Bananas.org - Hibernating a basjoo

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Hibernating a basjoo

I should have posted that almost 3 weeks ago, but because I had to learn first how to
insert pictures (thank you Justin and Richard), since my allowed space in my “bananas”
gallery was exceeded, there is this delay :(

November 9, 2013. It is time to put this basjoo and her two pups into hibernation.

Slice off anything, which will not fit into the last one of the two smaller shelters*
In the back you can see the stubs of those tall Canna Australia shown here:
http://www.bananas.org/f8/ricinus-co...tml#post235012

Because I already had all the rhizomes I needed for spring planting, I thought, I might
as well include these into the mulch pile. If they freeze up, - who cares; if not it will be
interesting to see how they compare with the ones I will start indoors.

Stick the permanent shelter* over top and pile a little dirt all around it, to keep the draft
out. A bamboo stick on each side and a rock on top, to keep it from blowing away.

Pile some leaves around it, to keep the cold from seeping in at the joint between shelter
and ground; also extent it over top of that tub sheltering the canna stubs.

*http://www.bananas.org/f2/permanent-...ing-17855.html

This may also be of interest:
http://www.bananas.org/f10/packing-u...ing-19192.html

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

Of course, Mike, this is, what IMOEO this forum is all about: Sharing information and
viewpoints. I see no profit in talking to myself – just an audience, which always
agrees with me. :ha:

Any wrinkle or photo you can add or any point you debate will teach me something.
Growing bananas in the tropics is like growing weeds. Growing them in the southern
US is a bit more of a challenge, but the real art comes in, when we keep them alive in
the HZs you describe.

We have stickies in such categories like: “What’s blooming in your garden- bananas” or
the same for “other plants” even “Whatcha having for dinner” and “Camera talk”. We
should certainly have one, which specializes in discussing all the methods of protecting
them in colder regions during the winter. You could call it: “Growing bananas in Zones 4
through 8”

That would make much valuable information available to established members, but
especially to newcomers. It would also make a forum for experimentation. Some of us
have more plants than we need. We could use those for experimentation, by exposing
some of them to borderline conditions.

Some of the threads which already exist could possibly be transfered there. and form
a substantial library of "how to do's" right from the start. But for all of that we would
require the cooperation of Mediahound, who appears to be AWOL for some time. At
least he has not responded to my pleadings about photos and "membership renewal"

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

Yes, Mike I have done that experimentally with one of my basjoos last winter, although the
mulching was pretty sparse. The PS froze to 3 or 4 inches below surface. I dug it up in
spring and raised it, to get the remaining PS stub leve with the ground. Without any PS
above the ground it took a looong time to finally start growing. Based on only this case I
concluded, that if there is only a four inch PS left it is a huge advantage over none. It is
of course also possible, that my raising it has set it back a lot more, than slicing it off at
ground level and mulching it thoroughly would have.

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

Hi Mike,

this is what I got from your link from Flickr:

"This page is private.

Oops! You don't have permission to view this page.

Here's a link back to your home page."

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

Thanks for the informative posts.

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

What happens if you live in an area where winter minimums can be as low as -5 C but only on few days, while most winter days are much warmer, with some days up to 20 C? Will a basjoo rot if wrapped or covered in mulch on such warm days? Will it start producing new leaves?

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

Hi Ego,

If you are concerned about rot, you should leave some airspace around the PS, as I have
done here:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/permanent-...ing-17855.html

As you can see in my last photos everything, I did not chop off in fall, was still there in
spring, without rot or forst damage and started growing immediately after uncovering.

Because your area is much warmer than mine, you might not want to go to such effort,
but just stick a piece of plastic pipe over the PS and wrap some insulation around the
outside. That should also help to even out the temperature within the pipe between
day and night.

Having said all that, you might also want to look at the method Cvrgrl used successfully,
without airspace. As you can see by my posts there, I was very sceptical about the
survival of those plants. However, much was explained, when more details of her
protection were revealed upon the unwrapping in spring. There is much to be learned
from her approach. I do not know any details about moisture protection. The location
suggests, that the plants may have been under an overhanging roof.

For the latter one see here:
. http://www.bananas.org/f15/winter-pr...sed-19321.html

Best,
Olaf

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

I've been doing the same thing for years. I just don't mulch thickly over them though. I just let the stalks die down and mulch themselves.

Re: Hibernating a basjoo

I'm going to try the box method next year but fill it full of straw. Has anyone tried that method?