Bananas in SE TN...

Randy4ut · 09-04-2011, 06:36 PM

Many of you do not know me as it has been a while since I have posted on here. I just wanted to share some of the bananas that I have growing in SE TN (zone 7a/b). Maybe some of the older members remember me and if so, hope everyone is doing well!
Hope you enjoy whoever you are!

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

SteveW17 · 09-04-2011, 09:29 PM

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing. Where do you find the time man?

Randy4ut · 09-05-2011, 07:52 AM

Steve, really not a lot of time required once the beds are prepped and plants in the ground. Most time required is watering, and this past month was terrible. Had to water about every 3 days and about 6-8 hours spent watering each time... The ones that are not hardy for me do take some time in fall with digging and storing, but for me it is worth the time and effort...

1aday · 09-05-2011, 04:25 PM

They look really great, Randy. You can really see a difference in how they grow between planting them out and keeping them in pots. I kept my big ones in the greenhouse because they were just too heavy to carry- they got too hot there and about half died, including my big 1000, boo-hoo!

willy1der · 09-06-2011, 01:05 AM

You have one of the better gardens I have seen for your zone!!Love the pics!!!

soundofthemusic1 · 09-08-2011, 08:43 PM

Your hard work does pay off, Randy. Beautiful banana plants! And thank you for sharing the photos with us.

JDE222 · 09-15-2011, 06:07 PM

Randy, You have a great collection going there. I am trying my luck in Kentucky and hope to overwinter as many varieties as possible. Besides the basjoos, what varieties have been the hardiest in locale? I am north of you, but am on the Ohio river, so we are slightly warmer than the rest of Western Kentucky.

Bradford · 09-20-2011, 08:05 PM

Great pictures and a lot of variety.

How old is your Musa Basjoo mat, and what preps do you undertake for winter?

Thanks for posting!

revensen · 09-21-2011, 06:16 PM

Beautiful yard and garden Randy. Great collection of plants. I really like the musa rose.

Randy4ut · 09-22-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDE222

Randy, You have a great collection going there. I am trying my luck in Kentucky and hope to overwinter as many varieties as possible. Besides the basjoos, what varieties have been the hardiest in locale? I am north of you, but am on the Ohio river, so we are slightly warmer than the rest of Western Kentucky.

Appreciate the compliment and wish you well in all your efforts in KY! Other than the basjoo, I leave out Musa itinerans, M. velutina, Musella lasiocarpus, and an ornamental that a few of us are trialing for someone that is working on creating hybrids. (it is named right now as AA-2-25)

Randy4ut · 09-22-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bradford

Great pictures and a lot of variety.

How old is your Musa Basjoo mat, and what preps do you undertake for winter?

Thanks for posting!

Thanks, Bradford... Only preparations that I do for my basjoo is the 3" of mulch that I leave year round. I have, in the past, used bags of leaves stacked on top of each other with pstem inside. I did not see much difference in overall height by the end of growing season by doing this, but who knows? I have had my basjoo mat for 6 years now... Started out with 3 pups.

SteveW17 · 09-26-2011, 09:40 AM

Randy,
where do you store the ones that have to come inside? I am only growing Basjoo this year after I lost two nice Orinoco's. I used the "cage" method, leaving the p-stems about 3' high, wrapped in burlap then filled with straw and leaves and covered with a tarp - didn't work.-S.

Randy4ut · 09-27-2011, 12:43 PM

I store my bananas under the house with no heat or light. I keep them off the ground on plastic pallets and that is it... Some do better than others stored this way so I am still experimenting with which ones overwinter this way and which ones don't... I have had success with this method for: Mysore, Ice Cream, Praying Hands, Dwarf Cavendish, Rose, and even Golden Aromatic. Zebrinus, Siam Ruby not so well!!! Live and learn...

soundofthemusic1 · 09-27-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy4ut

I store my bananas under the house with no heat or light.

Randy,

I'm not clear on "under the house" part. Do you mind clarifying it a bit for me? Thanks!

Randy4ut · 09-28-2011, 06:03 PM

Rae,
Not sure how houses are built in your area, but here, houses are built with a "crawlspace" under the house. This can vary in height from a couple feet to 4-5 depending on the slope of your lot. My house has a crawlspace that is about 2.5' and makes moving around it difficult, but still works. I also store some in a friend's crawlspace which is about 5' down to 3' in the back and makes pstem storing alot easier to get them in and out.

soundofthemusic1 · 09-28-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy4ut

Rae,
Not sure how houses are built in your area, but here, houses are built with a "crawlspace" under the house. This can vary in height from a couple feet to 4-5 depending on the slope of your lot. My house has a crawlspace that is about 2.5' and makes moving around it difficult, but still works. I also store some in a friend's crawlspace which is about 5' down to 3' in the back and makes pstem storing alot easier to get them in and out.

Randy,

I thought crawlspace was what you meant as my late father-in-law had one, too. My house does not come with a crawlspace, so I can’t apply the same methodology to any of my plants on a trail basis. I don’t have banana plants, but your idea is very appealing when I think about my nine feet tall giant bird of paradise.

Thank you very much for your clarification. I learn something new from you today.

09-04-2011, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 87,012 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Bananas in SE TN... Many of you do not know me as it has been a while since I have posted on here. I just wanted to share some of the bananas that I have growing in SE TN (zone 7a/b). Maybe some of the older members remember me and if so, hope everyone is doing well! Hope you enjoy whoever you are! Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket __________________

09-04-2011, 09:29 PM	#2 (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 : 38,074 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing. Where do you find the time man? __________________

09-05-2011, 07:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 87,012 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Steve, really not a lot of time required once the beds are prepped and plants in the ground. Most time required is watering, and this past month was terrible. Had to water about every 3 days and about 6-8 hours spent watering each time... The ones that are not hardy for me do take some time in fall with digging and storing, but for me it is worth the time and effort... __________________

09-05-2011, 04:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
1aday 1aday's Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 224 BananaBucks : 42,947 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 184 Times in 105 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... They look really great, Randy. You can really see a difference in how they grow between planting them out and keeping them in pots. I kept my big ones in the greenhouse because they were just too heavy to carry- they got too hot there and about half died, including my big 1000, boo-hoo! __________________ Susan

09-06-2011, 01:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
willy1der willy1der's Photo Gallery Location: London,On,Can Zone: 5b Name: will Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 144 BananaBucks : 46,361 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 88 Times Was Thanked 99 Times in 47 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 53 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... You have one of the better gardens I have seen for your zone!!Love the pics!!! __________________

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

09-08-2011, 08:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
soundofthemusic1 soundofthemusic1's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: 7B Name: Rae Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,170 BananaBucks : 10,598 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,597 Times Was Thanked 349 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 68 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Your hard work does pay off, Randy. Beautiful banana plants! And thank you for sharing the photos with us. __________________ Rae Georgia 7B

09-15-2011, 06:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
JDE222 Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 8,171 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Randy, You have a great collection going there. I am trying my luck in Kentucky and hope to overwinter as many varieties as possible. Besides the basjoos, what varieties have been the hardiest in locale? I am north of you, but am on the Ohio river, so we are slightly warmer than the rest of Western Kentucky.

09-20-2011, 08:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bradford Location: Wilmington Isl Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 9 on the coast Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 7,448 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 690 Times Was Thanked 100 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Great pictures and a lot of variety. How old is your Musa Basjoo mat, and what preps do you undertake for winter? Thanks for posting! __________________ God grows bananas.

09-21-2011, 06:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
revensen revensen's Photo Gallery Location: Indian Harbour Beach, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Bob Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 247 BananaBucks : 59,409 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 220 Times Was Thanked 160 Times in 57 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Beautiful yard and garden Randy. Great collection of plants. I really like the musa rose.

09-26-2011, 09:40 AM	#12 (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 : 38,074 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 49 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Randy, where do you store the ones that have to come inside? I am only growing Basjoo this year after I lost two nice Orinoco's. I used the "cage" method, leaving the p-stems about 3' high, wrapped in burlap then filled with straw and leaves and covered with a tarp - didn't work.-S. __________________

09-27-2011, 12:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 87,012 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... I store my bananas under the house with no heat or light. I keep them off the ground on plastic pallets and that is it... Some do better than others stored this way so I am still experimenting with which ones overwinter this way and which ones don't... I have had success with this method for: Mysore, Ice Cream, Praying Hands, Dwarf Cavendish, Rose, and even Golden Aromatic. Zebrinus, Siam Ruby not so well!!! Live and learn... __________________

09-28-2011, 06:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 87,012 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Bananas in SE TN... Rae, Not sure how houses are built in your area, but here, houses are built with a "crawlspace" under the house. This can vary in height from a couple feet to 4-5 depending on the slope of your lot. My house has a crawlspace that is about 2.5' and makes moving around it difficult, but still works. I also store some in a friend's crawlspace which is about 5' down to 3' in the back and makes pstem storing alot easier to get them in and out. __________________

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Update from SE TN...	Randy4ut	Other Plants	10	07-28-2011 02:06 PM
September update from SE TN	Randy4ut	Main Banana Discussion	21	09-09-2009 02:17 PM
Hello again, from SE TN!!!	Randy4ut	Main Banana Discussion	17	01-19-2009 05:57 AM
Temps plummet in SE TN!!!!!!	Randy4ut	Main Banana Discussion	27	01-04-2008 02:05 PM
Pics of Tropical SE TN...	Randy4ut	Main Banana Discussion	31	07-14-2007 06:32 PM