Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors

Jpbart · 09-26-2020, 07:49 PM

So I have some banana plants I an going to wrap for freeze protection. Any advice from the collective here? Zone 8b
I was going to wrap 4 or 5 feet, mulch around them real well, and see how it goes. Any suggestions on the best way to wrap these things?

JPBart

cincinnana · 09-28-2020, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpbart

So I have some banana plants I an going to wrap for freeze protection. Any advice from the collective here? Zone 8b
I was going to wrap 4 or 5 feet, mulch around them real well, and see how it goes. Any suggestions on the best way to wrap these things?

JPBart

There are some great Youtube videos on wrapping a plant for the winter.
And some great takeaways to be had.

But to save labor you can cut flush to the ground and heavily mulch for the winter.......some good videos on that also.
With your higher avg winter ground temps you plants should be good to go in the spring.

Me....I cut and mulch and have a nice finished look all winter and in spring have a nice tidy bed.

wstrickland1 · 09-28-2020, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpbart

So I have some banana plants I an going to wrap for freeze protection. Any advice from the collective here? Zone 8b
I was going to wrap 4 or 5 feet, mulch around them real well, and see how it goes. Any suggestions on the best way to wrap these things?

JPBart

You definitely need to look up Leadfarmer73 on youtube. He's in the Columbia Area so he's a Zone 8'er just like you. I think he's in what's considered Zone 8-A but you are by the lake so maybe that's the difference. He may be a bit unorthodox in some of his ideas as he's truly as old school as they come. Also his videos may be a bit long but you can ask him questions about how he overwinters. He does get fruit so he must be doing something right but I will say Cincinanna's advice should be considered solid. I mean whatever works in the frozen tundra up there would certainly have to work at your place...

btw I lived in Irmo for 7 years or so, Dutch Fork side. We spent many days on Lake Murray. I moved back home for work but still miss that area. Charleston has gotten to be a bit too much if you know what I mean.

islandmanmitch · 09-28-2020, 01:45 PM

Last year I made a ring out of welded wire about 4' in diameter around my Blue Java. I trimmed off the leaves and filled it with enough oak leaves to cover the plant. After the threat of frost I opened the wire and spread out the leaves to work as mulch. It survived without damage.
Florida Gulf Coast
Zone 8b

Jpbart · 10-03-2020, 11:49 AM

Thanks to all of you for the reply’s. I think I am going to trim the leaves and wrap them in those leaves and then bubble wrap. Most of them I cut down and mulch this time of year. If I can get some to over winter as stalks I have a shot at bananas next summer. We just have to see how this goes.

LaBananaGwr2018 · 10-06-2020, 04:43 AM

Sorry I don't have any advise but I do wish you the best of luck

hydroid · 10-06-2020, 10:38 AM

I used to use a small mesh screen type wire fencing make a circle around the cut off plant at about 4 or 5 feet tall and fill the inside with fresh grass clippings around the stem. Then wrap with plastic, the grass clippings create a heat. I would wrap a few Dwarf Namwah and always had nice fruit in the summer.

hdynad · 10-06-2020, 03:07 PM

I over winter in the ground every year and have complete success .
Step 1, I strip all my leaves.
Step 2. I completely wrap in freeze cloth
Step 3 wrap the freeze cloth with commercial grade Surran wrap completely.
Step 4. Mulch the base about a foot deep.
By doing these steps I don't loose any height, therefore getting my blooms early in the spring which gives them time to mature.
It is a lot of work but for me it's well worth it.
In the spring I unwrap and spread the mulch in the banana beds.
I over winter 40+ bananas this way every year.

Happy growing,
Darla

Jpbart · 10-08-2020, 06:18 PM

Thanks everyone!
I am going to to do the trim and wrap over wintering. I was considering using heat tape that’s designed to keep pipes from freezing but I think I will skip that this year.

smeash · 10-08-2020, 06:29 PM

Anyone ever use corrugated cardboard to wrap your plants? Ive got tons of it and some in large sizes.. thoughts?

edwmax · 10-09-2020, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpbart

Thanks to all of you for the reply’s. I think I am going to trim the leaves and wrap them in those leaves and then bubble wrap. Most of them I cut down and mulch this time of year. If I can get some to over winter as stalks I have a shot at bananas next summer. We just have to see how this goes.

You will have a better chance of having bananas if you don't cut the pstem. Just trim the leaves if you need a neater look and mulch heavy around the base. .... Then in the early spring cut the soft/mushy upper part of the pstem that froze. .... The lower part of the stalk doesn't have to regrow and it may already be pushing a bud that would have been killed if the stem was cut to the ground. ... I'm in zone 8b South Ga and that is what I do. I have about 15 or 18 flowers this year. But only 6 or 7 bunches will have eatable bananas. 6 or 7 nanas flowered too late to mature.

Jpbart · 10-09-2020, 09:22 PM

I think the cardboard might have issues with moisture and rotting, and possibly causing the banana stem to rot, not sure if this is an issue. Would make great mulch cover for the ground though.

Yeah edwmax that’s the plan.

smeash · 10-10-2020, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpbart

I think the cardboard might have issues with moisture and rotting, and possibly causing the banana stem to rot, not sure if this is an issue. Would make great mulch cover for the ground though.

Yeah edwmax that’s the plan.

That was my thought as well, however seeing people wrap with plastic seems like it would trap moisture in and cause the same. I may try it with one of mine this year and go from there. Thanks

wstrickland1 · 10-10-2020, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeash

That was my thought as well, however seeing people wrap with plastic seems like it would trap moisture in and cause the same. I may try it with one of mine this year and go from there. Thanks

I was thinking the same about plastic. I guess if I found a way to make it easy to remove I could on warm days. We have plenty of mid-upper 70s type days Dec thru Feb here in Charleston

Jpbart · 10-10-2020, 02:06 PM

Well my current plan is to wrap them in either cloth or a cylinder of chicken wire. Fill the space from the wrap to the stem with pine straw or leaves. Then wrap with bubble wrap on the outside of that stuff. Gives some space for water or condensation to drain away and hopefully can trap some heat near the stem. Mulch the ground around each plant and cross my fingers.

The hope is that we do not get sustained temps much below freezing. Most often here in zone 8 it will get cold at night but still be mild during the day. Every so often we get a winter with a week of below freezing temps and I am not sure my methods would work then. So who knows? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

wstrickland1 · 10-10-2020, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpbart

Well my current plan is to wrap them in either cloth or a cylinder of chicken wire. Fill the space from the wrap to the stem with pine straw or leaves. Then wrap with bubble wrap on the outside of that stuff. Gives some space for water or condensation to drain away and hopefully can trap some heat near the stem. Mulch the ground around each plant and cross my fingers.

The hope is that we do not get sustained temps much below freezing. Most often here in zone 8 it will get cold at night but still be mild during the day. Every so often we get a winter with a week of below freezing temps and I am not sure my methods would work then. So who knows? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Go Gamecocks

Or is it Go Tigers?

cincinnana · 10-10-2020, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdynad

I over winter in the ground every year and have complete success .
Step 1, I strip all my leaves.
Step 2. I completely wrap in freeze cloth
Step 3 wrap the freeze cloth with commercial grade Surran wrap completely.
Step 4. Mulch the base about a foot deep.
By doing these steps I don't loose any height, therefore getting my blooms early in the spring which gives them time to mature.
It is a lot of work but for me it's well worth it.
In the spring I unwrap and spread the mulch in the banana beds.
I over winter 40+ bananas this way every year.

Happy growing,
Darla

This is a best practice for your zone.

Jpbart · 10-10-2020, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

Go Gamecocks

Or is it Go Tigers?

Cocks.

StarostkaD · 10-16-2020, 05:21 PM

I'm also in 8b - Austin, TX - and just bought this house with bananas 2 months ago so am a little overwhelmed in caring for them as well as a bigger yard. The previous owners cut them down every year but I just discovered a 3rd bloom just starting and wondered if there is any way to save that bloom.

I'm going to check those videos mentioned above and try to figure out best approach. I have 2 stands of plants - one near our pool and one on the side yard - I may go science-y and cut one and wrap and protect the other and see what seemed to work best in the spring.

Banana Gallery - South Austin bananas 2

cincinnana · 10-16-2020, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdynad

I over winter in the ground every year and have complete success .
Step 1, I strip all my leaves.
Step 2. I completely wrap in freeze cloth
Step 3 wrap the freeze cloth with commercial grade Surran wrap completely.
Step 4. Mulch the base about a foot deep.
By doing these steps I don't loose any height, therefore getting my blooms early in the spring which gives them time to mature.
It is a lot of work but for me it's well worth it.
In the spring I unwrap and spread the mulch in the banana beds.
I over winter 40+ bananas this way every year.

Happy growing,
Darla

This is a best practice for this Zone..

09-26-2020, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jpbart Location: Chapin. SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 5,365 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors So I have some banana plants I an going to wrap for freeze protection. Any advice from the collective here? Zone 8b I was going to wrap 4 or 5 feet, mulch around them real well, and see how it goes. Any suggestions on the best way to wrap these things? JPBart

09-28-2020, 01:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
islandmanmitch Location: Florida Gulf Coast Zone: 8b Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 503 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Last year I made a ring out of welded wire about 4' in diameter around my Blue Java. I trimmed off the leaves and filled it with enough oak leaves to cover the plant. After the threat of frost I opened the wire and spread out the leaves to work as mulch. It survived without damage. Florida Gulf Coast Zone 8b

10-03-2020, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jpbart Location: Chapin. SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 5,365 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Thanks to all of you for the reply’s. I think I am going to trim the leaves and wrap them in those leaves and then bubble wrap. Most of them I cut down and mulch this time of year. If I can get some to over winter as stalks I have a shot at bananas next summer. We just have to see how this goes.

10-06-2020, 04:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
LaBananaGwr2018 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Zone: 9A/8B Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 143 BananaBucks : 5,536 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 217 Times Was Thanked 131 Times in 102 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 33 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Sorry I don't have any advise but I do wish you the best of luck

10-06-2020, 10:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
hydroid Minister of Propaganda hydroid's Photo Gallery Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama Find me on the map! Zone: Zone -8b-9a Name: Bo Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 687 BananaBucks : 106,501 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 775 Times Was Thanked 729 Times in 329 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 45 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors I used to use a small mesh screen type wire fencing make a circle around the cut off plant at about 4 or 5 feet tall and fill the inside with fresh grass clippings around the stem. Then wrap with plastic, the grass clippings create a heat. I would wrap a few Dwarf Namwah and always had nice fruit in the summer.

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10-06-2020, 03:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
hdynad Location: LaFollette, Tennessee Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Darla Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 461 BananaBucks : 54,963 Feedback: 2 / 75% Said "Thanks" 1,769 Times Was Thanked 797 Times in 318 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 53 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors I over winter in the ground every year and have complete success . Step 1, I strip all my leaves. Step 2. I completely wrap in freeze cloth Step 3 wrap the freeze cloth with commercial grade Surran wrap completely. Step 4. Mulch the base about a foot deep. By doing these steps I don't loose any height, therefore getting my blooms early in the spring which gives them time to mature. It is a lot of work but for me it's well worth it. In the spring I unwrap and spread the mulch in the banana beds. I over winter 40+ bananas this way every year. Happy growing, Darla __________________ Currently growing, , DGM Highgate, Blue Java, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Brazilian , Ensete Glaucum, Pitogo, Hoa Moa, Raja Puri, Thai Black, VG Chaing Rai, Manzano, Praying Hands. Yunnan, Hawiaan Crown, Dwarf Red Plantain Last edited by hdynad : 10-06-2020 at 03:10 PM.

10-08-2020, 06:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jpbart Location: Chapin. SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 5,365 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Thanks everyone! I am going to to do the trim and wrap over wintering. I was considering using heat tape that’s designed to keep pipes from freezing but I think I will skip that this year.

10-08-2020, 06:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
smeash Location: Ft Walton Beach FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 666 BananaBucks : 21,121 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 385 Times Was Thanked 872 Times in 443 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 67 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Anyone ever use corrugated cardboard to wrap your plants? Ive got tons of it and some in large sizes.. thoughts?

10-09-2020, 09:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jpbart Location: Chapin. SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 5,365 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors I think the cardboard might have issues with moisture and rotting, and possibly causing the banana stem to rot, not sure if this is an issue. Would make great mulch cover for the ground though. Yeah edwmax that’s the plan.

10-10-2020, 02:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Jpbart Location: Chapin. SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 5,365 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors Well my current plan is to wrap them in either cloth or a cylinder of chicken wire. Fill the space from the wrap to the stem with pine straw or leaves. Then wrap with bubble wrap on the outside of that stuff. Gives some space for water or condensation to drain away and hopefully can trap some heat near the stem. Mulch the ground around each plant and cross my fingers. The hope is that we do not get sustained temps much below freezing. Most often here in zone 8 it will get cold at night but still be mild during the day. Every so often we get a winter with a week of below freezing temps and I am not sure my methods would work then. So who knows? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

10-16-2020, 05:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
StarostkaD Location: Austin, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Dawn Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 18 BananaBucks : 3,654 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Over Wintering Zone 8 Outdoors I'm also in 8b - Austin, TX - and just bought this house with bananas 2 months ago so am a little overwhelmed in caring for them as well as a bigger yard. The previous owners cut them down every year but I just discovered a 3rd bloom just starting and wondered if there is any way to save that bloom. I'm going to check those videos mentioned above and try to figure out best approach. I have 2 stands of plants - one near our pool and one on the side yard - I may go science-y and cut one and wrap and protect the other and see what seemed to work best in the spring. Banana Gallery - South Austin bananas 2

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