allen0072000

Hello, I am hoping someone can help. I planted 15 basjoo plants last June and they grew to 8 feet tall here in South KY. After the first frost I cut them back and mulched heavy for winter.

Okay, today is May 31st. We have had many days in the 80s here. I have 1 plant that is a foot tall now, but the other 14 plants have not done anything. I dug up a corm to look at it and it is super firm. I broke it open and it crunched like a carrot when broken. The inside is white and looks like any other root when broken. It smells sweet. The roots are slimy coated, but when you pull the slimy outer coating off there is a firm white inner root in there.

I know I have probably ruined this one, but I really need some expert in here to help me please. When do I know these are dead? Why would one be a foot tall now and the others show no growth yet? How do I know if the corm is alive? This is really making me crazy wondering. They are all in the same area within a few feet of each other.

Can someone help me to determine if these are dead or if they are just slow?

Pulling my hair out here.

Chris

Matt Turner

Hi Chris,
I really wouldn't worry. It seems that bananas often spend a lot of time 'psyching' themselves up to grow, particularly after physical or cold damage. I have a plant that I planted late last year and it looks exactly the same now as it did then, even though other bananas have grown around 10 leaves in that time. It hasn't grown, but it has been organizing its tissues ready to grow. It will grow at high speed very soon now, I am sure. Similarly with your basjoo corms!
Tropical plants often take a very long time to recover from cold damage. I have a starfruit that was defoliated by cold, and it is taking weeks and weeks to just put out a few tiny new leaves.

allen0072000

I have not given up yet, but my garden sure would look better if they would grow. Firm corms should mean they are still viable right? They are as crisp as a turnip.

Chris

Bob

Chris , I had the same experience. My corm was hard even above the ground after uncovering. It rotted down to a hole in the ground . Dug it up and put what was left of the firm underground portion and it sprouted during the last 10 days or so. I bet yours come back , just a little late after a bad winter.

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sandy0225

I had one once that didn't come up until 6/20 and that was a week after I planted a "replacement" two feet away.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

allen0072000

So, is it best just to leave them alone and hope for the best? It was 92 degrees today, so surely that hot weather will wake them up huh?

Chris

allen0072000

Just in case I need replacements does anyone have a source for these at a good price? I got these at Lowes last year for like 12 bucks each or something. Everywhere I see online they are 25 to 40.00 per plant!

Chris