Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!!

Randy4ut · 05-25-2009, 10:57 AM

Well, I had all but given up on my M. balbisiana 'Gigantea'. I had left it out to overwinter with just about 4" of mulch and no other protection. I had taken a pup off to overwinter in the garage, but it didn't make it.
I was out planting a few more plants I had started from seed, and noticed a small pup coming up from the corm!!! A little slow to get started, but will be interesting to see what it does now that it has started growing. Just thought I would share in the info for anyone that is trying this one outside. DON'T GIVE UP ON IT JUST YET!!!

austinl01 · 05-25-2009, 01:19 PM

Randy, please keep us posted as the hot weather makes them grow.

Taylor · 05-25-2009, 02:45 PM

I love hearing all of this great news! Randy, what else has returned for you this year? What else has not?

Just 2 days ago I had 2 little velutina return! Still hoping for others to spring back to life...

ClevelandCATHY · 05-25-2009, 11:07 PM

I was looking at mine today. The corm feels firm, but i'm tired of waiting on it, so i planted a pup i took of last year. My ice cream banana hasn't come up yet. They have been winter hardy for me for the last 3 years, but this year must have been too wet and cold. I'll keep looking, they might come up yet.

griphuz · 05-26-2009, 04:23 AM

Good news Randy!
Do you recall what your lowest temp was this winter?
Kind regards,
Remko.

Randy4ut · 05-26-2009, 04:59 AM

Remko, I hit 7F several times and stayed below freezing for about 48 hours. The cold was not extreme, but the cold with all the rain/freezing rain, is what hurt everything here so bad....

Taylor · 05-26-2009, 05:02 AM

Randy, do you have any pictures of your Washies this spring? Did they both make it with protection at 7ºF low?

Mine (one) pulled through very well, originally inspired by you and Austin, and motivated by many other people on the palm forums. It has already opened up 7 fronds this spring!

tophersmith · 06-02-2009, 02:07 PM

Rsndy,

Do you have any pics of your surviving Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea'? What kind of soil is it plated in?

Randy4ut · 06-03-2009, 04:12 AM

No pics as of yet as it is still very small. The soil is what I use for all my bed which consists of our typical red clay topped dressed with about 6" or so of landscape mix I purchase by the yard. It is a mix of several things including mushroom compost, nitrolized pine fines, perlite, trace elements, etc.

05-25-2009, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 303,352 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Well, I had all but given up on my M. balbisiana 'Gigantea'. I had left it out to overwinter with just about 4" of mulch and no other protection. I had taken a pup off to overwinter in the garage, but it didn't make it. I was out planting a few more plants I had started from seed, and noticed a small pup coming up from the corm!!! A little slow to get started, but will be interesting to see what it does now that it has started growing. Just thought I would share in the info for anyone that is trying this one outside. DON'T GIVE UP ON IT JUST YET!!! __________________

05-25-2009, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 284,453 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Randy, please keep us posted as the hot weather makes them grow. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

05-25-2009, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 380,370 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 356 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! I love hearing all of this great news! Randy, what else has returned for you this year? What else has not? Just 2 days ago I had 2 little velutina return! Still hoping for others to spring back to life...

05-25-2009, 11:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
ClevelandCATHY Plant Manager ClevelandCATHY's Photo Gallery Location: Cleveland,TN Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 165 BananaBucks : 36,887 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 59 Times in 23 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! I was looking at mine today. The corm feels firm, but i'm tired of waiting on it, so i planted a pup i took of last year. My ice cream banana hasn't come up yet. They have been winter hardy for me for the last 3 years, but this year must have been too wet and cold. I'll keep looking, they might come up yet.

05-26-2009, 04:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
griphuz Cold-tolerant collector griphuz's Photo Gallery Location: Netherlands Find me on the map! Zone: 7 - 8a Name: Remko Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 295 BananaBucks : 107,539 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 317 Times Was Thanked 290 Times in 114 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 827 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Good news Randy! Do you recall what your lowest temp was this winter? Kind regards, Remko.

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05-26-2009, 04:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 303,352 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Remko, I hit 7F several times and stayed below freezing for about 48 hours. The cold was not extreme, but the cold with all the rain/freezing rain, is what hurt everything here so bad.... __________________

05-26-2009, 05:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 380,370 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 356 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Randy, do you have any pictures of your Washies this spring? Did they both make it with protection at 7ºF low? Mine (one) pulled through very well, originally inspired by you and Austin, and motivated by many other people on the palm forums. It has already opened up 7 fronds this spring!

06-02-2009, 02:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
tophersmith 4th Yr Subtropical Addict tophersmith's Photo Gallery Location: Cary, NC. Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Chris Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 892 BananaBucks : 197,957 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 169 Times Was Thanked 279 Times in 119 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! Rsndy, Do you have any pics of your surviving Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea'? What kind of soil is it plated in?

06-03-2009, 04:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 303,352 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!! No pics as of yet as it is still very small. The soil is what I use for all my bed which consists of our typical red clay topped dressed with about 6" or so of landscape mix I purchase by the yard. It is a mix of several things including mushroom compost, nitrolized pine fines, perlite, trace elements, etc. __________________

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