JCDerrick

This is my first year of really trying to preserve as much p-stem on my bananas as possible. In the past I've just covered the base with mulch or straw and let them go. They've always bounced back but I'd like to save more p-stem this year. I am digging one up - but the rest I'm leaving in the ground.

I made small cages for all of my largest basjoo and filled it with straw. I figured after the first frost, which should be this coming Wednesday, I'll wrap the leaves down around the cage and fill with more straw/leaves above the cage.

I've been hesitant about straw bc of how it holds water. So before I continued, I figured I'd check and see if you all thought this was going to be a decent method to use.



Our winters here are fairly mild (typically just one night below 20F) and most nights are at or above freezing. It even warms into the 70's in December or January for a week at a time - or has the last two years. Last frost it typically around the first of April, sometimes as late as the 15th (like this year).

-John

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Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

stumpy4700

I was doing about the same thing but only with bales of straw. The only thing i'm gonna do different is drape the whole thing with a tarp to keep the water away from the bales. I guess we'll have to see if it works

JCDerrick

Your tarp idea just gave me another idea to keep water off/out. I have some 3 mil plastic I used to insulate in the garage and I bet if I made a cone shape with that around the top of the cage that'd keep 90% or more of the water out of the straw.

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Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

stumpy4700

Glad my brain could be used for more than figuring out which football game to watch.

parkeey

i thought musa bajoo can stand without protection as long as it doesnt have continue of -5 for a few days?????????

stumpy4700

It can withstand cold for a few, but if we can keep it warm for the winter its just that much closer to surviving without being cut to the ground.

JCDerrick

Exactly, it'll live in zones WAY north of 8, but I want to save the height of the banana's existing stem.

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Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

cactus6103

I tried exactly what you are trying last year with my basjoo and it did not work at all. This year I dug up all my banana's and have them in the garage for the winter. I also want to start off next season with some 5' plants. Good luck with yours. Red

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JCDerrick

Hrm, I may need to further insulate them then. Last year most of them were so short they had little to loose. This year is another story.

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Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

Simply Bananas

Did ya'll get frost up there last night?

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JCDerrick

I think it got to around 35F, so nothing yet. But tonight and tomorrow we will - it should be closer to freezing the next two nights. I moved the last of things in yesterday - including the one large banana I did dig up.

I keep wondering if I should dig up the largest, but I'm just about out of space as it is. I'll probably just hope for the best since it's next to the house.

Thanks for the video

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches