Scijox

Hi attached are 2 pictures of my lovely Musa Basjoo. It is rather small perhaps a bit over 2 ft. It is still in a pot. I am having trouble getting the growth rates that everyone talks about (perhaps because 80 is considered "hot" here).

However my main question is: What should I do with this bugger for the winter. I am not sure if it is large enough or has enough time to get established for the winter. I am hoping to really push this thing for the next 2 months and I am thinking I can get it to 4-5 ft.


So if I put it in the ground now and it grew quite a bit more do you guys think it could establish itself enough for the cruel buffalo (z6) winter. I plan to do quite a bit of extensive water protection was this is a very wet area. I could also cut the psuedostem and store in dormancy in the garage. Inside storage is tough since I have no good windows but if anyone has any gro light suggestions (all I have are some cool fluorescent tubes) that could be another possibility (keeping in mind all I need to do is keep it alive).

Thanks so much.

john_ny

Not sure, but I think I would have liked to have had it in the ground by May, if I was planning on wintering outside.

__________________
John

Taylor

I would put it in the ground. When it gets down to the nitty gritty and you get nervous in like...November, you could always pot it back up.

magicgreen

Scijox,
At this time last summer I planted a basjoo. I gave it winter protection and it did'nt make it. I don't think its roots were established enough. It got to be a nice size, but not nearly as big as the basjoo I have in ground now.
This one here has been in the ground since April. And I'am bound and determined that it will make it through this years brutal midwest winter!

Here's another shot of her. I don't hardly ever watch t.v. anymore because of those structures across the street. They are filled to the gills with African people. Between them and my plants...I don't know which one is the better show cuz I trip off of BOTH!!! LOL

Here's a basjoo baby to the right of the mama just emerging.

IMHO I'd say to leave it in the pot and plant it out next spring.
Patience is Virtue......................................
Hope this helps. Lynn

__________________
(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

magicgreen

My avatar is the same basjoo back in late May or early June this year.
You were right Randy!! Soon as the temps climbed so did the basjoo!!!!!!!!!

__________________
(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

Scijox

Problem is basjoo does nothing through April and most of may since temps can be in the 40s and 30s at night.... Also the summer here in the NE has been so mild I am not getting good growth.

norteno

I have had good luck overwintering my potted basjoos in the basement. What I do is hack off the leaves and just stick it down there with no grow lights or anything. The temps in there must be low 60s throughout and the basjoos will usually put out two new leaves using its stored energy during their stay. I water them once, sometimes not at all. I throw them back out late April and usually the leaves it put on will break right away because they never hardened off (probably lack of UV light), so I hack them off and I am good to go.

magicgreen

I beleive (could be wrong) that Joe Real said to hack off all leaves and put in dark basement till spring. So norteno you have a point there!
This is what I'll be doing with some bananas, and some will be upstairs in the house in a semi cool room to look pretty for me.
Some others I'll cut to the corm and start em' up about Jan.2009
One or 2 will be in a hydroponic type set-up I've been researching, and I'am ready to make!
Experimenting ya' know....................................................

__________________
(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

natedogg1026

I would say with the temps in the 80's you could transplant safely but not really worth it. I don't think it will get big enough to survive this winter and if it does it will be very slow to come back as small pups. I'd probably leave it potted and winter it in the basement, garage, or under the house. It will survive with ease. In the mean time fertilize that baby good and as much sun as it can handle.-Nate Z6

__________________
Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

Scijox

Sadly my yard lacks any full sun and the area it's in is part sun. I'm pretty sure that is what my growth problem is. Next year I am gonna order more and try a few in a friend's yard that has nice hot blazing sun.

mskitty38583

why do you not have sun in your yard? tree overhang? or because of buildings? if its overhang from the trees you can get tree trimmers out and make some sun shine in your yard.

__________________
WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

Scijox

I live in a forest with 80 ft tall trees :P. I have the banana on the patio since that's a clear area. I love my yard I just wish I had some nice warm sun.

mskitty38583

oh i see.

__________________
WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION