JaredZone9a

Just curious on the best way to save my p-stems for next spring. Wondering what materials everybody is using- who need to winterize. I’ve seen a lot of different ways, but I’m not sure what works the best. Another couple months and it’s gonna be cold. I think now is the time to start planning for it.

Robbertico18

Last year Up here in Savannah I did nothing for my basjoo plants and the p stems all survived. I think we have some Orinocos around in the neighborhood and those p stems all survived as well.
What varieties of banana do you have ?

JaredZone9a

I know the Basjoo would probably do fine in Zone 9 because their super cold tolerant. I don’t have any of that variety though.

I have Namwah and Brazilian which should tolerate pretty good, but I don’t want to loose the pstem because I want them to fruit this next summer.

Steve L

Those two bananas are pretty cold tolerant. The pstems will be viable down to 30. Below that, I break the leaves and fold them against the pstem. I wrap the entire pstem with folded leaves from ground to top in old blankets and secure with large clips. It looks like a cocoon. I wrap that in Christmas lights. I’ve protected my Aeae in this manner for 15 years and it works.

emls5

I'm also in zone 9 but on the coast. Last year we had a few days at 19 degrees and my plant just started with a couple of pups that are about 9 inches tall. Can anyone tell me what I should do with the pups and the mother plant that is about 8 feet tall now.

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JaredZone9a

What Christmas lights do you use? C9?

How long do you run them?

smeash

I think we did a thread on this topic last year.. not sure the title however. I purchased a huge roll of frost cloth from amazon, and simply wrapped the pstems in that. I had christmas lights on some plants too, but not all winter. I lost only my Thai Black, and that is because it was not an established plant at the time. A few of my plants receved zero protection, and lost leaves but no pstem damage. We had a few nights in the mid 20s..I should note that all my plants are HEAVILY mulched in both winter and summer.

Steve L

I just use the inexpensive little lights and run them until it gets above freezing. If it’s going to be below about 25, I have heating cables that are manufactured for people in the northern climates to heat the water line from the hot water heater. It’s got a thermostat. You can’t really find them down south. Ordered online

JaredZone9a

Sounds like a good idea!

JaredZone9a

Mine are heavily mulched too. How much did that frost cloth run you?

smeash

It was like 225 for 12'x250' roll. They had smaller rolls available but I figured Id buy once and be done.

JaredZone9a

Seems like frost cloth is better than other options, because the plants can still breathe, get light, and get water. Never used it before so I don’t know.

I’ve seen some guys completely wrap with bubble wrap or burlap and they took it off in the spring and the pstem was dead.

This guy had success in zone 8 with just the typical straw/hay:

https://youtu.be/Eq8xGdPR3ko

sirdoofus

Excellent video, thanks for sharing. That is essentially what I do with the addition of a cover to keep it dry because we are so wet here all winter. Only one of my HH plants barely survived last winter so I will have to rework things a bit

I am thinking I am going to make the mulch/dry space around the plants bigger and taller this year by using pallets as the frame instead of fencing. That will also provide a solid base for securing a tarp over the whole thing. I am also going to try it with my in ground Dwarf Orinoco and I am very curious to see how it compares to the HH.

With my basjoo, I am going to try a combination of the pallets and fencing to see if I can save the full height, or close to it, of the P-stem. I really want that guy to get as tall as possible. I have seen some very tall basjoos in my travels so I know its possible; maybe not in my climate, but I will give it a good go.

If that works, then I might even try to acquire a Namwah and give it a shot too

Good luck! Let us know what you decide and how it works.

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JaredZone9a

Sounds like you got it figured out. My Dwarf Namwah is my fastest most vigorous grower. It smoked my Dwarf Brazilian and Cavendish. Highly recommend. :-)

sirdoofus

I certainly can't say I have much worked out at all, but that's why I am here, to learn as much as I can from the experience of all of you experts

And I can definitely see how this hobby just takes on a life of its own. Its lucky I am in Canada otherwise I would have 50 different varieties by now

Looks like I will HAVE to get a Dwarf Namwah. It is one of the beauties I can get fairly easily up here

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JaredZone9a

Roger that. I really like mine. I know Canada gets cold, but maybe you can make it work. It is one of the more cold tolerant, but like me, you’ll have to winterize it there for sure.

smeash

I will say that i wrapped some of my plants with heavy sheet plastic and it worked, however you have to be careful to leave an opening on top for condensation and airflow.. and never wrap tight to the stem. Im sure the plastic provided a good 20 degree bump in temp inside the wrap during sunny days, if not more. If you live in a pretty cold environment, i would use sheet plastic in a tee pee style setup with the plant in the middle.. i think it would warn the ground around the plant in the day, and maybe radiate heat in the cold dark hrs.