How to protect from frost and an interesting observation
 

I covered my bananas last year very diligently, especially on the south side of the house by the pool. I put real fiberglass insulation around a really big Basjoo and around others I put liberal layers of burlap and other forms of insulation used for water heaters etc.

However on the northern side of the house, fully exposed to the northerly wind, I only wrapped a few layers of frost cloth from Home Depot around my Basjoo, which btw was way smaller (diameter wise) than the one on the south side by the pool.
Strangely enough the only p-stem that made it through the winter was the one exposed to the north with a few layers of frost cloth. The whole p-stem survived and it even flowered in October. Unfortunately the record summer made everything pretty much stop growing in July August otherwise I think it would have flowered earlier.
Anyway, my point is that I never expected a few layers of frost cloth to be so effective. For this winter I have stocked up on frost cloth to use on the south side as well for my Ice creams that I plan to leave in the ground.

Have anyone else noticed similar effectiveness from frost cloth or was this a surprise for you as it was for me?

The question marks I have are the following two bananas :
Orinoco (dwarf) and
Saba

Will they have any chance of surviving (p-stem I mean) with the same method? I only have one of each even if they are of decent size but not so big I cant get them into the garage if need be.

I also have 6 Ice creams and here I plan to dig up 3 to store in the garage and keep 3 in the ground with several layers of frost cloth around them. Cover both bases. :)

What would you advice me on the Orinoco and the Saba?
I really don't expect the Saba to bloom here in north Texas but it would be nice to see if it can!

Any advice?

Thanks

/Peter

Re: How to protect from frost and an interesting observation
 

This is a prime example of what I have been attempting to say in other threads about insulating pstems. This does not surprise me as I have had similar experiences. I honestly feel that if you protect pstems with material that holds moisture, it will do more damage in rot than if you let them "breathe". The frost cloth is a great example of a material that will assist in insulating without trapping all the moisture. Thanks for another confirmation to what I feel is so true!

Re: How to protect from frost and an interesting observation
 

I'm eager to hear how the other nanas liked the insulation. :)
Keep the thread alive pls.

Good luck!

Re: How to protect from frost and an interesting observation
 

Sabas are pretty cold tolerant. I bet that you can keep it alive in a zone 8 with some protection. They are my favorite bananas!
Orinocco should do well do. I really would like to see how they do for you! Definitely keep us up to date!

Re: How to protect from frost and an interesting observation
 

what to do with Saba my experience with frostcloth has been very good. The really heavy duty stuff. Put it together with large binder clips. first tho get some 9v old timey
xmas tree lights on sale now and keep them. Put at least 2 strings in a large plant and
emphasizing the center to be saved at all cost kind of thing. the frost cloth does not need
to reach the ground and with Very careful use of sealing the plug on a heavy duty outdoor
extension cord you can even run micro sprinklers at the base almost on the ground. These steps should get you thru anything 28 degrees and over and save the heart even
lower. You need to tie down the "parachute" shape over the top so wind won't take it
off. that should come down as low as you can. you can also wrap the actual stems
with pink insulation which alone will protect papayas to come again from shoots on the protected base and they will fruit.
I don't know how much you can cut down bananas. If you could cut them down to say
5 feet your covering should be very impressively good.
I am a newbie at bananas and live in zone 9b so the cut down thing is a big question
I would like an answer to.
I have a Zan Moreno now with a lot of roots 3 ft tall I put in a 7 gal pot. It's leaves are
dying not from over water. Is this normal and then it will root well and grow more?
Also I heard from one member Texas Star and California Gold are like cooking bananas
edible fresh only fully ripe. Mushy ripe? And anyone who can describe the flavors.
I dislike store bananas thus am trying to grow them. I am thinking raja puri, apple
and those mentioned above but am told I need those that will ripen in 9 mo.
I got a lot lot lot of welcomes but only one response to what I actually wrote. I am
looking for all with experience growing in my area Titusville Fl. what they grow and
how they make it in winter and how they taste. I will also gladly give knowledge via
pm on most rare fruits including pitomba, grumichama, mango and all temperate fruits
as to the best varieties so you don't make all the mistakes I didl looking forward to
hearing from those interested. Greenpagoda