopper.

03-29-2012, 05:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
TrailGaiter Angie Location: Madison, Wisconsin Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Angie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 127 BananaBucks : 106,428 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 115 Times Was Thanked 117 Times in 64 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	when can I plant basjoos outside? Yes, it's March, and I'm in southern WI, but we have had an incredible winter! My hostas are coming up well, raspberries are leafing out, strawberries are popping up out of the ground like they never left....it's amazing. We've already been in the 80's! So I have the planting bug big time.... I planted some more raspberries and horse tail, because the raspberries HAD to go in, and I figured the horsetail could handle it (along our large, natural pond). We've been in the 60's and 70's, with a few 80's...some lows in the 60's, but in looking at the extended forecast, the lowest low is in the upper 30's. My bananas have been inside, growing actively all winter. I've been putting them outside on warm, not-so-windy days, to help them get adjusted, and just doing that has made them really throw those leaves out. I'm sure it's way too early now....but how low, unprotected, can the low be to leave them safely outside?

03-30-2012, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
revensen revensen's Photo Gallery Location: Indian Harbour Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Bob Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 247 BananaBucks : 70,318 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 220 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: when can I plant basjoos outside? That's a tough call. Madison usually has a good chance of frost/freeze up to the end of April. But then again this year has been very different. I would be more worried about the temp of the soil. Bananas do not like cool, wet soil. What are you going do?

03-30-2012, 02:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
TrailGaiter Angie Location: Madison, Wisconsin Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Angie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 127 BananaBucks : 106,428 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 115 Times Was Thanked 117 Times in 64 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: when can I plant basjoos outside? Gonna hold out for now....definitely didn't plan on doing it quite yet...but if the weather pattern continues to be similar over the coming weeks, I may try. I got them a year ago. I very much remember...because of our crazy weather last year, they didn't go out in the ground until Memorial Day weekend! This year I'm hoping it will be much earlier! Will definitely keep in mind the ground temps....it's just been an amazing winter here! (some wouldn't think so, but I'm one who's lived here all my life, and just don't like winter after the first snowfall!! Y'all will know when I get 'em in! I just can't wait!! But, know I have to....because the weather is just teasing us I'm sure. We usually have snow on the ground now! And I've already gotten sunburnt, mowed the lawn, and enjoyed our first high of 82 degrees! Awesome....

03-30-2012, 03:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
revensen revensen's Photo Gallery Location: Indian Harbour Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Bob Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 247 BananaBucks : 70,318 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 220 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: when can I plant basjoos outside? What a treat it must be to have the summer weather already. I grew up south of Madison in Fort Atkinson and lived in Madison for about seven years before moving south. I remember the occasional late April snow after a week of 70 degree weather. That was such a tease, but at least it melted the next day. Madison was a terrific place to live.

03-30-2012, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 279,085 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: when can I plant basjoos outside? Hi Angie, it so happened, that I awoke my Basjoos from hibernation just today. The one out front was in remarkably good shape. It turned out, that I just had to lob off one more inch, than I had last fall, to get to sound PS tissue. Of the Basjoo/Canna combination in the back of the house the result was not quite so happy. I had to dig down a couple of inches to find healthy tissue. Although I live in HZ 6, we did not have quite the warm weather you describe This is what the Basjoos in the front looked like when the mulch was removed After trimming the top inch off I installed my “Crystal palace” from last year again just modified to sport a gable. This will give me confidence to -4^C; any colder weather forecast, I will just hang an old quilt over the structure. If you want to know how to how to slap this kind of protection together on the quick and on the cheap, it is detailed here: Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse Just keep in mind, that the sun is now as strong as around Sept. 10. Therefore heat monitoring is just as important as cold monitoring, until you take the cover off, probably in mid May. Good luck, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

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04-05-2012, 02:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
RayS RayS's Photo Gallery Location: Mansfield, MA Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Ray Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 92 BananaBucks : 9,360 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 162 Times Was Thanked 107 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 58 Times	Re: when can I plant basjoos outside? Yes Angie, I have the planting bug too, and the winter was incredible here in Massachusetts also. Last year I had the snow thrower out 2 - 3 times a week, this year it was out once! As Bob said the biggest concern is soil temp, still way to cold. Patience grasshopper. __________________ Ray

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