Winterization

Abnshrek · 10-07-2013, 10:08 AM

Most effective method.. :^)

This is my least favorite method.. I prefer Heat-taping my outdoor banana's since there is no bulbs to replace it just works. Wrapping the banana is basically same method with a much more reliable heater in a heat-tape.

An Namwah I wrapped up.. Now this was fun.. believe you me.. :^)

Unwrapped Feb 23rd last year and lost this stem to frost..

Of course it recovered nicely.. :^)

This is a DC after unwrapping in 2010, I had it wrapped in trash bags filled w/ straw and wrapped w/ a heat-tape.. This is my 1st and last DC flower (flowered in 10 months).. It rotted in place.

robert0514 · 10-07-2013, 03:16 PM

I'm usually forced to do the method with lights, works quite often for me. Also the picture of the DC is very intriguing, if I am correct is the flower coming straight out of a 2ft pseudostem.

Abnshrek · 10-07-2013, 03:36 PM

The Dc Choked hard as you can see there was more stem..

Here's the flower exposed.

Fingers exposed

Flower / Fruit demise..

edzone9 · 10-07-2013, 06:56 PM

AB must admit you have a great technic for winterizing !..
Amazing they still fruit under those conditions .

P.s. nice size front yard !

crazy banana · 10-07-2013, 08:36 PM

Very nice job! Do you mind sharing where to get the heat tape? Cannot find it at HD or Loewes...

Abnshrek · 10-07-2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Very nice job! Do you mind sharing where to get the heat tape? Cannot find it at HD or Lowes...

I don't what the length you need but its always better to have to much than not enough so I get the longest one I can get.. They used to have 40ft'ers, but only carry 30' now days @ Hoe Depot-online.. If you get 2 they ship for free.. :^)
Frost King 30 ft. Automatic Electric Heat Cable Kit-HC30 at The Home Depot

crazy banana · 10-07-2013, 08:51 PM

Nice. Thank you. They do not have it in the stores here in SoCal, but I should have checked the websites.... Want to try this...

Mj · 10-08-2013, 05:31 PM

Question from a first time banana grower in zone 7 (Tennessee). I was given a small tree in the spring and thought I'd see how it would do. It's now about 8 ft tall with a couple of 5 ft shoots. They've become a nice looking little family. I'm not growing them for fruit but do want them back next year. I've seen several in the area come back year after year after being cut back and mulched. My question is: Should I cut them before first frost or let them die down naturally and then cut them back. I really don't want to dig them up. Although I do have a large crawl space I could use if I have to.

Abnshrek · 10-08-2013, 05:48 PM

I don't know what type you have (you can post a pic and someone should be able to narrow it down)? I have Orinoco's here that I don't do anything till spring.. IE trim leaves off and trim back a bit.. :^)

Mj · 10-08-2013, 11:20 PM

Sorry, Don't know the type. That's a picture of my tree by my name. I don't ever see any banana trees here through the winter, though.

Mj · 10-09-2013, 12:03 AM

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Abnshrek · 10-09-2013, 08:53 AM

Can anyone help MJ out? I think the plant needs alot more mulch if its going to stay out where it is..

Mj · 10-09-2013, 12:46 PM

Actually, Abnshrek, I haven't mulched it yet. We probably still have another month of fall weather. The elephant ear in front winters over ok. The boston fern is potted and will come inside. I had planned on cutting the banana stalks to about a foot and covering them with a couple of feet of straw. Thats what most in this area do. ( I'm in Knoxville, TN) I don't know if I should cut it before it freezes or wait till it turns brown.

Abnshrek · 10-09-2013, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mj

Actually, Abnshrek, I haven't mulched it yet. We probably still have another month of fall weather. The elephant ear in front winters over ok. The boston fern is potted and will come inside. I had planned on cutting the banana stalks to about a foot and covering them with a couple of feet of straw. Thats what most in this area do. ( I'm in Knoxville, TN) I don't know if I should cut it before it freezes or wait till it turns brown.

Mulch helps hold water during the summer.. It breaks down pretty fast, but I think it helps feed the plants as it breaks down, whether that be due to worms, Rollie-Pollies, termites, etc.. eating it up and leaving good stuff behind.. :^)

blownz281 · 10-09-2013, 05:45 PM

Basjoo

Mj · 10-10-2013, 12:55 AM

Thanks. It looks like you're right from what I can see.

Duckfood · 10-10-2013, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mj

( I'm in Knoxville, TN) I don't know if I should cut it before it freezes or wait till it turns brown.

The answer, in my opinion, is somewhere in the middle... I'd wait until the first freeze and then chop... I would not wait "Till it turns brown"...

Mj · 10-10-2013, 08:43 AM

Thanks. Will try that.

designshark · 10-10-2013, 10:29 AM

Looks like a basjoo to me too. It should be fine no matter which method you choose. I'd wait 'til frost too before doing anything.

Abnshrek · 10-14-2013, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Very nice job! Do you mind sharing where to get the heat tape? Cannot find it at HD or Loewes...

Here is a 40' Heat-Tape and 3 bucks cheaper than Hoe Depot.. :^)

Easy Heat Inc AHB-140 40' Auto Heating Cable

While I'm @ it what is the best Frost Cloth you have used?

10-07-2013, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 237,234 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Winterization Most effective method.. :^) This is my least favorite method.. I prefer Heat-taping my outdoor banana's since there is no bulbs to replace it just works. Wrapping the banana is basically same method with a much more reliable heater in a heat-tape. An Namwah I wrapped up.. Now this was fun.. believe you me.. :^) Unwrapped Feb 23rd last year and lost this stem to frost.. Of course it recovered nicely.. :^) This is a DC after unwrapping in 2010, I had it wrapped in trash bags filled w/ straw and wrapped w/ a heat-tape.. This is my 1st and last DC flower (flowered in 10 months).. It rotted in place. __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

10-07-2013, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
robert0514 Location: London, UK Zone: 8b/9a Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 38 BananaBucks : 9,734 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 16 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Winterization I'm usually forced to do the method with lights, works quite often for me. Also the picture of the DC is very intriguing, if I am correct is the flower coming straight out of a 2ft pseudostem.

10-07-2013, 03:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 237,234 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Winterization The Dc Choked hard as you can see there was more stem.. Here's the flower exposed. Fingers exposed Flower / Fruit demise.. __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

10-07-2013, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
edzone9 Location: Florida Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ed Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 916 BananaBucks : 270,511 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,140 Times Was Thanked 952 Times in 415 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Winterization AB must admit you have a great technic for winterizing !.. Amazing they still fruit under those conditions . P.s. nice size front yard !

10-07-2013, 08:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 4,869 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,999 Times	Re: Winterization Very nice job! Do you mind sharing where to get the heat tape? Cannot find it at HD or Loewes...

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10-07-2013, 08:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 4,869 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,999 Times	Re: Winterization Nice. Thank you. They do not have it in the stores here in SoCal, but I should have checked the websites.... Want to try this...

10-08-2013, 05:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization Question from a first time banana grower in zone 7 (Tennessee). I was given a small tree in the spring and thought I'd see how it would do. It's now about 8 ft tall with a couple of 5 ft shoots. They've become a nice looking little family. I'm not growing them for fruit but do want them back next year. I've seen several in the area come back year after year after being cut back and mulched. My question is: Should I cut them before first frost or let them die down naturally and then cut them back. I really don't want to dig them up. Although I do have a large crawl space I could use if I have to.

10-08-2013, 05:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 237,234 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Winterization I don't know what type you have (you can post a pic and someone should be able to narrow it down)? I have Orinoco's here that I don't do anything till spring.. IE trim leaves off and trim back a bit.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

10-08-2013, 11:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization Sorry, Don't know the type. That's a picture of my tree by my name. I don't ever see any banana trees here through the winter, though.

10-09-2013, 12:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization [IMG]{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252 {\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Helvetica;} {\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue0;\red255\g reen255\blue255;} \deftab720 \itap1\trowd \taflags0 \trgaph108\trleft-108 \trbrdrt\brdrnil \trbrdrl\brdrnil \trbrdrt\brdrnil \trbrdrr\brdrnil \clvertalc \clshdrawnil \clwWidth9000\clftsWidth3 \clmart10 \clmarl10 \clmarb10 \clmarr10 \clbrdrt\brdrnil \clbrdrl\brdrnil \clbrdrb\brdrnil \clbrdrr\brdrnil \clpadl0 \clpadr0 \gaph\cellx8640 \pard\intbl\itap1\pardeftab720\qc\partightenfactor0 \f0\fs22 \cf2 \cb3 \expnd0\expndtw0\kerning0 \outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 \cell \lastrow\row}[/IMG]

10-09-2013, 08:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 237,234 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Winterization Can anyone help MJ out? I think the plant needs alot more mulch if its going to stay out where it is.. __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

10-09-2013, 12:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization Actually, Abnshrek, I haven't mulched it yet. We probably still have another month of fall weather. The elephant ear in front winters over ok. The boston fern is potted and will come inside. I had planned on cutting the banana stalks to about a foot and covering them with a couple of feet of straw. Thats what most in this area do. ( I'm in Knoxville, TN) I don't know if I should cut it before it freezes or wait till it turns brown.

10-09-2013, 05:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
blownz281 Location: Coastal NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b coastal Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,373 BananaBucks : 384,652 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 440 Times Was Thanked 756 Times in 534 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: Winterization Basjoo

10-10-2013, 12:55 AM	#16 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization Thanks. It looks like you're right from what I can see.

10-10-2013, 08:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
Mj Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 1,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Winterization Thanks. Will try that.

10-10-2013, 10:29 AM	#19 (permalink)
designshark Location: Anderson, Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Tim Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 223 BananaBucks : 22,985 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 148 Times in 94 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: Winterization Looks like a basjoo to me too. It should be fine no matter which method you choose. I'd wait 'til frost too before doing anything.

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