Wintering Bananas In the Ground

RayZeR14u · 10-27-2008, 12:15 PM

Hi guys. I live in central South Carolina (Zone 8b) and have Red Iholene and Raja Puri bananas that I would like to leave in the ground during the winter months. Both are said to be hardy in my area, but I am wondering what I should do to help protect them. Should I cut the plant back and mulch them like I do my canna's?

stumpy4700 · 10-27-2008, 02:03 PM

If your goal is to keep as much p-stem as possible then I'd build a cage around them and fill with leaves,straw or mulch, and then cover with a tarp or something to keep out the water to prevent the roots from rotting.

RayZeR14u · 10-27-2008, 02:09 PM

Thanks for your speedy reply stumpy.
I really just want to keep the root alive. I'm hoping they will grow a new stem next year. I planted them in mid august and they grew quite fast, right now the stems are bigger that a 20 oz. plastic bottle and they are 4 foot high. If I cut the stem down and mulch them will they grow new stems next spring?

Simply Bananas · 10-27-2008, 02:19 PM

I can only speak to Raja puri since I have those.
Here is what I do in Charleston......

...nothing.

Don't cut it back unless it turns mushy in March...mine never did last year.

RayZeR14u · 10-27-2008, 02:26 PM

Thanks porkpi.
Do I cut off the the leaves next spring? the last leaves that have grown in oct. look like crap.

stumpy4700 · 10-27-2008, 02:32 PM

If the leaves wilt and fall down to the stem I would leave them as it will be one more layer of protection until spring.

stumpy4700 · 10-27-2008, 02:34 PM

Then in the spring cut anything that looks dead or turned mushy.

Simply Bananas · 10-27-2008, 02:35 PM

I leaf them on.
But in uncontrolled experiments have found it to make little difference.

RayZeR14u · 10-27-2008, 02:46 PM

Thanks guys!! While its easy to find growing info for my area, wintering info is hard to find.

stumpy4700 · 10-27-2008, 03:43 PM

There are lots of threads here on the website. just go up to the search tab and type in overwinter and you'll have hours of reading....Good Luck

RayZeR14u · 10-27-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumpy4700

There are lots of threads here on the website. just go up to the search tab and type in overwinter and you'll have hours of reading....Good Luck

I already did that. Unfortunately the majority of the posts involve digging up the plants and storing them for winter because they are being grown in colder climates than my own. I'm interested in planting and keeping them in my yard year round. Thanks though.

Lagniappe · 10-27-2008, 11:18 PM

I don't do anything at all and only lost one plant , a Goldfinger, out of many Mats. All of my bananas come back without any problems and I'm in 8a. I didn't have time to dig up my Siam ruby tonight so It'll get its first taste of frost as well.

Perhaps that'll be the second plant I lose.

stumpy4700 · 10-28-2008, 12:18 AM

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!! not the Ruby. Keep us posted on how it reacts to the frost and cold.

Richard · 10-28-2008, 10:58 AM

RayZer14u,

Care to give us some insight over here (?) : Explain your screen name.

tophersmith · 10-28-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

I don't do anything at all and only lost one plant , a Goldfinger, out of many Mats. All of my bananas come back without any problems and I'm in 8a. I didn't have time to dig up my Siam ruby tonight so It'll get its first taste of frost as well.

Perhaps that'll be the second plant I lose.

I'll hopefully have several make it through the winter, so maybe we could trade this spring.

JCDerrick · 10-28-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

I don't do anything at all and only lost one plant , a Goldfinger, out of many Mats. All of my bananas come back without any problems and I'm in 8a. I didn't have time to dig up my Siam ruby tonight so It'll get its first taste of frost as well.

Perhaps that'll be the second plant I lose.

Well the pup from your Siam is doing well, so it'll live to fight another day, just a few hundred miles away. If the worst happens to your Siam I can certainly ship one back to you.

Next year I'm going to have to be bold and try a bunch of mine outdoors like you do. I just want to make sure I have a pup from each as insurance

Simply Bananas · 10-28-2008, 12:19 PM

When it comes to survivability, I have found that the thickest plants do the best.

JCDerrick · 10-28-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkpi

When it comes to survivability, I have found that the thickest plants do the best.

That should be good news for Saba, Praying Hands, and IC then.

10-27-2008, 12:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
RayZeR14u Noob Location: In the Pines Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Rayzer14u Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 3,091 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Wintering Bananas In the Ground Hi guys. I live in central South Carolina (Zone 8b) and have Red Iholene and Raja Puri bananas that I would like to leave in the ground during the winter months. Both are said to be hardy in my area, but I am wondering what I should do to help protect them. Should I cut the plant back and mulch them like I do my canna's?

10-27-2008, 02:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 38,948 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground If your goal is to keep as much p-stem as possible then I'd build a cage around them and fill with leaves,straw or mulch, and then cover with a tarp or something to keep out the water to prevent the roots from rotting.

10-27-2008, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
RayZeR14u Noob Location: In the Pines Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Rayzer14u Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 3,091 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground Thanks for your speedy reply stumpy. I really just want to keep the root alive. I'm hoping they will grow a new stem next year. I planted them in mid august and they grew quite fast, right now the stems are bigger that a 20 oz. plastic bottle and they are 4 foot high. If I cut the stem down and mulch them will they grow new stems next spring?

10-27-2008, 02:19 PM	#4 (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 : 295,814 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground I can only speak to Raja puri since I have those. Here is what I do in Charleston...... ...nothing. Don't cut it back unless it turns mushy in March...mine never did last year. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

10-27-2008, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
RayZeR14u Noob Location: In the Pines Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Rayzer14u Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 3,091 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground Thanks porkpi. Do I cut off the the leaves next spring? the last leaves that have grown in oct. look like crap.

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10-27-2008, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 38,948 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground If the leaves wilt and fall down to the stem I would leave them as it will be one more layer of protection until spring.

10-27-2008, 02:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 38,948 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground Then in the spring cut anything that looks dead or turned mushy.

10-27-2008, 02:35 PM	#8 (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 : 295,814 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground I leaf them on. But in uncontrolled experiments have found it to make little difference. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

10-27-2008, 02:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
RayZeR14u Noob Location: In the Pines Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Rayzer14u Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 3,091 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground Thanks guys!! While its easy to find growing info for my area, wintering info is hard to find.

10-27-2008, 03:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 38,948 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground There are lots of threads here on the website. just go up to the search tab and type in overwinter and you'll have hours of reading....Good Luck

10-27-2008, 11:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 251,489 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground I don't do anything at all and only lost one plant , a Goldfinger, out of many Mats. All of my bananas come back without any problems and I'm in 8a. I didn't have time to dig up my Siam ruby tonight so It'll get its first taste of frost as well. Perhaps that'll be the second plant I lose.

10-28-2008, 12:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 38,948 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground OH NO!!!!!!!!!!! not the Ruby. Keep us posted on how it reacts to the frost and cold.

10-28-2008, 10:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 562,245 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground RayZer14u, Care to give us some insight over here (?) : Explain your screen name. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

10-28-2008, 12:19 PM	#17 (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 : 295,814 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Wintering Bananas In the Ground When it comes to survivability, I have found that the thickest plants do the best. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

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