deruo

Hi Mark, I'm in downtown Toronto.

Sounds like you are going to do what I did. My plant that went outside did far better than the one that stayed indoors all the time (and finally died in January)

I haven't overwintered a plant outdoors yet, but have successfully overwintered (so far) a plant indoors that is now 4 feet tall and has 4 new pups sprouting. We won't get into the ones that didn't make it....

Just curious... where'd you buy your plants from?

Someone else will correct me if wrong but you will need to have really good draining soil in the area. I dug out a big area as it was pretty clayish as well, and put in soil with manure and vermiculite, perlite so that it drains better. The plant loves water, especially in hot weather, but the roots will not like soggy spots - so make sure it drains well. I don't think you want it sitting too high as the roots don't go too deep and you may run the risk of it blowing over in one of our summer windstorms.

Don't plant the plant too deep. Nor should much of the "bulbish" area at the bottom of the pstem be exposed too much. Look at some members photos here for a guide.

I suspect you'd have best results in the front yard without much shade. The plant I put in the garden last year got sun for about 4 hours a day, and didn't do nearly as well as the plant the year before that got sun the whole day. NOTE: you cannot plunk the indoor plant outside in the hot sun right away... it's leaves will get sunburnt. Try taking it out on sunny warm days (like we had last week) before the hot sun comes so it can get used to the sun. If, after you've planted it, the existing leaves still turn brown, don't be discouraged. It may take a while, but the new leaves will be green and be used to the sunlight. My first plant did that. Fortunately I was too lazy to get around to do anything with what appeared to be a dead banana and one day noticed a new green leaf shooting up.

Hard to say with the wonky weather this year, but I don't plant outside until May. I'm inclined to stick with the May 24 weekend guideline that goes with most gardening here, but I may revise that as we get further into spring. Yes, last week and even today was nice, but as you know... tonight may be -12 and a high tomorrow of 0c. We've had snow in April before! I've had fairly good luck moving mine outside during the day if its 13c or more as it's fairly well protected from wind and gets quite warm, and then moving it back in before the sun goes down.

My indoor bananas don't get enough light without the use of grow lights, even though I have a southern exposure. My first year, they all died. As I said, so far I have one survivor this year, but I don't think I'll overwinter indoors again. It's a LOT of work here. I turned a bathroom into a grow house with humidifier, heater and grow lights. It's a real balancing act with light, heat and water. Major problems with spider mites. Plus which, this years plant will hopefully be 12 feet tall by Fall, so that limits me as I don't have a garage or basement. I suspect I'll try overwintering it outside as hopefully by then the corm will be fairly substantial and survive better. Who knows, I may change my mind by then.

I don't know what to suggest about the rabbits. My problem is with squirrels that aren't afraid of humans (thanks to the neighbors that feed 'em) digging in the yard to the point where it looks like a mini war zone. They haven't eaten any of the banana plants I've planted in the yard as far as I can tell. You could try putting up a circular enclosure around the banana to start with, just in case they decide to nibble at it. I got this stuff at Canadian Tire that looks like chicken wire but is plastic, not as unattractive (it's white) and is actually made to wrap evergreens during winter. It's very pliable and I don't think the rabbits would be able to climb it.

Finally, Since you are on a corner, you may want to plant it on the side where it will get the least amount of wind, or stake it. (Though I imagine it would look great at the corner of the house!) I lost a banana plant last summer (even before we even got that monster storm in August) as the wind snapped it. Plus which, the leaves will shred, which isn't bad for the plant, but some don't find it as aesthetically pleasing.

Sorry for the long winded response. Hopefully some of it will be of help.

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Funny how the more I enjoy growing my banana plants, the less enjoy eating bananas.