How to handle the frost damage properly

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 01:50 AM

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/...bs/image41.jpg

How would you handle the frost damage of these banana plants? Cut of the damaged leaves? Cut down the damaged cigar leaf? Cut of a few inches of the p-stem? Or give up on having banana plants in general?

bananarama2 · 01-23-2013, 03:02 AM

Personally, giving up is not in my vocabulary. If it was impossible to grow a banana in San Diego, then I probably wouldn't bother trying. But, the world seems to have screwed up it's own weather so badly that none of the rules of thumb from just 10 years ago seems to apply, so adjustments must be made. Hardier varieties, adopting some form of protection for vulnerable varieties, accepting the realities of climate change come to mind. However, if it was me, I would trim back all damaged vegetation to at least 1 inch of green unfrozen material, cut away any frozen leaves, maintain as much of the p-stem as possible while removing any frozen part. I would leave the plants alone for a couple days so you can correctly determine the actual extent of frozen tissues. But give up.....never!

Abnshrek · 01-23-2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/...bs/image41.jpg

How would you handle the frost damage of these banana plants? Cut of the damaged leaves? Cut down the damaged cigar leaf? Cut of a few inches of the p-stem? Or give up on having banana plants in general?

If you might get another frost I'd leave it be and cut the leaves when your out of the woods. :^)

sunfish · 01-23-2013, 12:37 PM

crazy banana what variety is this one ?

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 02:18 PM

@sunfish: this was a mystery gift from a friend. The Mother plant has produced some really tasty smaller type bananas (Jon guessed it might be a Misi Luki, but not confirmed yet)
@bananarama & Abnshrek: agreed, I will not give up, but probably should wait with trimming it back until there will be no more frost. I just hate the sad look.....
Plants were protected with Agribon frost cloth, but I was just not able to get to the very top.

LilRaverBoi · 01-23-2013, 02:35 PM

I think Abnshrek has the best advice....leave it for now and when you're in the clear, remove all the dead material.

Abnshrek · 01-23-2013, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

I think Abnshrek has the best advice....leave it for now and when you're in the clear, remove all the dead material.

Well I still see some green on those leaves.. Only reason to cut them off is to protect it some way if there is a real chance of harm, which I think is pretty unlikely. A tall stem like that probably had no damage. Now in freezing conditions its a whole other story. :^)

sunfish · 01-23-2013, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

@sunfish: this was a mystery gift from a friend. The Mother plant has produced some really tasty smaller type bananas (Jon guessed it might be a Misi Luki, but not confirmed yet)
@bananarama & Abnshrek: agreed, I will not give up, but probably should wait with trimming it back until there will be no more frost. I just hate the sad look.....
Plants were protected with Agribon frost cloth, but I was just not able to get to the very top.

Maybe D.namwah would work out better for you. It's a tough plant and short enough to cover if you need to.

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Maybe D.namwah would work out better for you. It's a tough plant and short enough to cover if you need to.

Maybe I already have one: my Loewes so called "Ice Cream" which is certainly not a real Blue Java. I have that one and a real Blue Java from Jon, but unfortunately after the frost they all look alike...

sunfish · 01-23-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Maybe I already have one: my Loewes so called "Ice Cream" which is certainly not a real Blue Java. I have that one and a real Blue Java from Jon, but unfortunately after the frost they all look alike...

How cold did it get at your place ? I had one morning with ice.

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

How cold did it get at your place ? I had one morning with ice.

Stupid canyon behind the house: coldest so far 28F, just for an hour or two in the early morning hours, but bad enough to make my banana plants look the way they do right now. But several mornings so far....

sunfish · 01-23-2013, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Stupid canyon behind the house: coldest so far 28F, just for an hour or two in the early morning hours, but bad enough to make my banana plants look the way they do right now. But several mornings so far....

I'm sure your plants will be fine come spring. Good luck

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 10:03 PM

Thank You, sunfish! Hope you are right. The frost cloth worked well on my Plumeria this year, but the banana plants p-stems are more than 10' tall with leaves even taller up. Just want it to look good again and as a European living in So-Cal I want so grow some other fruits than apples and pears...

Abnshrek · 01-23-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

How cold did it get at your place ? I had one morning with ice.

You having Ice is as weird as it still raining when its 31F.. :^)

crazy banana · 01-23-2013, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Cold enough to kill the Theobroma cacao and acai palms. I always have to many plants anyhow so the cold help me decide which ones to get rid of.

Hmmmm. Maybe that is how I should take the frost..... Just kidding, I am not a quitter. Have just germinated some x-77 and Sunrise Papaya. They are supposed to be even more sensitive to frost. So lets push it!!!

wlc · 01-30-2013, 03:40 PM

I would do what others have said and remove the dead material once your certain there won't be anymore frost. This is my first year of having a cold hardy hoping it makes it through the mild winter fine here in southern Indiana. And it should as i did winterize it. If it does i will definitely be having more of them this year.

01-23-2013, 01:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,642 BananaBucks : 2,363 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,029 Times Was Thanked 2,965 Times in 1,117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	How to handle the frost damage properly http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/...bs/image41.jpg How would you handle the frost damage of these banana plants? Cut of the damaged leaves? Cut down the damaged cigar leaf? Cut of a few inches of the p-stem? Or give up on having banana plants in general?

01-23-2013, 03:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
bananarama2 bananarama2's Photo Gallery Location: The drier, sunny East Coast of the West Coast, on Vancouver Island Find me on the map! Zone: 8a to 8b (?) Name: Rik Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 165 BananaBucks : 15,502 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 102 Times Was Thanked 221 Times in 96 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 25 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly Personally, giving up is not in my vocabulary. If it was impossible to grow a banana in San Diego, then I probably wouldn't bother trying. But, the world seems to have screwed up it's own weather so badly that none of the rules of thumb from just 10 years ago seems to apply, so adjustments must be made. Hardier varieties, adopting some form of protection for vulnerable varieties, accepting the realities of climate change come to mind. However, if it was me, I would trim back all damaged vegetation to at least 1 inch of green unfrozen material, cut away any frozen leaves, maintain as much of the p-stem as possible while removing any frozen part. I would leave the plants alone for a couple days so you can correctly determine the actual extent of frozen tissues. But give up.....never! __________________ If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

01-23-2013, 12:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,661,108 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,594 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly crazy banana what variety is this one ?

01-23-2013, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,642 BananaBucks : 2,363 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,029 Times Was Thanked 2,965 Times in 1,117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly @sunfish: this was a mystery gift from a friend. The Mother plant has produced some really tasty smaller type bananas (Jon guessed it might be a Misi Luki, but not confirmed yet) @bananarama & Abnshrek: agreed, I will not give up, but probably should wait with trimming it back until there will be no more frost. I just hate the sad look..... Plants were protected with Agribon frost cloth, but I was just not able to get to the very top.

01-23-2013, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly I think Abnshrek has the best advice....leave it for now and when you're in the clear, remove all the dead material. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! [email protected] RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

01-23-2013, 10:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,642 BananaBucks : 2,363 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,029 Times Was Thanked 2,965 Times in 1,117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly Thank You, sunfish! Hope you are right. The frost cloth worked well on my Plumeria this year, but the banana plants p-stems are more than 10' tall with leaves even taller up. Just want it to look good again and as a European living in So-Cal I want so grow some other fruits than apples and pears...

01-30-2013, 03:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
wlc Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: How to handle the frost damage properly I would do what others have said and remove the dead material once your certain there won't be anymore frost. This is my first year of having a cold hardy hoping it makes it through the mild winter fine here in southern Indiana. And it should as i did winterize it. If it does i will definitely be having more of them this year. __________________ Bic Lighter Cases

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