Just wanted to make a new thread on this banana from my own point of view as i try growing it in the soil and overwintering it in VA this year.
I received the plant from Brian's Botanicals and according to Bananas.org thread
Musa yunnanensis officially described! it is confirmed to be Musa itinerans var. xishuanbannaensis.
I have seen posts all over claiming this banana to be either cold hardy, or not so cold hardy. Brian from Brian's Botanicals claims he treats his like basjoos during the winter in Kentucky. So, knowing it's the 2nd largest banana plant in the world and could potentially be cold hardy here, I had to try it. I bought a $130 jumbo corm (that I requested to be sent in February for indoor prep) and a small $17 version to be sent about now (for backup in case I mess something up).
It has been over 2 months so far and mine has a pseudo of about 31 inches. I planted it 19 inches deep today in naturally sandy/silty soil along with all of its potting mix. The pseudo as of now is 12" above the soil. I then gave it a 10oz cup filled with solid 10/10/10 fertilizer and watered thoroughly. Didn't want to give too much fertilizer yet. The location I chose should be prime. It is planted on the intersection of 2 hills so it will never sit in standing water. The soil also drains very well. The measured, direct sunlight today was 3 hours, and will reach about 5 by June/July. From 3:17-6:17 today it received direct and less-harsh sun (as opposed to 12:00 noon sun). I have seen forums where this variety and other itinerans burn with "full sun", so mine can get filtered light throughout the harshest light of the day, and have less-intense direct light (by about 4pm here, the ozone blocks the harshest UV rays.) So about 43 min of harsh direct light and the rest of it is milder.
I also had huge success with my basjoos this winter where I didn't lose a single large pseudo with my overwintering process, so I have confidence I can keep this one alive with proper winterization outdoors. I also have the backup just in case I fail.
Here is my basjoo winterization this year:
Here they are as of April 13th
Here is my xishuan. when I received it on Feb. 22nd, 2019
Here it is March 6th
March 13th
Today (last day of being indoors!)
The location
The depth
Hole filled in
Right in the middle of 2 hills
From on the deck (it looks so tiny!)
And finally, the sunlight and wind hitting it at 4:33 today makes it look so majestic.
Wish me luck! Hopefully I don't need it. I have done my research and this thing should thrive in these conditions. I will post updates when requested or when I feel they are necessary. Thanks for reading and wish me luck!