Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Hi all - Im considering permanently planting a Helens hybrid with a view to getting fruit...the only way I think would be in a heated poly tunnel to a min of 5 deg over winter - any advice?

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Opps wrong section - can this be moved?

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

If you mean 5F degrees, you would have to wrap the pstem very heavily, but you would also have to have a tall polly tunnel if the pstem stayed intact each year. The plant would grow to full size in there. I have a greenhouse with a 11 foot roof, and stuff hits the roof come spring. I am going to try this with a few cold resistant dwarf fruiters like Raja Puri, whose leaves might still touch the top of the greenhouse, then you have a problem with sunburn, or cold burn depending on what time of the year it is when they touch the plastic.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Hi - no 5 deg C ;)

mmm ok, is it possible to lop the top off to keep it stunted and it fruit much the same as basjoo?

cheers
Ben

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Haha, yeah I figured 5 C, just from the limited number of plants I have cut back, I would say it will still grow too tall during the growing season. My Velutina get cut back to about 2 feet and they are touching the ceiling of my house by spring. Best way to stunt it would probably be to grow in a container. For example I have zebrina that get no taller than 4 feet in containers, but I know a guy that grows them in the ground in his barn where there is no die back., and they are humongous, like 12 feet. That or grow in a very large container and move outside in spring.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

mmm ok I might have to look for another fruit worthy nana then that will be smaller. Ive got the helens already so thought might as well but if its going to go large.....Ive only got 7ft so bummer. What else might fit the bill? considering I lost 15 cavendish....its dark and dismal over here in the winter. helens made it no problem.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Thats going to be tough size wise, rajapuri is cold hardy to zone 7b, Dwarf Orinoco is a bit more so, but the problem is that even though they are dwarf, the leaves extend much farther than the pstem and potentially up into the ceiling. I would probably try them in a container semi dormant with no leaves, and then take them back outside in the spring. I dont know if you have what is called a crawl space under your homes there, but any place that stays cooler and above freezing is a good place to store orinoco pstems till spring bare root. I store 10 foot tall orinoco pstems under my house in winter for 6 months, drop them in a hole in spring, and they are leafed out in a month and a half.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Ten foot tall, but they are the taller variety of Orinoco, not the dwarf variety that stays shorter.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

Ive got my eye on a variegated raja puri (pup hopefully, fringers crossed ;) so perhaps I'll just try with that one.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

I received a Helens hybrid (I hope) 3 years ago, every year the parent plant dies right after it sends up a single pup. I've tried a few things over the last few years, but no matter what, as soon as it hits 5.5 - 6 foot here comes a pup & there goes the parent. I may try dividing this year and see if that helps? Any other suggestions?

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

What is a polly tunnel?:drum:

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

A non permanent greenhouse, hoop house with framework made of metal, pvc pipe, etc. And with plastic stretched over it. I have a 30 foot long poly tunnel with 8 foot ceilings, but I dug out the floor to make part of it underground to store more heat so the ceilings are close to 11 feet including the hole. With some thermal frost cloth covering everything inside, and christmas lights under that to give off heat. I brought low growing plants though 1F degrees last winter with no additional heat.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

That's weird, after growing a few Sikkimensis ( I think that is supposed to be one of the parent plants) I have discovered Sikkimensis do some strange stuff as well. Also seem to be calcium hogs compared to my other bananas.

Re: Helens hybrid - will it fruit in a heated polytunnel?
 

I have a Thia black that I got in October, the nursery was having a sale on plant material (mostly edibles) that had been played/damaged/destroyed by some local bears. I was lucky enough to find a name tag tucked into the pot. I believe this too is a hybrid of the sikkimensis. I'll add more calcium just to be safe to both. Thanks