how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

We are having a really early frost in Dallas, TX. Forecasted to hit 33/32 for an our or two Saturday morning. Then down to 30 later in the week,
For this one with an hour or two can I just wrap them and can they take it?
Have two that are fruiting and still not ripe will fruit survive of few hours 2-3 of 32/33?

Would be great not to have to dig them up so early.

Thoughts?

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Yes: especially Namwa, Orinoco, Mysore, and a few others. However, sustained temperatures below 50°F will cause Musas to slow down or completely stop growth for awhile. So don't expect those fruits to ripen for several months.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

What about Brazilian and Blue Java? More or less cold sensitive than Dwarf Namwah?

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

I would say all three are about equal. I could be wrong though, In my experience brazillians are pretty tough, although we almost never touch 32 in my area. Though we got 36 for a few hours last winter uncharacteristically , I only had brazillians and orinocos, and tall namwa at the time and everything was fine.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Brazilian are as tough as any musa when it comes to cold. Also very pest and disease resistant... Pup machines as well.
That said, leaf loss begins with pretty much any time below 32, the longer it stays below 32 and the colder it gets, obviously, it will be worse.
If they are calling for that cold I would cover the bunch and peduncle with a sheet then plastic... Sometimes they are wrong.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Following this! We are just south of Dallas and I am ready to go wrap a blanket around my tree

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

If the weather is no worse than predicted you should be ok.

Crazy_banana likes to put frost bags on her over-winter fruits. I recommend you give it a try.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Don't use anything that will get soggy and then freeze.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

I like to get old blankets and thick sheets to wrap around the bunch. While wrapping i will crack open and throw a hand warmer or 2 inside. (I buy them on clearance in spring for nothing) It will keep the frost off and keep a little warmth for the night. I haven’t tested it for how much difference it makes. If any. I need to do that!

Usually the leaves get destroyed. So not sure if it’s worth an extra week or 2 (plant went dormant I’m sure anyway) but it does keep the fruit from frosting or freezing.

Also in my openion blue java is just as cold hardy as Orinoco. If not more cold hardy! I would say namwa and Brazilian are pretty similar. They should resume growth when it warms up. Since it’s Texas it will be in the 80s next week!

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

But the shock will last for a couple of months, just like it does here.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

So most of the bananas survived 31 with a few with leaf damage. However on Tuesday they predict 28... After that it will warm up nicely. I would really like to keep them in the ground a bit longer since I know the survival rate in my garage increase a lot if I don't dig them up before December. However with forecasted 28 I am a bit nervous and maybe I should dig up a few?
Thoughts?

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

The total damage will not be evident for a couple weeks.

You've subjected them to sub-45F temperatures. Their growth in the ground will now slow to a crawl until you have several continuous weeks with low temperatures at or above 55F. Bringing them in the garage will not change this -- even with suitable lighting.

1st you need to find a weather station (https://www.wunderground.com) within a few miles of you. Use the map to narrow it down if necessary. Then find the forecast for that station, and click on the tab for "10 day".

Now look at the temperature graph. If anywhere it's showing 30F or lower at 10-11pm I'd be worried and keep checking back as you get closer to the date. But if those temps are coming at 4am or later I'd have no worries.

In the latter case if you're still anxious, then get some bales of hay or straw (not grass clippings) or Canadian peat moss. Pile it about 6" high at a 2-3 foot radius around your pstems.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Well, now they updated to 26 one night and 28 the next so I need to dig up and put some in for storage and put up my Christmas lights with the remaining I plan to try and survive outside for the winter. Thanks for the advice, I am using underground and have my own weather station in the back.

It is getting tough to grow bananas and expect fruit in Dallas, Almost 4 months of storage and 8 months of summer so barely time for fruit to ripe. Sigh...
Maybe i should get back to palm trees. I had 4 Phoenix palms growing nicely for 3 years before a hard freeze got them all.. That is when I started with bananas instead.
Currently I have a Bismarck palm I managed to keep alive for 2 winters so starting to look decent. lots of Christmas lights for that one. Also have a Pindo palm but they are hardy in Dallas.

Anyone knows how hardy Queen palms are? When I moved here I saw a huge one in a yard here but the next winter it died due to a hard freeze. However it must have grown at least 15 years before that so it seems possible to keep it alive or...?

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

At what time? ... and what station?

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

sorry my friend but I have to say this.

everybody around here grow palms, everybody. bananas ain't quit so messy, also grow faster. both look tropical.

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Well, now they say 28 on Monday night, 26 on Tuesday and 28 again on Wednesday. TXPlano144
https://www.wunderground.com/persona...ocalwx_pwsdash

Freeze will be from midnight one night and 3AM the other...

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?
 

Over winterizing can be tough, yes we are getting the same temperatures here in Montgomery Texas, right now 26 to 31 degrees at night which i am not happy about. What i did this year was to dig up my more tender and younger plants. i made sure i had at least 2 of each to keep in the garage & greenhouse during the winter. What i left in the ground i staked and put chicken wire up as high as i could go and filled them with mulch.
i am hoping the loss will be minimal,

stay warm everyone,

Darla

Re: how many hours can banana take of 32 degree?