Time to cut back my Basjoos?

Aranon · 10-16-2013, 12:53 PM

I live in Nebraska and last night our temperature hit the mid to high 20's so all the leaf growth on the basjoos have died and turned brownish, the pstem looks fine though. For our 5 day forecast it looks like our highs will be mid 50's to low 30's at night, should I cut back the stem now? This will be the first time I try to overwinter bananas. I have lots of grass clippings from mowing all summer and quite a bit of leaves as well, should I cut the stem back a few inches to the ground and pile the leaves/grass on them? I see lots of methods on overwintering them, some seem more complicated then others.

I planted them by cutting holes in between rubber matting (the kind used to stop weeds) The matting is fairly thick, would I need to place the matting over the grass/leaves? or in between? I have included some pictures showing the plants and the mats they are growing in.

Funkthulhu · 10-16-2013, 01:43 PM

I have a lot of the same questions.

Being also from Nebraska (through apparently further East/South than Rodney) I'm trying to figure out how best to overwinter. Mine are still upright and fully green and growing, as our low has only hit about 37 so far.

I brought in all my "keepers" and these that are left outside will be an overwintering experiment. What's going to be the easiest method for cover and forget until spring?

Olafhenny · 10-16-2013, 05:57 PM

Hi Rodney,

here is, what you can do:
• Pile an eight inch layer of leaves over your stumps and the PS will probably
freeze back to below soil level, but the corm will probably survive, provided you
planted it deep enough.
• Erect an 18 to 24” high fence around you plants, fill it up with fall leaves and
you will probably preserve a stub of PS. That will speed up recovery in spring
significantly. Here is my experience from my first attempt of wintering basjoos
the gimmick with the face and the raised protection for the PS did not work):

My Banana Experience (or lack of it)
• You can enhance your chances of success, by giving the stub some air space,
by placing a big flowerpot or such over the stump, before you pile on the leaves.
And by providing some sort of rain cover, to keep out excess moisture.
• It is too late for you this year, but for next winter you may consider
Permanent banana shelter for winter and spring (how to make one)
• How I am using it this year and some more advantages of it, are described
here: Packing up the E. Maurelii for outdoor wintering

Good luck!
Olaf

Aranon · 10-16-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olafhenny

Hi Rodney,

here is, what you can do:
• Pile an eight inch layer of leaves over your stumps and the PS will probably
freeze back to below soil level, but the corm will probably survive, provided you
planted it deep enough.
• Erect an 18 to 24” high fence around you plants, fill it up with fall leaves and
you will probably preserve a stub of PS. That will speed up recovery in spring
significantly. Here is my experience from my first attempt of wintering basjoos
the gimmick with the face and the raised protection for the PS did not work):

My Banana Experience (or lack of it)
• You can enhance your chances of success, by giving the stub some air space,
by placing a big flowerpot or such over the stump, before you pile on the leaves.
And by providing some sort of rain cover, to keep out excess moisture.
• It is too late for you this year, but for next winter you may consider
Permanent banana shelter for winter and spring (how to make one)
• How I am using it this year and some more advantages of it, are described
here: Packing up the E. Maurelii for outdoor wintering

Good luck!
Olaf

Thanks for the tips! as its too late in the day to really do anything I have went out and cut off all the leaves and wrapped the pstem in a towel to help it over the night as temps are supposed to hit a low of 30 degrees. Tomorrow I will devise my plan and most likely cut the stem back.

Tony O · 10-17-2013, 02:10 PM

Your worst enemy is moisture getting into the stub and freezing. However, I've found that even if the main plant gets killed, it will usually send up pups as soon as the ground warms in the spring.

Olafhenny · 10-17-2013, 03:01 PM

Somebody else has proposed to slice the top off the PS on an angle, to help excess
moisture to run off. I do not know, if it helps much, but since it certainly cannot harm,
I have done that ever since.

GardenBee · 04-10-2014, 10:13 AM

I agree with Pniksch... "What a incredible bit of planning/engineering!"
Thank you for sharing Olafhenny!

Hammocked Banana · 04-10-2014, 03:05 PM

How did these nanners do this winter?

10-16-2013, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Aranon Nanner Noob Location: Nebraska Zone: 5 Name: Rodney Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 22 BananaBucks : 26,985 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Time to cut back my Basjoos? I live in Nebraska and last night our temperature hit the mid to high 20's so all the leaf growth on the basjoos have died and turned brownish, the pstem looks fine though. For our 5 day forecast it looks like our highs will be mid 50's to low 30's at night, should I cut back the stem now? This will be the first time I try to overwinter bananas. I have lots of grass clippings from mowing all summer and quite a bit of leaves as well, should I cut the stem back a few inches to the ground and pile the leaves/grass on them? I see lots of methods on overwintering them, some seem more complicated then others. I planted them by cutting holes in between rubber matting (the kind used to stop weeds) The matting is fairly thick, would I need to place the matting over the grass/leaves? or in between? I have included some pictures showing the plants and the mats they are growing in.

10-16-2013, 01:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Funkthulhu Laeti vescimur nos subact Location: Omaha, NE Find me on the map! Zone: 5b Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 223 BananaBucks : 33,724 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 163 Times Was Thanked 330 Times in 145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? I have a lot of the same questions. Being also from Nebraska (through apparently further East/South than Rodney) I'm trying to figure out how best to overwinter. Mine are still upright and fully green and growing, as our low has only hit about 37 so far. I brought in all my "keepers" and these that are left outside will be an overwintering experiment. What's going to be the easiest method for cover and forget until spring? __________________ "Ph'nglui musaglw'nanna Funkthulhu R'Omahaea wgah'basjoo fhtagn" "In his house at Omaha, dread Funkthulhu plants bananas."

10-16-2013, 05:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 297,528 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? Hi Rodney, here is, what you can do: • Pile an eight inch layer of leaves over your stumps and the PS will probably freeze back to below soil level, but the corm will probably survive, provided you planted it deep enough. • Erect an 18 to 24” high fence around you plants, fill it up with fall leaves and you will probably preserve a stub of PS. That will speed up recovery in spring significantly. Here is my experience from my first attempt of wintering basjoos the gimmick with the face and the raised protection for the PS did not work): My Banana Experience (or lack of it) • You can enhance your chances of success, by giving the stub some air space, by placing a big flowerpot or such over the stump, before you pile on the leaves. And by providing some sort of rain cover, to keep out excess moisture. • It is too late for you this year, but for next winter you may consider Permanent banana shelter for winter and spring (how to make one) • How I am using it this year and some more advantages of it, are described here: Packing up the E. Maurelii for outdoor wintering Good luck! Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

10-17-2013, 02:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tony O Junior Member Location: Jay, (N.E. corner of) Oklahoma Find me on the map! Zone: 6 a/b Name: Tony O Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 104 BananaBucks : 19,966 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 80 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? Your worst enemy is moisture getting into the stub and freezing. However, I've found that even if the main plant gets killed, it will usually send up pups as soon as the ground warms in the spring. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy Gardening ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From - - - - Tony O. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10-17-2013, 03:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 297,528 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? Somebody else has proposed to slice the top off the PS on an angle, to help excess moisture to run off. I do not know, if it helps much, but since it certainly cannot harm, I have done that ever since. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

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04-10-2014, 10:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
GardenBee Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 49 BananaBucks : 9,986 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 26 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 13 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? I agree with Pniksch... "What a incredible bit of planning/engineering!" Thank you for sharing Olafhenny!

04-10-2014, 03:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hammocked Banana Relaxin Under the Nanners Location: Toronto, ON and Peterborough, ON Find me on the map! Zone: 6a and 5a respectively Name: Brady Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 958 BananaBucks : 64,190 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,178 Times Was Thanked 1,156 Times in 555 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 30 Times	Re: Time to cut back my Basjoos? How did these nanners do this winter?

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