fishman0422

Well it's been a really long time since I've posted, probably late last summer or fall. During the winter months I only pop by the site rarely, just to poke around. NOW IT'S SPRING and I'm expecting to be here on a fairly regular basis. I uncovered my basjoos in April during the week ending 4/25, so it's been a few weeks. This past winter I used the cage/mulch method on only two of my clumps the other nine I tried using home insulation with a mound of mulch at the base, of course, all were covered with plastic. This was my second year of over wintering and it was definately NOT as mild as the year before! I had six that did as well as I could have hoped for and five not so well. The plants along the fence on the left side of my back yard and the plants against the back of my house & deck faired well. The plants along my back fence and the fence to the right not so well. It's hard to say if one wrapping method performed better than the other. One of the caged plants was at the back of my house and I believe retained all of it's stem height. The other caged plant was to the right and was basically flimsy to the ground. One of the basjoos that was brought to ground level has not yet begun to grow back and I'm losing faith. All of the other ground level plants are growing at either an existing stump, sending up pups, or both. I'll just have to transplant a pup or two to that possible failed location. I'm very happy with the basjoos that did well. Losing almost no height I have some stems over 4 feet tall. That's a much better head start than last year! It could be that the insulation method worked out better when I look at it that way...I dunno. My thoughts tell me location HAD to be a deciding factor in determining success. My house faces west, sort of northwest, but basically west. The most successful plants were ALL on the south to southeast side of a structure- my house, deck, or fence. I do remember reading about having better results mulching over cannas when they are on the south side of a structure. I'm very far from an expert but there could be something to that. While the nannas are growing we have had a few colder, windier days than desired and they seem to be off to a slow start. I have some beaten up browned leaves and have already cut a few. Of course each first leaf popped out nasty being from the top of the cut and tattered stem, but even some since those look like hell. I haven't gotten my but out there yet with a camera but I'll be sure to post pics soon.
I hope all your gardens are bursting with growth!!

__________________
The Reluctant Gardener