Too tall to cover, could a windbreak help a little

hanabananaman · 10-12-2012, 10:21 PM

This is my first winter with bananas, I will probably have 10-15 nights of threatening cold. My Ice Cream is 10ft with a little nice weather yet to go so it is too tall to cover. I have some very large pieces of greenhouse plastic and was thinking about making a 9ft windbreak around it with some 4x4's for support. I have water barrels and many strings of big Christmas lights for heat, and fans to circulate air. It doesnt usually get much below 30F for a few hours and some winters we dont freeze, but that hasnt happened in a long time. Our cold nights are usually windless. Digging them up is not an option (7 bulging discs). I struggle enough just getting them in the first time when they are small. Does anyone think I have a chance against 28 degrees for a couple of hours.
Thanks for the help
Larry

Abnshrek · 10-12-2012, 10:39 PM

I think you could get a 20'x20' tarp over it w/ a blanket tacked on the inside over it.. That way if it frosts it won't burn your leaves if the lights throw off enough heat. PLus you can remove it when you don't need it. :^)

crazy banana · 10-13-2012, 12:26 AM

I have bought some Agribon 19 cloth and hope to cover/ wrap my banana plants if we get frosty nights this winter. Mine are the same size than yours. The Agribon 19 will protect them max. 4 to 6 degrees but will also let the light go through about 85%.

Bob3 · 10-13-2012, 04:57 PM

Sounds like a good place for some of the "swimming pool solar blanket" material. (glorified bubble-wrap).
The stuff is relatively inexpensive & the bubbles keep foliage from direct contact with the exterior layer, so no leaf burn, as you'd get with a plain single layer of covering.
A small "milkhouse heater" with a thermostat set down low (35° - 45°F) keeps the heating bill as low as possible.
Quite a few of us on the forum here use the stuff for greenhouse covering material, it's got UV protection so lasts for years.

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10-12-2012, 10:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
hanabananaman Location: Mesa AZ Find me on the map! Zone: 9-10 Name: Larry Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 111 BananaBucks : 47,459 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 230 Times Was Thanked 143 Times in 68 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 183 Times	Too tall to cover, could a windbreak help a little This is my first winter with bananas, I will probably have 10-15 nights of threatening cold. My Ice Cream is 10ft with a little nice weather yet to go so it is too tall to cover. I have some very large pieces of greenhouse plastic and was thinking about making a 9ft windbreak around it with some 4x4's for support. I have water barrels and many strings of big Christmas lights for heat, and fans to circulate air. It doesnt usually get much below 30F for a few hours and some winters we dont freeze, but that hasnt happened in a long time. Our cold nights are usually windless. Digging them up is not an option (7 bulging discs). I struggle enough just getting them in the first time when they are small. Does anyone think I have a chance against 28 degrees for a couple of hours. Thanks for the help Larry

10-12-2012, 10:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 213,177 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Too tall to cover, could a windbreak help a little I think you could get a 20'x20' tarp over it w/ a blanket tacked on the inside over it.. That way if it frosts it won't burn your leaves if the lights throw off enough heat. PLus you can remove it when you don't need it. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^) Last edited by Abnshrek : 10-12-2012 at 10:46 PM.

10-13-2012, 12:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 589 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,998 Times	Re: Too tall to cover, could a windbreak help a little I have bought some Agribon 19 cloth and hope to cover/ wrap my banana plants if we get frosty nights this winter. Mine are the same size than yours. The Agribon 19 will protect them max. 4 to 6 degrees but will also let the light go through about 85%.

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