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xyzzy · 01-23-2009, 05:19 AM

Re:- Is that the same as ENSETE VENTRICOSUM abyssinian banana?

Yes, but it is a red variant.

It may be colder in many UK areas, but here in coastal Devon they don't. Mine is definitely not at all dormant. All leaves were killed a couple of weeks back but it has grown a new one and opened it already and a new one has started in the middle. Tonight we have minus 2 degrees C forcast, so I might be back to no leaves again by tomorrow. I think if it did go dormant, it would have a better chance as it is using up it's reserves keep trying to grow.

The pseudostem is 95cm circumference, so I doubt it has reached 0 degrees C in the centre, even when the air has been -9 degrees C for 3 hours!.

Very wet here. Torrential rain and flood warnings yet again last night.

Sat I will try to dry out leaf bases with tissues and see if I can thread garden pleece between them to cut down how much rain gets in.

Having said that, it seems reasonably happy so far and has had water pools in it's leaf bases all autumn and winter so far. I guess my main concern is that it is using up all it's resources by keep growing endless leaves which promptly get damaged by frost every time within 2 weeks of each leaf opening.

01-23-2009, 05:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 48,317 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Anyone growing Ensete outside in the UK? Re:- Is that the same as ENSETE VENTRICOSUM abyssinian banana? Yes, but it is a red variant. It may be colder in many UK areas, but here in coastal Devon they don't. Mine is definitely not at all dormant. All leaves were killed a couple of weeks back but it has grown a new one and opened it already and a new one has started in the middle. Tonight we have minus 2 degrees C forcast, so I might be back to no leaves again by tomorrow. I think if it did go dormant, it would have a better chance as it is using up it's reserves keep trying to grow. The pseudostem is 95cm circumference, so I doubt it has reached 0 degrees C in the centre, even when the air has been -9 degrees C for 3 hours!. Very wet here. Torrential rain and flood warnings yet again last night. Sat I will try to dry out leaf bases with tissues and see if I can thread garden pleece between them to cut down how much rain gets in. Having said that, it seems reasonably happy so far and has had water pools in it's leaf bases all autumn and winter so far. I guess my main concern is that it is using up all it's resources by keep growing endless leaves which promptly get damaged by frost every time within 2 weeks of each leaf opening. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.