Bananas.org - Winterizing early?

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Winterizing early?

Ugh. I'm having neck surgery in 3 weeks. And I'm thinking of my bananas and canna plants.... last year I winterized mid October, and I won't be ready to do any work like that for at least 6 weeks after surgery. By that time, here in WI, it will be too late.

So if I winterize early, will there be any problems? My plan is to cut/bring in my maurelii, cut and plastic/mulch my basjoos, and dig up my canna tubers. (I have 5 separate canna plants, in different areas). I also have a giant elephant ear, this is my first year with that.

Now wintering/storing the cannas are easy. But could they die if I do it too early? Last year, I just cut the plants off, dug up the roots, and stored them in the same clump they grew in. They came back wonderfully this year. But my bananas...if I cut 'em down and winterize, will they grow back before frost sets in? This surgery is BAD TIMING, but I didn't have much choice. I would have loved to get in sooner if I could.

The giant elephant ear...would I treat that in the same way as my cannas? Cut the foliage off, dig up whatever it is underneath (tubers, bulbs?) and just keep it in my basement?

I'm fretting about my plants...and hoping I could winterize them a little earlier than last year.

Thanks!
Angie

Re: Winterizing early?

im just out of st.louis a bit, and Im bringing things in now,at least the things like elephant ears, ginger, banana plants,catusus,palms,spider plants... if i were u and i was having surgery,,Id get things done now..you want to take time to heal after surgery. if you are gonna dry the roots,tubers,corms to store for winter, then they need time to dry out,,3 weeks is about perfect,,good luck to u with surgery dee:)

Re: Winterizing early?

Hi Angie,

have you considered, that in three weeks it will be already October? Thus the time difference
from last year is not all that significant.

I cannot help you with bare root wintering, since I have not done it. But I usually pot the small
ones and place them near a bright window and the large ones I usually mulch heavily and
leave them in the ground

If you search "wintering bananas" in this forum, several threads with advice on different
methods should pop up.

Do you know how long you will be out of commission? Just mulching around the base might
keep them through some of the early freezing, until you can do your leaf and stem "surgery".
I do not prepare mine for winter until some of the leaves are "singed off" by frost. I won't
even have any leaves for mulching before that

Good luck and speedy recovery,
Olaf

Re: Winterizing early?

I'd bring them in now if I didn't have someone reliable to do it for me. Early is better than not happening!

Re: Winterizing early?

i think this is our last warmish week here (utah)
im lucky i have 3 neighbour boys that will be helping me
dig,rinse,and haul in all my plants..
30+bananas..some 16ft tall now
100s EE .. jacks giant got biggest some are over 9ft
some gingers
TONS of canna musafolias..sigh
and an ever growing collection of amorphs..love these !!!
as to bringing them in "early" i think ..and better minds than mine here
with really good experience.. i would think as long as the plants go into
dormancy..they should be just fine..i lost a really nice ensete couple yrs ago
because it got warm where i was keeping it (bareroot)..started to grow..then back into dormancy..sadly it died.. :(
i bet you have some neighbours that adore ya.. maybe they would help..?

Re: Winterizing early?

I'm glad everyone can find help around here cus I get stuck doing it all by myself...I acually have a few cavendish types I need to bring in before friday its suppose to be 32 for the low.

Re: Winterizing early?

What about leaving at least one of them out there and doing the "frost protection thing"?

I only have Basjoos and some Ornatas. The Ornatas are small enough to pot and bring inside.
The Basjoos will be winterized outside, as soon as the first leaves freeze, i.e., cut back, protected
against too much moisture and then mulched heavily.

I have no idea, if that works for the Cavendish, but may be worth a try. It is a lot less work than
digging them out and replanting them in spring. The roots remain undisturbed and you can see
signs of recovery as soon as you "unwrap" them in spring. As well you can uncover them earlier,
if you watch your weather and throw some cover over them when frost is expected.

Re: Winterizing early?

I have to ask where are you going to put 9-16ft plants? 30 plants alone :08: . We have really high ceilings in our house,but my cats or kids would try to climb them haha.

Re: Winterizing early?

If you have a problem, I do not see what it is. Just leave them outside and protect them
against frost, as you have other years. With more than 30 plants, I am sure you have
accumulated some experience how to do that. :) And in HZ8b that need not be all that
elaborate. :)

Re: Winterizing early?

If you have a problem, I do not see what it is. Just leave them outside and protect them
against frost, as you have other years. With more than 30 plants, I am sure you have
accumulated some experience how to do that. :)
And in HZ8b that need not be all that
elaborate. :)