Orinoco Did Not Make It

SteveW17 · 04-11-2011, 09:11 AM

Uncovered my bananas this weekend. My two m. orinoco are dead. Thought they would be okay in Zone 7(b). Too bad. Any ideas on what I did wrong?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41693>

]Banana Gallery - DSC_2036

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]Banana Gallery - DSC_2037

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Dalmatiansoap · 04-11-2011, 09:19 AM

They will be OK if corms are still good.

RobG7aChattTN · 04-11-2011, 05:17 PM

How do you know it didn't make it? That pseudostem actually looks pretty good in the photo. Did you cut down slices until you found a live green (or yellow/white) leaf in the center? Even if the pseudostem is really dead (mushy and rotten) then it could still re-sprout from the corm. If it was truly rotten then it probably wouldn't still be standing.

Bob3 · 04-11-2011, 05:23 PM

The only thing "wrong" I can see is that you're in an area that got too darn cold!

I agree with Dalmatiansoap; if the corm is OK, watch & wait for the pups to start peeking up & remove any mushy parts from the parents.

The only other thing you could've done would have been either to go with the "microclimate" thing or add some active heating, but from the looks of things, you probably would've needed both.

mbfirey · 04-12-2011, 06:35 AM

We're right here on the 7B/8A border and one Orinoco beside the house looked a lot like yours, but It appears to be pushing up new leaves- though I've had to cut it down to just a foot or two. Either way, you're should come back from the bottom...
Also this winter was exceptionally bad.

sewell0618 · 04-12-2011, 12:38 PM

I live in a 7 zone more north, (Maryland) Once the first frost sets in and the trees turn brown , I cut them all the way down to the ground and cover them with mulch, about 6" or so. The following year they will start growing out of the ground and will get about 6-7 feet high. They will never produce fruit, since they need to mature for about 2 years but they grow to the same height or taller the following year.

Darkman · 04-13-2011, 01:33 AM

Your setup looked great. It looks like you had some settling of the leaves which uncovered the top of your P-stem. I had the same thing happen to me but I live in a more forgiving climate. Still next year I plan to add leaves to my cage as needed to keep it topped off. You may want to use Christmas lights too.

SteveW17 · 04-13-2011, 08:31 AM

"Did you cut down slices until you found a live green (or yellow/white) leaf in the center? "

RobG - Yes I did just that, but it was getting late and I didn't have time for a photo of the base. I took off 4-6" at a time and nothing but brown ll the wayto the ground. We'll see what happens over the next week.

These are my Basjoos that came through just fine of course! My understanding was that Orinoco was "almost" as hardy as Basjoo, so I was hoping to see fruit this year. I thought the trick is to keep as much of the P-Stem alive above ground to get an extra head start in the Spring. I'll try digging them up next time around.

Orinocos taken mid-September 2010-

SteveW17 · 04-15-2011, 02:34 PM

Finally got a few minutes this morning to get outside and take a photo of the crown. Not looking too pretty. I'll give it a few more days then maybe dig it up.

ArchAngeL01 · 04-16-2011, 12:12 AM

Looks like it's dead but maybe when you dig it up it will surprise you with some hidden live pups underground.

lava lounge · 04-16-2011, 06:58 AM

I had a few basjoo that looked like this or worse. I dug them up, put them in the mulch and called it day. A few weeks later was walking by and noticed a nodule on one of the corms. I kept an eye on it and wouldnt you know it, it was growing. so maybe give it some time, mine were way to wet over the winter and killed all of them except this one described. Im in zone 6 so freezing and wet over winter does not mix. Good luck

the flying dutchman · 04-16-2011, 03:20 PM

My guess is that your setup absorbed the moisture floating down that
slightly sloping part of your garden. Probably the ground was very wet
close to the banana?

Ron

RobG7aChattTN · 04-16-2011, 06:44 PM

I'd say just leave it as is. It might not re-sprout from the pseudostem, but might re-sprout from the corm...which is almost as good since really the only way to get fruit is to store them indoors over the winter. A lot of the Musa that are "almost as cold hardy as basjoo" still lose their pseudostems over the winter and re-sprout. I think Orinocco and Raja-Puri are similar in cold hardiness (to each other), but less so than itinerans, yunnanensis, sikkimensis, velutina, balbisiana, Musella lasiocarpa and maybe a few others. It might be the most cold hardy of the seedless varieties, but a far cry from basjoo.

SteveW17 · 04-26-2011, 11:15 AM

Well folks, I finally dug up the corm. Cut it in half...nothing but brown all the way through. Oh, well. Bums me out because I really love that blue-green color and these were the only two Orinoco's I had.

My plant budget is running low these days - Hah, ha! I At least I have plenty of Basjoo pups to stick in these 2 holes. Thanks for all your great comments - S.

cowboyup4christ · 04-26-2011, 12:35 PM

I dig mine up and store them. I had one to bloom and fruit in storage this winter. all my Ice creams rotted but one. so I am hoping for that one to come back. may have some Dw Orinocos soon to share though if all goes well.

Bob3 · 04-26-2011, 01:30 PM

Bummer~
Looking at the location, next to the short retaining wall, it looks like there could've been cold penetration from the side as well as from the surface on down.
You might want to consider a slab of Styrofoam behind the wall, or maybe moving the new inhabitant further back from the edge.

04-11-2011, 09:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
SteveW17 SteveW17's Photo Gallery Location: Maryville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52 BananaBucks : 38,187 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Orinoco Did Not Make It Uncovered my bananas this weekend. My two m. orinoco are dead. Thought they would be okay in Zone 7(b). Too bad. Any ideas on what I did wrong? http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41693> ]Banana Gallery - DSC_2036[/url] ]Banana Gallery - DSC_2037[/url] __________________

04-11-2011, 09:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 618,404 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,508 Times Was Thanked 8,384 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It They will be OK if corms are still good. __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

04-11-2011, 05:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
RobG7aChattTN Junior Member RobG7aChattTN's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 422 BananaBucks : 19,521 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 29 Times Was Thanked 438 Times in 234 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It How do you know it didn't make it? That pseudostem actually looks pretty good in the photo. Did you cut down slices until you found a live green (or yellow/white) leaf in the center? Even if the pseudostem is really dead (mushy and rotten) then it could still re-sprout from the corm. If it was truly rotten then it probably wouldn't still be standing.

04-11-2011, 05:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bob3 Bob3's Photo Gallery Location: Sacramento, Luxemburg Find me on the map! Zone: 9 & Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 466 BananaBucks : 47,057 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 128 Times Was Thanked 512 Times in 265 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 97 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It The only thing "wrong" I can see is that you're in an area that got too darn cold! I agree with Dalmatiansoap; if the corm is OK, watch & wait for the pups to start peeking up & remove any mushy parts from the parents. The only other thing you could've done would have been either to go with the "microclimate" thing or add some active heating, but from the looks of things, you probably would've needed both. __________________ Recipes & links for Cajun, Creole, & other goodies.

04-12-2011, 06:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,299 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It We're right here on the 7B/8A border and one Orinoco beside the house looked a lot like yours, but It appears to be pushing up new leaves- though I've had to cut it down to just a foot or two. Either way, you're should come back from the bottom... Also this winter was exceptionally bad. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

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04-12-2011, 12:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
sewell0618 Junior Member Location: Baltimore, MD Zone: 7-8 Name: chuck Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6 BananaBucks : 5,143 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It I live in a 7 zone more north, (Maryland) Once the first frost sets in and the trees turn brown , I cut them all the way down to the ground and cover them with mulch, about 6" or so. The following year they will start growing out of the ground and will get about 6-7 feet high. They will never produce fruit, since they need to mature for about 2 years but they grow to the same height or taller the following year.

04-13-2011, 01:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Darkman Dirt Master Darkman's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL South of I-10 Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: Darkman Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,249 BananaBucks : 210,834 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9,263 Times Was Thanked 1,582 Times in 702 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 243 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It Your setup looked great. It looks like you had some settling of the leaves which uncovered the top of your P-stem. I had the same thing happen to me but I live in a more forgiving climate. Still next year I plan to add leaves to my cage as needed to keep it topped off. You may want to use Christmas lights too. __________________ Darkman in Pensacola AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!! Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong! Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

04-13-2011, 08:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
SteveW17 SteveW17's Photo Gallery Location: Maryville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52 BananaBucks : 38,187 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It "Did you cut down slices until you found a live green (or yellow/white) leaf in the center? " RobG - Yes I did just that, but it was getting late and I didn't have time for a photo of the base. I took off 4-6" at a time and nothing but brown ll the wayto the ground. We'll see what happens over the next week. These are my Basjoos that came through just fine of course! My understanding was that Orinoco was "almost" as hardy as Basjoo, so I was hoping to see fruit this year. I thought the trick is to keep as much of the P-Stem alive above ground to get an extra head start in the Spring. I'll try digging them up next time around. Orinocos taken mid-September 2010- __________________ Last edited by SteveW17 : 04-13-2011 at 09:09 AM. Reason: To add photos

04-15-2011, 02:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
SteveW17 SteveW17's Photo Gallery Location: Maryville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52 BananaBucks : 38,187 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It Finally got a few minutes this morning to get outside and take a photo of the crown. Not looking too pretty. I'll give it a few more days then maybe dig it up. __________________

04-16-2011, 12:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
ArchAngeL01 ArchAngeL01's Photo Gallery Location: Greenville, SC Zone: 8A Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 849 BananaBucks : 145,874 Feedback: 4 / 83% Said "Thanks" 104 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It Looks like it's dead but maybe when you dig it up it will surprise you with some hidden live pups underground. __________________ Brad

04-16-2011, 06:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
lava lounge lava lounge's Photo Gallery Location: Mid Michigan Zone: 5 Name: Clint Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 38 BananaBucks : 23,148 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It I had a few basjoo that looked like this or worse. I dug them up, put them in the mulch and called it day. A few weeks later was walking by and noticed a nodule on one of the corms. I kept an eye on it and wouldnt you know it, it was growing. so maybe give it some time, mine were way to wet over the winter and killed all of them except this one described. Im in zone 6 so freezing and wet over winter does not mix. Good luck __________________ Its always tiki time at the LaVa Lounge, Come join us!!! " free drinks tomorrow"..

04-16-2011, 03:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
the flying dutchman the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,031 BananaBucks : 111,515 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It My guess is that your setup absorbed the moisture floating down that slightly sloping part of your garden. Probably the ground was very wet close to the banana? Ron

04-16-2011, 06:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
RobG7aChattTN Junior Member RobG7aChattTN's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 422 BananaBucks : 19,521 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 29 Times Was Thanked 438 Times in 234 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It I'd say just leave it as is. It might not re-sprout from the pseudostem, but might re-sprout from the corm...which is almost as good since really the only way to get fruit is to store them indoors over the winter. A lot of the Musa that are "almost as cold hardy as basjoo" still lose their pseudostems over the winter and re-sprout. I think Orinocco and Raja-Puri are similar in cold hardiness (to each other), but less so than itinerans, yunnanensis, sikkimensis, velutina, balbisiana, Musella lasiocarpa and maybe a few others. It might be the most cold hardy of the seedless varieties, but a far cry from basjoo. Last edited by RobG7aChattTN : 04-16-2011 at 06:45 PM. Reason: clarification

04-26-2011, 11:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
SteveW17 SteveW17's Photo Gallery Location: Maryville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52 BananaBucks : 38,187 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It Well folks, I finally dug up the corm. Cut it in half...nothing but brown all the way through. Oh, well. Bums me out because I really love that blue-green color and these were the only two Orinoco's I had. My plant budget is running low these days - Hah, ha! I At least I have plenty of Basjoo pups to stick in these 2 holes. Thanks for all your great comments - S. __________________

04-26-2011, 12:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
cowboyup4christ cowboyup4christ's Photo Gallery Location: Carthage NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Jim Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 327 BananaBucks : 62,975 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 217 Times in 93 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It I dig mine up and store them. I had one to bloom and fruit in storage this winter. all my Ice creams rotted but one. so I am hoping for that one to come back. may have some Dw Orinocos soon to share though if all goes well. __________________ Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. In Christ Jim Babb Chile peppers go good with anything even naners and Ice Cream http://www.uponhigherground.com/waddscreek/ http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Car...m/254209619224

04-26-2011, 01:30 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bob3 Bob3's Photo Gallery Location: Sacramento, Luxemburg Find me on the map! Zone: 9 & Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 466 BananaBucks : 47,057 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 128 Times Was Thanked 512 Times in 265 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 97 Times	Re: Orinoco Did Not Make It Bummer~ Looking at the location, next to the short retaining wall, it looks like there could've been cold penetration from the side as well as from the surface on down. You might want to consider a slab of Styrofoam behind the wall, or maybe moving the new inhabitant further back from the edge. __________________ Recipes & links for Cajun, Creole, & other goodies.

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