Quote:
Originally Posted by tophersmith
Ok just received an email from Dean Franco and here is his reply 'We did not do translocation studies, and it would be difficult to load enough product into something so massive as a pseudostem or corm. But we do note some added protection of the pseudostem so some translocation appears to be taking place. Our pitch for growing Zone 8 stuff in Zone 7 is the lessening of foliar damage under Zone 7 conditions – that’s all you need to move one Zone further north. Now, if you’re trying to coax true Zone 8/9 bananas to overwinter in Zone 6 conditions, then one would need to worry about underground parts surviving better, but there the cause of mortality is extended, chronic cold.'
Hope this helps, I know I am going to try it.
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Chris,
I appreciate the info, but it still doesn't seem to help in the case of bananas in my zone 7. Whether the banana is rated a zone 7 or 8, the foliar damage for either is inevitable with our lows going into the upper teens even during warm winters. Don't banana leaves die with frost or at least freezing temps? If so, then with a 9 degree added protection, the foliage on bananas would die with temps in the low 20's. Am I understanding this correctly, or have I missed the boat completely on it?