Play_Her

Hey guys, I don't post here too often, mostly just a lurker. But, it's getting to that cooler time of year here in Atlanta (zone 7b-8) and I'm wondering what would be best for my non-cold hardy bananas.

I have 1 Ice Cream that I got from Jarad in the middle of July, it's about 3-4 feet tall now. (**Thanks Jarad by the way, this is my favorite banana and it's doing very well.**)Should I dig it up and put it in a pot indoors for the winter? Or should I bare root it and let it overwinter in my basement? Or....should I just mulch it really well and hope it makes it? I also have a Dwarf Cavendish I'm not sure what to do with. Both of these guys are in the ground at the moment, but it's starting to get cooler (low 60's/high 50's at night) and I'm trying to figure out what I should do with these guys and when I should do it. Any help or info is appreciated, I really don't want these plants to die over the winter.

JCDerrick

I'll defer to the others on the 'Ice Cream' since I'm just starting with that one myself. But I'd recommend bringing in the Cavendish if you can - don't try and over winter it in the basement though (they don't do so well like others). If you can keep it potted until next Spring, I think that's your best solution. I've heard a lot of folks have trouble overwintering Cavendish's. Even mine was some trouble in the heated garage last year (under the 1000W MH's).

__________________
Malama 'Aina



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

damaclese

the time to dig is NOW if its that cold at night IC will go to zone 9 and the Cavendish are even more sensitive to cold id out them in pots personally i don't like the dry storage method lots of corms just don't survive and as i stated in another post just today they make lovely house plants and the best part is you get to watch them grow all winter when nothing els is growing it sorta keeps the hart warm all winter long

__________________
Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

Play_Her

Thanks Damaclese and JCDerrick, that's kinda what I was leaning towards doing, just needed some confirmation. I'll go ahead and pot them up and start bringing them in at night. It's still pretty warm during the day, in the 80's so I'll leave them out during the day for a while still.

This board rocks btw, lots of great helpful info on here. And very nice people.

damaclese

well I'm no expert more just repeating what iv read here on the org but your welcome glad to help!

__________________
Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

JCDerrick

Quick question, what zone was Jared in? My 'Ice Cream' is from Pete in Louisiana and I plan to leave it out next year - bc he does that with his there, so I feel pretty good about its chances since it's from a similar zone (actually a bit colder than me if anything).

If Jared shipped from a cooler or similar area as your own, you're probably fine leaving it in the ground with a nice mulch around it. Check your zone in ATL too, I know you get a little colder than we do here in Columbia at times - or so it seems.

Of course, if you're looking for fruit from the Ice Cream (which I suspect you are), then digging it up may be the best option to preserve the full p-stem.

__________________
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

I have a nice sized mat of Ice Cream with the mother pstem at around 9' right now. I will be digging it soon and storing it under my house for the winter just to try and get it to bloom next year. I know Ice Cream will overwinter outside in my area as a good friend of mine has done this quite a bit over the past couple of years. Of course, if you want to try and get fruit in the Atlanta area which is more a z8a, you will still need to overwinter inside.

__________________

modenacart

I still think its early to dig it up. I would wait at least a few weeks.

JCDerrick

Yeah I'm digging mine up when the low's hit the high 40's. I'll then leave it out to acclimate to it's new pot until the threat of first frost and after that it'll stay in the heated garage until Spring.

__________________
Malama 'Aina



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

Play_Her

Jared was in Florida, so probably zone 9 or so. I went ahead and dug them up and potted them. I'm leaving them outside for the next couple of weeks while they adjust to being in pots. Then I'll bring them in and put them in the spare room for the winter. Thanks again guys.

D_&_T

Jarred is zone 10b in southern Florida!

We have got several plants from him, all will get brought in for the winter shortly!

__________________

damaclese

Ice creams area rated for zones 10 and 9 but obviously every area has its mico climates so that fact that some one living in zone 8 said that there ic survive ever year doesn't surprise me if you live near a body of water or near a coastal region they are often a hole zone warmer then the surrounding area also things like masonry walls and side walks or streets reflect allot of heat over night and can make a portion if not all of a specific area much warmer for example in England its quite common to grow melons all winter long the way this is accomplished is by planting them in a composting pile the heat of the decomposition can be quite warm so the melons survive just fine apples and pares can be mad to fruit in winter time by planting in front of a south facing wall in some zones they Key is knowing exactly were to plant in your garden some times just 12" left or right is enough to get a plant to survive thats why throue out you growing season and winter you should take careful notes on were the sun falls and how long it stays their and at what times of the year its there keep a thermometer with you all the time and check every day when you are out even in winter time fined those warm sunny spots in the winter and plant the things that are marginal there ever yard has its sweet spots you just have to find them and the only way is throw years of growing in a particular location

__________________
Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

Randy4ut

Pauly,
I know the IC is rated 9-10, but is the ratings based on fruiting and not root hardiness. That is where I always get conflicting answers as I understand that the ratings for bananas are usually for fruit production. Still confused when I try to see how hardy a particular banana is and knowing if that is root hardiness or what. What is your take on this? You did make some excellent points in your post and I am sure it will help others that are trying to stretch their limits...

__________________

bepah

I friend in my neighborhood fruited her Ice cream this year. (It made the best banan bread I have ever tasted).

She grows her banana outside, does not bring it in, does not protect it, the same as I.

We are in a 9b area, but this year was more like a 10a.

Good luck!

__________________
John Case
Rookie Gardener, Veteran Drinker

Bananaman88

That's interesting to read, Randy. I always assumed that hardiness quotes meant the plants survivability for a winter in the stated zones. I'd never heard that it referred to where the plant will fruit. That is certainly different for the way the USDA hardiness zones are normally used. I wonder if bananas are the only plants treated differently like this?

mnorell

My personal experience with 'Ice Cream' is pretty frustrating, and I'm in zone 9a, Natchez, Mississippi. I planted my mat about 3-1/2 years ago, and every year stems have pretty much rotted out, though they initially appeared to have survived temps in low or mid 20s. Finally this winter, despite a low of 23.3F (15 hours below freezing) and a couple of other mid-20s freezes, several stems survived. The plant is now huge, about 20' tall, but has never thrown a flower in all this time. Today I glanced up at this clump and saw to my shock a large inflorescence opening its first hand. Too bad it's mid-October...I doubt that it will be able to ripen this fruit by the time we have a 30F or lower freeze, usually very late Nov or early December. I've consistently seen it written that this is a very hardy cultivar but it's not my experience, at least in terms of stem-survival. And really marred by the very long growth-to-flower cycle.

My money's on 'Belle,' which is an astoundingly stem-hardy and quick-bearing plant, stronger even than 'Orinoco' here. 13 months from small plant to flowering here in Natchez, and roughly 16' tall. I'm about to harvest my first large bunch from a little plant put in the ground in June 2007. In Atlanta I would suggest trying some of the stem-hardier types such as 'Belle' to see if you can't overwinter them enough to bear without having to dig and store them. I think you'll be disappointed with 'Ice Cream' unless you do lift it, which is difficult considering its size. You may also try 'Veinte Cohol' if you can get your hands on one, as these are reportedly single-season bearers in Savannah.