Hello

GARDENHOBBIT · 12-05-2012, 03:41 PM

I just found this site today and would like to say how much I appreciate everyone who posted in the overwintering thread.

This is my first year growing a Banana Plant and I hope to keep it alive over the winter.

It is in an unheated drafty Greenhouse that I built out of scrap material.

I wonder if I need to cut the leaves back on the Saanich Peninsula.

I don't know what type of Banana it is.

Abnshrek · 12-05-2012, 04:12 PM

Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. Post some pics to your gallery and some maybe able to help w/ your Banana ID. :^)

Illia · 12-05-2012, 07:56 PM

Welcome!

In your zone, I really wouldn't be too worried. I've got an unheated not too well insulated greenhouse in zone 8, and my 5 foot Namwahs survived several freezes (P-Stem, not the leaves) without any added protection for a while. My best advice is to keep that stem wrapped nicely with insulation, don't worry about the leaves if it is a cold hardy cultivar. If you want more warmth without money sucking heating, my best advice is to look into passive solar heating. (heating via water and/or cement; use a solid north backing on the greenhosue, preferably white to reflect heat and light, and use black pickle barrels to fill with water so they soak heat during the day and release it at night)

Edited to add - I'd keep the leaves if I were you until they are burned from frost. If it's a cold hardy variety. Otherwise it doesn't matter. A freeze at some point will kill them regardless if it kills the entire plant or not, all you need to worry of is the main stem and its base/corm.

cincinnana · 12-05-2012, 09:32 PM

Welcome to the forums ,where lots of people know lots of stuff!!!
Have fun here!

GARDENHOBBIT · 12-10-2012, 06:06 PM

Thanks Illia,

I think it's cold hardy as it still has green leaves after the two or three frosts we've had so far.

12-05-2012, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
GARDENHOBBIT Gardenhobbit Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Jim Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 4,270 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Hello I just found this site today and would like to say how much I appreciate everyone who posted in the overwintering thread. This is my first year growing a Banana Plant and I hope to keep it alive over the winter. It is in an unheated drafty Greenhouse that I built out of scrap material. I wonder if I need to cut the leaves back on the Saanich Peninsula. I don't know what type of Banana it is.

12-05-2012, 04:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 349,044 Feedback: 46 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,444 Times in 5,239 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Hello Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. Post some pics to your gallery and some maybe able to help w/ your Banana ID. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

12-05-2012, 07:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Illia Illia's Photo Gallery Location: Forks, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Illia Chavez Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 418 BananaBucks : 18,474 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 243 Times Was Thanked 311 Times in 202 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 117 Times	Re: Hello Welcome! In your zone, I really wouldn't be too worried. I've got an unheated not too well insulated greenhouse in zone 8, and my 5 foot Namwahs survived several freezes (P-Stem, not the leaves) without any added protection for a while. My best advice is to keep that stem wrapped nicely with insulation, don't worry about the leaves if it is a cold hardy cultivar. If you want more warmth without money sucking heating, my best advice is to look into passive solar heating. (heating via water and/or cement; use a solid north backing on the greenhosue, preferably white to reflect heat and light, and use black pickle barrels to fill with water so they soak heat during the day and release it at night) Edited to add - I'd keep the leaves if I were you until they are burned from frost. If it's a cold hardy variety. Otherwise it doesn't matter. A freeze at some point will kill them regardless if it kills the entire plant or not, all you need to worry of is the main stem and its base/corm.

12-05-2012, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower cincinnana's Photo Gallery Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,891 BananaBucks : 64 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,930 Times Was Thanked 11,813 Times in 4,924 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,958 Times	Re: Hello Welcome to the forums ,where lots of people know lots of stuff!!! Have fun here! __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

12-10-2012, 06:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
GARDENHOBBIT Gardenhobbit Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Jim Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 4,270 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Hello Thanks Illia, I think it's cold hardy as it still has green leaves after the two or three frosts we've had so far.