MeshGearFox

I recently got these on sale at a local garden center. I live in Ohio, and they're quite clearly not hardy to my area, although everything I've seen indicates that overwintering/storage procedures are the same for any other banana I'd be growing here -- remove every leaf except for the last unfurled one, cut back the roots, clean the corm, and store somewhere cool, dark, and dry until the weather gets nice again.

From my understanding, I should't let these keep growing inside, or else the main plants will die off, and the pups will keep growing.

Anyway, when should I dig this thing up for the winter? Basjoos, I guess, can stay out till October/November, weather depending. This is a lot less hardy, and I've got it in a container right now (Go ahead and plant it? Just sink the container in the ground?), too, so what temperatures should I be looking at for when this thing needs to go to sleep for awhile?

Also, in regards to the pups, if I were to take one and always grow it inside in a well-lit location, would it do better than a plant that's moved from outdoors to indoors in the winter?

CookieCows

Hi MeshGearFox,

You sound like you aren't new to this!! I plan on digging mine up, putting in pots and keeping inside a spare room that I'll have windows, grow lights and humidifier during the winter.

You've come to the right place to get your questions answered!

Nice to meet you!

Deb

__________________

mskitty38583

well that depends on where you live and your zone, and what types of nanas you want to keep as "spares". i plan on leaving all but a few in the ground and overwintering some of the pups in the house in pots in my den. my saba, oronico, dwarf oronico, 3 lavander ornata pups, and a bronze, musella will all come into the house. all of these are pups and they will be brought into the house just in case.

__________________
WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

natedogg1026

I'd plant it. There is still a lot of grow time left. Dig it up after the first frost and do as you explained. As far as growing a pup indoors. That depends on when you take it from mom. If you are planning on taking one in, chop it ASAP so it has time to re-establish in it's new container. My experience is that it will grow very little during winter due to the short light cycle. Supplemental lights are a lot of effort for just one plant (my opinion) and humidity is another factor(spider mites!!). I have a small greenhouse which I kept pups in and they basically hung out all winter. Come Jan. they started growing again but some lost their old growth and nearly started over. The only plants I will bring in this year will be small ones that I got late in the season and cannot winter under my house. Keep in mind I am in Z6 and many factor will vary depending on your location. Hope this helps.-Nate

__________________
Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

pitangadiego

At least before first frost or freeze. Probably anytime after night temps drop below approx 50F, and the plant is essentially dormant.

__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

Bananaman88

I agree with Pitangadiego; protect it before you get any major frost. I live in SE TX and even for me here Dw. Cavendish usually gets knocked to the ground after some cold weather. We normally only get down to around 30-32 a handfull of nights and then for only a few hours at that. They just aren't that cold-hardy.