asacomm

It may be a little early to talk about overwintering methodes, but they say
"Make hay while the sun shines" or "Lay up for a rainy day"!.

The following methode was useful and successful for the overwintering
under the eaves where nusas were not exposed rainfall possibiolity.



On the other hand, the same methode was not successful outside in the
ground.



The reasons could be considered as follows:

1. Rainfalls made the protecting mats wet and when cold spell came the mats
were frozen thus damaging the growth point inside the pseudostem.
2. When the full sun shone on the wet mats, inside the mats became over
heated and this would bring fatal damages to the growth point.
3. Thus protection mats might turn out to be a damage factor rather than
being protection factor.

Your advices or opinions are appreciated.

sunfish

I would think all you need is some plastic to keep the mats dry

Caloosamusa

This would work in my area, and I will wrap plastic around the straw covering.
Thank you!

Bananaman88

Don't you also have to be concerned with the plastic heating up in the sun and cooking the pstem? I know when we tell folks here how to protect their plants we always tell them to use something breathable. If they do use plastic we tell them to remove it before the sun is on it too long. I understand that the plastic would help keep things dry and if it was used solely around the roots might be fine. I'd personally be concerned about wrapping plastic around the pstem. Just my opinion.

Caloosamusa

Sufficient straw should be layered underneath the plastic for insulation and breathability.

asacomm

I do understand what you guys mentioned and commented, and in fact I
tried in the last winter the following methode with a plastic pipe with
microscopic holes for breathing covered on the straw mats on the pstem.



But unfortunately it did not work well and the banana died down.
The reasons for this would be as follows and these are main problem of the
plastic cover methode.

1. The microscopic holes were too small and it was choked by the humidity
of self breathing and the inside of the polastic pipe was always over humid.
2. In this case, when the full sun shone, the inside of the pipe was over
heated as no heat could not be cooled down through the choked holes.

So I am at a loss what to do for the coming winter.

Caloosamusa

Good morning Asacomm,

I think I may just pray for good weather this winter, I think it will do more good, than anything I might do.

Thanks to you and Brent for your comments.

sunfish

Maybe this would work

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...CdXPUw&cad=rja