North Florida--what to do for winter??

Oblofusc · 12-02-2008, 10:49 PM

I have several banana plants, large and small, different species, and most of the leaves on the larger ones I can't cover are already fried from a few frosts.

Before winter's over, there will probably be a couple of hard freezes.

I'd really like to keep as much intact as possible so things get a good head start in spring, so maybe I can get most of them to start to fruit BEFORE September and October.

What to do? Just wrap as much of the stalks as possible before any hard freezes? Is there anything else to do?

Is it better to lop everything off at say five feet and just cover the entire group of stalks with a good insulating blanket before any freezes?

Chironex · 12-12-2008, 07:39 PM

There are many posts about this subject, simple search for "overwintering" as a keyword.

Simply Bananas · 12-12-2008, 09:56 PM

In SC, I let them be.
One year I topped them out 1/2 of them out, the others I left.

I noticed no difference during the next summer.

I got a lot of fruit.

nullzero · 12-19-2008, 01:48 AM

Let them be and have evolution sort it out. It reminds be of last year when I purchased 10 banana pups in November and all were dead except one in January. I was over confident, thinking I would be fine without cold damage in SOCAL. I wish I could ID the last remaining banana plant (all I know its a fruiting variety).

On a side note this year the last banana pup surviving is very strong indeed. I left it out this week even though we had the big freeze storm here in California. Checked today after 3 days of cold winds and freezing rain.... Its fully green and looks healthy as ever! Just a few tattered leaves from the wind.

12-02-2008, 10:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oblofusc Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 29 BananaBucks : 42,452 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 30 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	North Florida--what to do for winter?? I have several banana plants, large and small, different species, and most of the leaves on the larger ones I can't cover are already fried from a few frosts. Before winter's over, there will probably be a couple of hard freezes. I'd really like to keep as much intact as possible so things get a good head start in spring, so maybe I can get most of them to start to fruit BEFORE September and October. What to do? Just wrap as much of the stalks as possible before any hard freezes? Is there anything else to do? Is it better to lop everything off at say five feet and just cover the entire group of stalks with a good insulating blanket before any freezes?

12-12-2008, 07:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 122,339 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: North Florida--what to do for winter?? There are many posts about this subject, simple search for "overwintering" as a keyword. __________________ Scot

12-12-2008, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 295,311 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: North Florida--what to do for winter?? In SC, I let them be. One year I topped them out 1/2 of them out, the others I left. I noticed no difference during the next summer. I got a lot of fruit. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

12-19-2008, 01:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
nullzero Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 61 BananaBucks : 21,427 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 133 Times in 44 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: North Florida--what to do for winter?? Let them be and have evolution sort it out. It reminds be of last year when I purchased 10 banana pups in November and all were dead except one in January. I was over confident, thinking I would be fine without cold damage in SOCAL. I wish I could ID the last remaining banana plant (all I know its a fruiting variety). On a side note this year the last banana pup surviving is very strong indeed. I left it out this week even though we had the big freeze storm here in California. Checked today after 3 days of cold winds and freezing rain.... Its fully green and looks healthy as ever! Just a few tattered leaves from the wind.

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