Darkman

When the first freeze was expected I secured my bananas inside a two foot diameter wire cage that I wrapped with plastic and then filled with leaves. The top was twisted together and sealed.

So when do I release them? My concern is that they may be decaying in my mini compost piles. What are your thoughts?

Oh some of the leaves were bone dry and some were damp. None were wet.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

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bananarama2

As long as there is a threat of frost or cold temperatures in you area, keep a minimum 2 or 3 inch of dry mulch over your bananas. Once you get a steady nightime temperature on the plus side of freezing for a week or so, it's generally okay to "expose" the growing tip of your plant to the elements. Just keep an eye on the weather for any surprise dips in temperature below freezing. It's pretty much like hardening off seedlings before planting out. Slow and easy makes the day!

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Bob3

It sounds like you have a dandy little wintering over house for your 'nanners but it wouldn't hurt to have a peek & see how damp / wet things are in there.

I keep mine buttoned up 'till danger of frost is over & night time temps are consistently above 40°f at an absolute minimum.
Your mileage will no doubt vary with your local soil & air humidity conditions; out where I'm at it's usually dryer than a popcorn fart but in your neck of the woods the dampness could cause mischief if not allowed to breathe on the warmer days.
Have a peek & if everything looks good, button it back up for at least a couple-few more weeks. (but who can really tell with this whackie weather we've been having?)

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Dean W.

Sounds likes some good advice, Darkman.

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palmtree

I would unwrap them when the weather is warmer (around mid 30s at night and mild in the day) leaving some mulch and then completely uncover it after a week above 40. By April they should be more then ready to see the elements.

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Darkman

We have cold temps predicted for this coming weekend. After that I'll take a look.
Thanks,

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

schmaltz~herring

I uncovered mine today since it's been in the 60's here in GA.

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Darkman

I'm waiting till next Friday. I hope I don't regret waiting. We will see!

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

Darkman

OK I couldn't wait anymore.

I thought this was a Raja Puri but it may be an Orinoco. This one was protected solely with bags of leaves piled on. The three photos show the unveilng.

Why did I go ahead early? Check out the new growth that pushed throgh the bag.







Not bad. it looks a little rough but I think it will recover quick.

I'll have some more unveilings later.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

stevelau1911

I plan on just waiting well into May to see if the forecast is clear of freezes. Last year there was a major freeze in late may where it got down to the mid 20s which is enough to really set musa basjoo back.

Hopefully mine survived and will start pushing a leaf through the leaves by some time in May.

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I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas.

my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/

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Darkman

Unwrapping the Lady Finger. Here she is all wrapped up and hopefully ready to come out. You can see that I put bags of leaves around the base for extra protection. I don't know if it was needed but maybe other unveilings will teach me something. I did many of them different to try various ideas.



I tried something else different with this one and I didn't think it would last. I sealed the top with a stretch bag. I thought it would rip during the winter but it has held fast and could still be used. I occasionally dumped water that collected in the top. That may be the reason for the settling. The water weight may have pushed it down.



Here is a shot of the inside. You can see the settling as it was full when they went to bed.



The plastic wrap is being removed. I was able to get about two turns with this wrap. Overall it was fairly dry inside so I guess I didn't need to worry about rot, fungus and mildew. I actually think it is dryer than when I shut it up last fall. The banana may have used some of the moisture.



The wrap is off and you can see the tomato cage holding in the straw.



The cage is off and the Lady Finger is back to pre winter levels. Just in time to as I will be setting out tomatos this weekend and I'll put the cages over them soon after that. They will be used to protect from late frost and freezes. Sure looks rough but I believe that this one will have a headstart on the ones that were unwrapped. Opps here is the kicker. In my zeal I did not leave one unwarpped. LOL



A closer shot shows that the new leaf was broken probably during the cage removal. Looking rough but after I trim it up and wait a week I think it will look better.



Well only a little time will tell. The setup and undoing probably takes an hour per plant mostly the setup. I noticed that some of the bags of leaves were almost composted. In the article that I read that suggested this way it was recommended to put some fertilizer in the bags to actually feed the composting cycle and to build heat inside the bag. I did not do that this year. The bags contents will be spread around the bananas and dug in around other plants in the garden.

More unveilings to come.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

enigma99a

June 20. Spring is not coming haha

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Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F
Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches

Jose263

Darkman - looks like your nana plants faired well - congrats.
how about your citrus?

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

Darkman

The bananas have been trimmed of brown now and they are growing fast. I need to put some fertilizer, fish emulsion and compost on them. I'll post some pics after they have been uncovered for two weeks.

The citrus I have planted had no damage but that is my grapefruit and kumquat so no surprise there. I am going down to pick up about twenty new citrus plants from near Tallahasse in a couple of weeks. I tilled my planting area last week. I bought seven yards of HOT chicken manure compost that I will spread and till in next weekend. I'm running about four weeks behind.

I looking forward to fresh veggies this year especially tomatos. I bought 16 Celebrity plants today. It was all they had. I want about 20 more and 20 or so of the Sweet 100.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

Dean W.

Darkman, how has the weather been?

Get any more growth?

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Darkman

Except for a rather vicious line of thunderstorms that passed yesterday the weather has been very good.

I received four Xie Shan Satsumas today and will plant them out tomorrow.

For me I believe the cold is gone.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

Dean W.

That's what I'm starting to think here to.

Good growing to you!

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auburnfan28

Glad yalls cold weather is gone. We got down to 33 here last night in central alabama. My basjoo's are trying to get off to a headstart, so i covered them up with 55 gallon drums and i think they are ok. Forecast low of 37 for tonight, then 40's and 50's for lows for the next 10 days, so hopefully tonight will be the last night in the 30's.

drew leonard

ROLLLLLLLLLL....TIIIDE....ROLLLLLL!

Congrats on your 2nd National Championship.

TommyMacLuckie

I didn't cover any bananas this winter. Coldest it got this January was 22 (last January 18). So far Orinoco are emerging, Velutina are out and Bordelons have started. Dwarf Cavs are starting brand new - they never make it through a winter as far as the 3-5 foot tall ones, they always go for some reason.

That's quite the cover for that little banana! You could make it a little easier on yourself by just putting a 100 watt light bulb in there for when it gets below 32 instead of all that pine straw.