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tikifarmer · 10-09-2007, 01:23 PM

I was wondering if it would be possible to overwinter an orinoco in the
ground using the same methods as a basjoo in zone 6b ? Remove the leaves , cut back the pseudostem and do the leaves and cage . I planted 3 fairly large plants back on July 1 and now they are much larger and each one has a minimum of 5 pups that are now 6-8 ft tall as well as the mother which is at least 10 ft. tall . I had planned to dig them all up and store in the basement but as frost approaches in the next few weeks I need to make a solid plan . I am not interested in the fruit aspect I am just growing them for the tropical foliage . If they will not overwinter as I am describing would it hurt to separate the pups at the time of digging and let them overwinter in the basement separated from the mother ? Right now the basement is around 68 which I think is kind of warm for this storage method although it will get colder as winter nears just not sure if it will be cold enough all the time .
I think whichever way I go I will separate a few of the smaller pups and pot them up and keep them alive over the winter . Any ideas ?

10-09-2007, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
tikifarmer Manure Spreader tikifarmer's Photo Gallery Location: South Central PA Zone: 6B Name: Rick Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 58 BananaBucks : 38,712 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 75 Times Was Thanked 130 Times in 21 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Overwintering Orinoco I was wondering if it would be possible to overwinter an orinoco in the ground using the same methods as a basjoo in zone 6b ? Remove the leaves , cut back the pseudostem and do the leaves and cage . I planted 3 fairly large plants back on July 1 and now they are much larger and each one has a minimum of 5 pups that are now 6-8 ft tall as well as the mother which is at least 10 ft. tall . I had planned to dig them all up and store in the basement but as frost approaches in the next few weeks I need to make a solid plan . I am not interested in the fruit aspect I am just growing them for the tropical foliage . If they will not overwinter as I am describing would it hurt to separate the pups at the time of digging and let them overwinter in the basement separated from the mother ? Right now the basement is around 68 which I think is kind of warm for this storage method although it will get colder as winter nears just not sure if it will be cold enough all the time . I think whichever way I go I will separate a few of the smaller pups and pot them up and keep them alive over the winter . Any ideas ?