Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Well, today was their day. My M.Basjoo went under the knife for the winter. They had yet to have any damage from 2 very light frosts over the past week, but it wouldn't have been long. With the holidays coming up and limited daylight hours after work, I decided to go ahead and cut everything back for the winter. The first pic is from last fall when I cut them back for the winter. The second is of this summer in all their glory. Lastly, are pics taken today, after I did the deed. Man, it sure did hurt!!!

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

I know how you feel Randy. I spent the weekend getting everybody ready for the winter also. It sure is tough. Your bajoo's looked great in those summer pictures.

Remember, spring is closer today than yesterday.

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

I feel ya Randy, I chopped my Basjoo tonight.:0491:

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Randy I feel for you, but you have to look at it in a more positive light,
Now your water bill will go down for a few months :0520: :0520:
What are your plans for winter care? Do you just cage them? I wish I could save that much pseudostem on mine each year.

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Wow! Great photos, I too am curious, what are you going to do next? I am still trying to figure out my winterizing plans.

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

I do not do anything else to them. I lose quite a bit of pstem during the witner, but I still have several feet when I start. I could wire cage them to try and save more of the pstem, but I never have tried and they just keep getting bigger and bigger...

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

wow spectacular pix, look on the bright side, they may be even bigger and better next year

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

...and now, a moment of silence...

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Thanks Randy, I value your advice as you are one of the closest members to me in terms of physical proximity although I guess I am slightly higher and colder than you. I wonder if I could get away with what you do??? :flouenaner:

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Tangy,
If you are only interested in foliage from this particular banana, it should be fine as long as you have them mulched to give the corm some protection. Below are pics of one mat progressed through 2 years of growth using my "lack of protection"... First pic shows what I started with in spring of 2006 after cutting pstems back to good cell structure in the middle of stem.

Spring '06



Summer (same mat, four months later)... White fence in back was removed / replaced that spring...



And then 3 months later:



End of season, 2006:



Summer 2007 same mat...


Same mat, yesterday...



Good luck in whatever method you decide to use...
Randy

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Jarred,
I appreciate the sound addition and it is definitely fitting. Now all I need is a 21 gun salute!!! LOL Man, this is a fun board and great to see humor in all the information... Thanks again!!!!

Last pic kinda looks like I am waiting for a funeral procession don't it!?!?! And the fourth pic, my head bowed in a moment of silence and reflection...

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Randy,

Ok I saw some things of interest in your pictures what type of Philodendrum is that next to your black magig colocasia? Do you leave it in the ground? Same goes for the Pindo Palm do you leave that in the ground?

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Chris,
The pindo palm you see is one of three that stay out year round. The one in the pic has been in the ground for 3 years now and have only covered it with frost cloth a couple of times when temps got into low teens and only as precautionary step. Never had any damage to it. The other two were put in this past spring and were nice sized (15 gallon) when I put them in.
The philodendron is a P.selloum or P.bipinnatifidum. This will be the first year outside. I have cut all the foliage off the plant and plan on stuffing leaves into a large plastic bucket inverted over the plant. I have other people in my area that have had success overwintering them by simply cutting them to the ground, covering with a piece of plastic and then mulching over the plastic. I got them last fall and overwintered them in pots in my unheated garage and didn't even lose a leaf...
I really hope they make it as I like the texture and shape they add to the feel of this bed...
Thanks for inquiring...

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Hey Brother Randy--I feel your pain sir. However, things will be bigger and brighter in the spring. Chin up, old chap, and all that rot.

Tony

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Randy,
Where do you put all of those leaves?

Taylor

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Taylor,
You ought to see the pile of vegetation I have to haul off. With the nanners, ee's, cannas, etc., it is by far the largest pile I have ever dealt with. I was thinking while I was cutting everything down that this will have to be done differently when I get another few years on me. Don't want to be hauling this stuff off when I am using a cane or walker...
Anyway, a good friend of mine let's me haul it out to his field to dispose of. Thankfully, this stuff decomposes fairly quickly compared to woody plants...
Good to see you back on board...
Take care,
Randy

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Randy,
I have had quite a bit of vegetation too, but not to that extent. I have put mine on top of the compost pile to hopefully get rid of it. It is very nice of your friend to help you dispose of it all.
Why do you cut your Canna? Do you leave yours in the ground? Here, we just let the frost knock them down, but I might try your method on the smaller mats of it for appeal.

Thanks for the welcome,
Taylor

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Taylor,
I do leave the cannas in the ground and let the frost knock them back, but I am real busy with work and the holidays coming up, I have to do what I can when I can. Like I said, I usually let the frost knock everything back, but I still cut the stems to the ground afterward just to keep the yard a little neater...

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Randy,

Did you carry those hugh groups of bananas under the house? If you did, were you able to do it by yourself?

Re: Sad day in SE Tennessee!!!
 

Modenacart,
The clumps of basjoo have stayed outside throughout the past 3 winters unprotected. The pstems do have some die back, but I still usually have several feet to start with in the spring...