dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

Hello from zone 6 pennsylvania. I've had a dwarf cavendish for two seasons now and I've caught the bug. This summer I was rewarded with an army of pups and plan to turn my back yard into a plantation. I have acquired some cold hardy varieties but they are all in pots and very small at the moment. anyway. my big question is... should I bring momma inside and let her go dormant for the winter, again? or do I build an insulating structure around her this year. neither is a bother to me, as this is a labor of love. I just want a few opinions. excuse me if I posted in the wrond thread.

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

It's been a long time since I have experienced a PA winter, so this is just an opinion... This late in the summer, I would bring her inside for the winter to give her a better chance at thriving in the spring...

Hope to see this thread get more replies, as I would like to see where this goes as well...

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

I am in zone 8b/9a and my experience has been that Dwarf Cavendish is one of my least cold tolerant bananas that I have. I would take all preparations to protect it from the cold for sure.
Bo

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

Yeah, bring it inside. DC does not like the cold at all.

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

Bring them all in.
In my zone 5-6 only a Basjoo will overwinter if planted correctly and mulched.
Basjoos is a reliable plant that will give you that tropical look you want year after year with minimal hassle.
Our zone is just to cold to do stuff like that.

When a banana plant is referenced as cold hardy to me it means ( somebody jump in here if there more can be added) short periods of cold weather riight above freezing and able to withstand light frost without heavy damage to the p-stem or leaves and still thrive.

If your enclosure is a heated green house, yes they will survive ...

Your bananas are small enough to maintain in a sunny spot if you have one inside .

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

From my experience and opinion, cold hardy usually refers to bananas who's corm and p-stem can tolerant temperatures in the high 20's for brief to moderate periods of time.

Agreed with the rest though, Cavendish are far from hardy (mine started yellowing just above freezing) and are best if protected or moved indoors during the winter. Protection must be a serious case though, as with your zone it takes a lot to heat things up to the temperature you want. If you've got room, time, and a little money a greenhouse is a great idea though. But warning, greenhouses spur on tropical fruit growing addictions, haha! Non-heated ones usually boost the winter temps to a zone above where you are, heated ones depend on heating but should keep it above freezing. There are methods of heating one that don't require electricity, some less and some more effective.

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

I actually do have a greenhouse i picked up for pretty cheap, but it is just that, cheap. I don't trust it to hold heat at night. may fortify it but im thinking it's just going to extend my seasons a little. my ill keep one experimental banana out there

Re: dwarf cavendish help (first thread!)
 

Hey Sixer, I'm from Bethlehem too, small world, I've had sdc's for three years now and always brought them in for the winter "in pots" but this year I put a few in the ground and plan on covering them over for the winter. I don't have high hopes of them surviving but, I have more than I can house so, what can I lose. I will let you know how they do, I'm sure it will be the winter temps that will decide, actually I have some other good ones like dwarf red, enset ventricosum, mekong giant, basjoo etc, etc That I have no room for if you are up for a jump start to your banana farm and have space to winter over. You or anyone else close enough to pick them up are welcome to them.