Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Below are pictures of a banana that has been in the ground covered in mulch and straw with a tarp since November 1. Other than the cigar pushing up, the plant it looks just like it did when I covered it up. I have several varieties of bananas and three varieties of elephant ears using the same process. My friend Kevin2685 has been coaching me on the procedure he has used in northern Indiana for a couple years with no casualties. Next winter I will leave all my bananas in the ground.
:0519::drum:

IMG_3008 by Alan Hulva, on Flickr.

IMG_3009 by Alan Hulva, on Flickr

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Welcome to the org again Al. As I understand, you have had some decent cold spells. I may use the same method for my plants next year as well. Thanks for posting the great Picts.
:woohoonaner:

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

The process looks very good.
Those plants will be ready to go soon.:woohoonaner:

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

I planned to cut my "on the side of the road free nanner plant" down to less than 5" but I guess I'll start with 15" and see how that goes.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Al

Do you have an idea of what the ground temperature is?

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

No thermometer. Ordered one.:nanaruns:

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

How long is the probe? If less than 6", I'd just take my instaread kitchen thermometer and test. But maybe you don't cook...:ha:

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Looking good Al. Wait till spring,by not disturbing the roots they will take off fast. Next year I am going to try the rest of my bananas in ground and see what does good. The dwarf Orinoco is a good cold hardy one,think that one will be no problem here. I am curious to how the aeae does.
I still haven't put my thermometer in my pile yet will try to get to it this week though.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Yeah the aeae has done good all of them have. They are just now reaching that point where the yellowing has stopped mostly and have adjusted to the indoor conditions. I'm wondering how the aeae will do overwintered in the ground. I keep all my banana plants on the dry side inside and they seem to be doing well. I really wish I would have thought about putting a thermometer in the pile but it is really cold so I can't uncover it now. Next week is warming up so might do it then just to see how warm it gets. I have a thermometer that keeps track of 2 temperature readings and keeps memory of last 7 days highs and lows. Want to stick one in the ground in the pile and the other probe in the ground couple feet away outside the pile to see how ground temps differ. This winter started out weird and they pushed up all the way into the tarp while I was on vacation. so I cut them back down and recovered in November while it wasn't freezing cold. They ended up pushing up again cause I could see bumps in the tarp so I removed tarp and they were back up to the top and top inch was brown some,so added some more straw and recovered. I want to see if they are ok and hopefully the damage to the tips of the stems didn't go further down the stems. I shouldn't have left so much stem this year but wanted to see how they did that way.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Well that was a reply to cincinnanas post but it is gone now

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

I ordered a 20" thermometer but received a 12". Returned add got the same thing again. Reordered and will get Monday. Will advise results.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

This is the one I bought

Taylor Precision Products Digital Waterproof Maximum/Minimum Thermometer (-20- to 120-Degrees Fahrenheit) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LTTR2..._UgXVwb159EXYY

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Cool plan!!

I had decided to add some photos from Flickr and lost my text.......ARG..
And did not repost.

Hurry up we are dying out here to know.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

How much temperature difference are you seeing? Cool thermometer!
:woohoonaner:

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

I didn't do it this year. Wish I would have thought of doing this before I winterized it. Might mess around with it some next week it's supposed to be warmer then.
Last night it was 0 without the windchill.
Want to see how those tips look. If they wouldn't have been touching the tarp they wouldnt have got that inch of damage.
Next year if you need some help with doing this let me know I would be more then happy to tell you how I do mine.
Next year I am going to do some experiments with things and see how much stem I can save and see what I can get to overwinter in the ground.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Thank you for the offer. I might take you up on it. My overwintering plan hasn't worked out so well. I will have to make a new plan for next year. I will be in touch.

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Where have you been?!

Re: Over wintering in Ground Progress report.
 

Right here tuned in! Haven't seen your ugly mug on here for a while either.:ha: