JCDerrick

Knowing what I do, this may be a stupid question - but better ask than be sorry.

Next spring I'm thinking of ripping out all the Cannas I have growing down one side of our house facing to the south, and in their place putting a bunch of bananas - likely basjoo so I don't have to dig them up.

Since I've seen some of one of my basjoo mats start to get quite large, do I risk any damage to the foundation of our home (which is on a crawl space) by planting them close to the house? Banana roots certainly don't seem dangerous, but it's not the roots I'm worried about as they expand.

Any thoughts?

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

Randy4ut

John,
Plant away!!!! Will not be any problem what so ever...

__________________

JCDerrick

Excellent. I was hoping I'd hear that

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

Lagniappe

Don't limit yourself to Basjoo because you're in zone 8b. I'm in 8a and leave everything in the ground (seedlings and young starts get a place inside).

JCDerrick

Since joining here the other day I've already begun to expand my collection, some hardy some not. I think once I have enough growing to fulfill my foilage needs, LOL, I'll be fine with digging up just my non-hardy types and leaving all the others in the ground. I'm especially excited about the Orinoco (Tall and Dwarf Varieties). The 'Praying Hands' could survive the winter if I'm feeling lucky I think. But I know I'll have to dig up the Cavendish, Velutina, and Saba (once I have it) each year.

If you have any other hardy plant suggestions Pete, please let me know in this thread.

Thanks
-John

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

chong

Bananas have soft tissue roots unlike regular trees. So they won't push hard on the foundation walls. Only thing you have to worry about is if your foundation has footing drains. Though if the drain pipes have the holes at the bottom, where they ought to be, then there is very little risk of the roots plugging up the holes. If the drain pipes are over 3 feet below the grade, then you have nothing to worry about.

Randy4ut

John,
Just wanted to let you know that I have left my velutina out for 3-4 years now, and the come back, flower and fruit for me here in SE TN. I also have Saba that I received last summer, left it out in the ground and they are well over 20' overall and started from the corm. If you want the Saba to fruit, yeah, you may want to dig and store pstem, but if foliage is what you are after, you will not have to dig it up. Keep searching and try one of everything. I have around 30 varieties that I will be leaving some out with some protection, some will not be tested at all and some will do both. Best of luck and if you have any more questions, all you have to do is ask these folks and they will be more than happy to help if they can...

Here is a link to some of what I have going on in my area which is at least a zone colder than you...

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

__________________

JCDerrick

Thanks Randy, that's pretty incredible on the Veluntina. Maybe when I have two I'll test that. I'm considering trying it with one of my Dwarf Cavendish since I have two, just to see what happens.

That'd be nice on the Saba too, digging that one up might kill you... literally. Maybe getting it from an area like my own would help. Edit: The folks at DG are way off on their recommended hardiness for the Saba, they say it's a 10. And you definitely aren't even close, lol.

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

Randy4ut

Musa velutina is definitely alot more cold hardy than the Dwarf Cavendish. Also, whoever DG is, they may mean that the Saba is rated zone 10 for fruiting purposes, but I still think that may be way too conservative... Best of luck and go ahead and plant out the velutina next spring as it will grow alot more and robustly in the ground than you could ever hope for in a pot... Best of luck...

__________________

JCDerrick

Thanks, I'll leave it in the ground once I have two of them next year. It just bloomed again and the pup that's going to replace the stem that bloomed is pretty small, so I'll probably dig it up to be safe this year. I'd just hate to loose it. It did double in size once I put it in the ground though. Suckers bloom fast too, it bloomed last December in my garage too.

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches