Bananas.org - View Single Post - Time to put the bananas to sleep for the Winter

bananarama2 · 11-21-2009, 02:29 AM

Just a few thoughts on the whole winter storage thing;bananas are all tropicals or semi-tropicals, and don't have a specific dormant cycle in nature. So, when we humans decide to grow them out of a normal climate, we should be trying to "think like the plant" as I like to say. Most plants stop active growth at about 13oF, so when growing conditions fall below this temperature, the plant will tend to react accordingly, dropping leaves, changing leaf color, and in general, not growing any more. So, it would seem wise to provide storage environments that maintain minimal growth of the plant, to avoid the alternative, which seems, by many of the posts, to be rot and decay. So far as I can see, many members are offering good advice as far as maintaining dryness around the root mass, and minimizing humidity in the area, which accelerates rot. Although there may not be better options for some members, cold storage in a humid environment will often be a hit and miss situation. I'm thinking the best solution is keeping the plant "just growing" whenever possible. Just some thoughts on an obviously challenging problem. Good luck all.

11-21-2009, 02:29 AM	#237 (permalink)
bananarama2 bananarama2's Photo Gallery Location: The drier, sunny East Coast of the West Coast, on Vancouver Island Find me on the map! Zone: 8a to 8b (?) Name: Rik Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 165 BananaBucks : 15,502 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 102 Times Was Thanked 221 Times in 96 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 25 Times	Re: Time to put the bananas to sleep for the Winter Just a few thoughts on the whole winter storage thing;bananas are all tropicals or semi-tropicals, and don't have a specific dormant cycle in nature. So, when we humans decide to grow them out of a normal climate, we should be trying to "think like the plant" as I like to say. Most plants stop active growth at about 13oF, so when growing conditions fall below this temperature, the plant will tend to react accordingly, dropping leaves, changing leaf color, and in general, not growing any more. So, it would seem wise to provide storage environments that maintain minimal growth of the plant, to avoid the alternative, which seems, by many of the posts, to be rot and decay. So far as I can see, many members are offering good advice as far as maintaining dryness around the root mass, and minimizing humidity in the area, which accelerates rot. Although there may not be better options for some members, cold storage in a humid environment will often be a hit and miss situation. I'm thinking the best solution is keeping the plant "just growing" whenever possible. Just some thoughts on an obviously challenging problem. Good luck all. __________________ If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.