DingoBongo

I have a couple plants - not sure what species as they were gifted to me - that I planted late this summer. They're about 4 feet tall, and last week we got our first freeze. The person who gave them to me told me she cuts all hers down to soil level after the first freeze and mulches with pine straw. However, I've heard and read different advice. From what she said, to cutting with a few inches remaining above ground, to just leaving them alone to die off and then regrow in the spring.

So I'm wondering, what would happen if I didn't do anything? Is there any noticeable difference between cutting all the way vs. leaving a few inches? What about cutting but not mulching? Just curious if anyone knows the science behind these methods or the expected results of different approaches.

cincinnana

DingoBongo,

Care is personal preference.
Some gardeners like a tidy garden and trim and mulch and others will let the garden evolve more into winter.
The outcome is generally the same regardless which way you choose to overwinter.
I have done and seen many ways and not doing anything is acceptable.

Check out the photo link and see a few ways to overwinter your plants.


.
Basjoo winter kill.
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

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pitangadiego

Freezing your bananas is not recommended. ;-)) If you are going to have many freezing days, you will definitely need to insulate them with something. I don't have this issue here in paradise, but repeated cold/freezing will have a negative affect on the plants/corms and eventually terminate in death.

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pjkfarm

Agree with Pitangadiego IF they are the edible or tropical bananas, but for the hardier types, which it sounds like you have (Basjoo) (and maybe Sikkimensis which we are trying this year), leaving them alone is fine as long as they are in well, very well, drained soil. To get flowers, we pack bags filled with leaves around them (making sure the top is bottom so rain does not soak inside). We do this to 4-5 feet high or top of psedostem if shorter, and get flowers each year and far larger pstems, leaves, etc, plus much earlier and faster leaf development. We take bags off when last frost has passed (Basjoo can take a very light frost, but will still have some damage to leaves which they outgrow quickly - but we prefer to be on the safe side and wait a few extra days if needed.
I suppose we would add some remay or other polyester row cover, or even simple plastic sheeting around them if we missed on frost dates as they should be happy inside that for the rare time one mis-guesses. We have had a 26 degree night and some of those we have not covered (and will not) look like hell, but still have green leaves on their inside, which supports the idea that plastic sheeting around them for one nite would make quite a difference if simple a few extra leaves can protect the inner leaves. BTW, basjoo here in zone 6 b has easily taken a few nites at -2 to -4, and a week or longer where daytime temps did not go over freezing - and the prolonged cold seems to be more problematical for survival than the occasional extra cold nite. Probably because prolonged freezing goes deeper and gets roots and corms. We are also experimenting with simply dumping some wood chips around them - would be a lot easier than the leaf bags if it works. We have maybe twenty patches with circa 400 plants in various locations and the lower elevation get hit harder (frost starts low down) - and the only absolute rule, is NO WET FEET.

DingoBongo

Well once again, conflicting advice

Just seems to be how it is with plants. I may run an experiment and leave one to just die off on its own and cut and mulch the other and see what happens.

Backyard Banana Joe

It simply depends on what you want... Or how much time you have to protect them. I would protect and try to preserve the trunk if I could... They would probably be healthier if you did protect so keep that in mind.

cincinnana

Dingobongo,

Your getting conflicting advice because..

We do not know your location .
We are guessing what type of plant you have.

My guess from your previous posts is your plants are Basjoos.
The plant habit you describe is not an ice-cream in your intro.

Follow the previous posts and you will be good.

You could broaden your knowledge with a youtube search on how to overwinter basjoo.....this should clear up your conflicting advice.
Overall your good..the plant you have is an awesome plant to grow.
Here-is a link you might find of interest.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/hostafarian/96LqDV
Good luck this winter.

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cincinnana

Bump..

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