Hello from 5280

Denverian · 03-08-2016, 04:21 PM

I'm crazy... trying to grow bananas at over a mile high altitude!

I moved to Denver from the L.A. area and miss the tropical vegetation. I had been growing other types of Bananas each summer, and bringing them indoors for winter. But I really don't have a good indoor space. So last spring I found a nice sized Musa Basjoo from a local garden center and it grew taller than any other I've tried.

I decided to over-winter it outdoors, trimming the trunk back to about 4' and covered it with two layers of bubble wrap, then filled a trash bag with leaves and covered that mess (plus 3 or 4 pups I bubble wrapped), then about a food of leaves around it all, and covered all of that with a nice green frost tent.

It's been quite warm here recently and I felt to see if the main trunk was still firm, and the top isn't. But it feels firm down low. Probably a good sign. I truly hope this makes it and blooms again! The coldest we've been is 6 above 0 this winter, and no high temps below upper teens, maybe low 20s. Overall, it hasn't been a bad winter here, so it was a good year to start this experiment.

HMelendez · 03-08-2016, 06:47 PM

Welcome to the banana gang!...

cincinnana · 03-08-2016, 08:51 PM

Welcome to the Jungle!!!!

Have fun here and good luck with your Basjoos.
Anytime they come back in the spring you're doing something good.
Here is a link which you might find of interest
Hibernating a basjoo

Snarkie · 03-09-2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denverian

I'm crazy... trying to grow bananas at over a mile high.

And I thought the Mekong Giant was tall!

Welcome to the Banana Express.

Mark Dragt · 03-13-2016, 11:28 AM

Welcome to the org. I hope you feel at home here.

Sounds like you put a lot of thought and work into overwintering your Basjoos. Good job! Your plants will reward you for your efforts. Good luck!

03-08-2016, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Denverian Location: Denver, CO Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 93 BananaBucks : 5,239 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 124 Times in 63 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Hello from 5280 I'm crazy... trying to grow bananas at over a mile high altitude! I moved to Denver from the L.A. area and miss the tropical vegetation. I had been growing other types of Bananas each summer, and bringing them indoors for winter. But I really don't have a good indoor space. So last spring I found a nice sized Musa Basjoo from a local garden center and it grew taller than any other I've tried. I decided to over-winter it outdoors, trimming the trunk back to about 4' and covered it with two layers of bubble wrap, then filled a trash bag with leaves and covered that mess (plus 3 or 4 pups I bubble wrapped), then about a food of leaves around it all, and covered all of that with a nice green frost tent. It's been quite warm here recently and I felt to see if the main trunk was still firm, and the top isn't. But it feels firm down low. Probably a good sign. I truly hope this makes it and blooms again! The coldest we've been is 6 above 0 this winter, and no high temps below upper teens, maybe low 20s. Overall, it hasn't been a bad winter here, so it was a good year to start this experiment.

03-08-2016, 06:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
HMelendez The Banana Gang Enforcer Zone: 10B-11 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2,750 BananaBucks : 222,905 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 11,094 Times Was Thanked 5,279 Times in 1,618 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 737 Times	Re: Hello from 5280 Welcome to the banana gang!... __________________ HMelendez Photo Gallery

03-08-2016, 08:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower 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: 8,885 BananaBucks : 2 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,924 Times Was Thanked 11,800 Times in 4,918 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: Hello from 5280 Welcome to the Jungle!!!! Have fun here and good luck with your Basjoos. Anytime they come back in the spring you're doing something good. Here is a link which you might find of interest Hibernating a basjoo __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 03-09-2016 at 08:42 AM.

03-13-2016, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 49,154 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Hello from 5280 Welcome to the org. I hope you feel at home here. Sounds like you put a lot of thought and work into overwintering your Basjoos. Good job! Your plants will reward you for your efforts. Good luck! __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

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