mrbungalow

You're still wearing a t-shirt and you're chopping basjoos?? You chopped them way too early if you ask me.

Some of mine are still unchopped & uncovered and will probably only be covered when a frost more than -2 celsius is forecasted for an extended period. They are still green, but look bad. I wouldn't chop & cover until absolutely necessary.
I am in a zone 8, 60 degrees north. We have had "winter" for 2 months allready. I can't help but believe Tennessee must be much warmer, even the overnight lows.

Erlend

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tophersmith

Randy,

I used my cuttings to start mulching my questionable Colocasia and Bannanas, is that wrong?

Attached Images

	Ensete Maurelli.jpg (3.26 MB, 10 views)
	Oct 07 Tropical bed from East side.jpg (2.39 MB, 6 views)
	Oct 07 Tropical bed west side.jpg (4.19 MB, 7 views)

Randy4ut

Erlend,
I agree that they were probably cut too early, but I have to do what I can with them when I can from a time constraint issue. They are calling for a frost/freeze warning for my area for the next two nights, and I am sure they would have been "toast" by this weekend anyway. Since I do not get home from work until right at dark during the week and my "better half" wife has me helping her shop for our 5 daughters Christmas presents on the weekend, that doesn't leave me much time for anything else this time of year. So, I have to do what I have to do when I can.
Randy

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Randy4ut

Chris,
I personally think that is an excellent option for you to do with your vegetation. The only reason I do not is because I use 3-4" of cypress mulch on my beds year round and didn't want to pull it back to add the leaves, and then pile it back on top. I have thought of creating a compost pile, but I really do not have a good place for one right now that would be hidden away from view. I live in a neighborhood that is pretty tight and like to keep my place from getting too cluttered. Hopefully by this time next year, I will have created a spot to have a compost pile that I can use some of the excess vegetation to make some "black gold"....

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Tangy

Thanks Randy! I amazed at how much your plants grew in one year. Lows in the high 20's tonight..........

MediaHound

LOL!!!!!
Yea that's what made me think of it!
This thread was dying for some audio effects... glad you got a kick out of it!

Here's your 21 gun salute:

Attached Files

taps21.mp3 (530.0 KB, 22 views)

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

frog7994

have they ever bared fruit?

mrbungalow

Oh yes, the time issue... I would imagine 5 daughters takes up more than a little time! And I am here complaining about 2 jobs...

I took in my potted basjoos I told you about today, and they looked horrible, but green and very much alive. The ones in the ground are also covered. Snowstorm approaching this friday, so I also have some other protection to do tomorrow. Even the oil-workers in the north-sea are called ashore, so we are expecting the worst.

Nice Butia by the way. How long has it been planted in the ground?

Erlend

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Randy4ut

Thanks again, Jarred...
Now my nanners can rest in peace!!!

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Randy4ut

Nice Butia by the way. How long has it been planted in the ground?


Erlend,
The butia in the pic has been in the ground for 3 years now. It was a 5 gallon little fellar' when he went in the ground in the spring of '04. It has really put on the growth this summer. I put two more in this past spring that were 15 gallon, so I have 3 that are about the same size. The one you were asking about has been covered with frost cloth maybe twice since being outside and have never sustained any damage. I hope my winters stay mild. Sure makes protecting alot easier...
Take care and stay warm and dry. I'll be waiting for your weather info this coming weekend.

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frankthetank

5 daughters!

I have a newborn son and i think i have it rough!

The bananas look great. I probably could have kept mine going up until this past weekend, but i chopped mine down and dug out the corms about 2 weeks ago. Lying down in the basement sleeping for the season. We actually had our first confirmed snowfall yesterday (nothing stuck), so the season is close.

Should be interesting seeing your pictures next August, hopefully they can "max" out this year...

Randy4ut

Frank,
Looking forward to seeing them next summer as well. The only thing is, I plan on redoing the bed with the basjoos that my youngest daughter is standing in front of which is the same on I am standing beside with the butia on the other side. The basjoos in that bed will be dug, sold off to help pay for the expansion of the bed. I have another (larger) mat of basjoo and over the past year, I have accumulated quite a few other varieties of nanners that I want to get in and test them out. I also have more ee's that I want to test, so this bed will be enlarged and mainly have "test" plants and a few young palms. With limited space in my backyard, I don't have alot of choices. Should be interesting this spring trying to dig them up. EE's are intertwined amid the mat so, looks like a combo sale!!!
Randy

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Njoynit

I really enjoyed seeing your basjoo pics(and the pool!)you've convinced me to carry my sis a banana plant for christmas.I'm a lil sick that your bananas look better than mine.I think I'll water them more.I don't cut mine back till its warmed.I'm digging my large one this year with pups& GH it as am re working that spot of bed this winter.I might just put them all together where I'm moveing them.
5 girls...so when ya getting them chasity belts?

compost suggestion....compost tumbler!makes it faster and might work your situation better.I live in the country,so its wildlife that sees my pile.

mskitty38583

this is for randy4ut.... if you want to start a compost pile, you can, even at your place. find the biggest planting pot you can find. start layering your greens and browns. take a black plastic bag and poke holes in it for a cover so it will heat up the compost and your neighbors wont know whats in it. you can even put it out by the shed or the house and they will think you have more plants then you really do. i have 3 of these going on, i just need to get them covered, after i get all my leaves raked up and everythig cut down. i have even put builders sand in them...when the compost is ready i wont have to worry about drainage. so you can accomplish a few things in very little time.

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Randy4ut

Thanks for your input on the composting. I may give it a try next summer. Problem I have is the sheer amount of vegetation I have in the fall from cutting eveything back. What I have done this year, yesterday, was to place all the cut vegetation in a pile that roughly covers the extension of a bed I have planned for next spring. I figured that it may not looked great, but it will be hidden from the street and hopefully will kill the grass and decompose some before time to work the area for the addition.
BTW, I see you are from Sparta, TN. Pretty cool seeing someone else from my area. I live in Cleveland, so if you are ever this way, drop by and introduce yourself. Thanks again...

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mskitty38583

yeah, i dont live that far from you.i told my mom i wanted to start a pile and she said your yards gonna be nasty. the wild animals are gonna love you. i told her i didnt care what the neighbors thought! at least my yard has pretty colors iin it instead of old ,non-working,rusted out cars and tires! besides i used the buckets the same way, and you dont know whats in them till you look in them. using them this way keeps the rabbits, squirrles, and grandpa oposum out of it. it still lets the earthworms get into it so it will break down. however the doe that visit still gets into it on occasion. as long as she doesnt eat my daylilies or my lambsears shell be ok. where did you order your bamboo?? i planted some of the varigated about 8 yrs ago at the house we used to live in...i had to leave it ALL. i went up there last spring and asked if i could have a clump or 5 and she said yes.( i told her that i planted it) i planted it in my yard and hopefully next spring well have bamboo. but i tell you one thing...a runaway panda bear would love your yard.

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Njoynit

Hey Randy
maybe look up 'lasangna gardening' you've already started it by laying the leaves over old grow spot.you PLANT in it in spring.

I know ya hated to see them go