Frankallen

I just ordered a "Dwarf Jamacian Red"...I have been wanting one for a while especially after seeing Mitchel's (momoese) post of Red Bananas!!

Is this the Red you raise Mitchel? Or is it a Dwarf version??

My question is: I read where they are really cold sensitive even in the mid to low 40's...Would they survive alright if I dig them up this Fall and put it in my Garage??Are they really that Cold Sensitive? I think my Garage may get in the Low 40's to high 30's in the Winter! Any help will be apperciated!!

Thanks,


Frank
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momoese

I'm growing the full size Reds. They are pretty dang tall! We had nights here last winter in the mid 30's that froze the grass about half way and it didn't seem to do much damage to the Reds except a few yellow leaves with burnt edges. I might have a bit of a subtropical micro climate happening in my back yard though.

mikevan

I've read that reds can be a little more sensitive than greens - but nevertheless - in Zone 7 you're still gonna get pretty durned cold a few times over the winter especially when the occasional arctic blast hits - which will require protection of some sort or another. There is a tutorial on this forum about one fella, who also is or was in Zone 7 too, IIRC, who dug his up and stuffed them in the crawl-space of his house:

Time to put the bananas to sleep for the Winter

You'll want to ensure they stay below 50F or so and above freezing for maximum chance of success.

Another alternative is to wrap the corms with compost in a wire-cage and cover that with plastic over the winter (sure wish there was a photo-tutorial on that here too). I'll opt for wrapping mine because most of the winter here in Zone 8 it's way above 50F - even into the 80's - which means they're going to want to grow some - storing them under the house in warm tempuratures won't be very good for them, methinks.

Be well,
Mike

Southern-Grower

here's what happens in our zone 7b-8 depends on map yu look at..

these are dwarf orinoco which are hardier, with no protection.

yupper yu guessed it they didn't make it..

__________________
Happy Growing,

SG

Enjoy Life as it's too Short

Southern-Grower

here's what happens in our zone 7b-8 depends on map yu look at..

these are dwarf orinoco which are hardier, with no protection.

yupper yu guessed it they didn't make it..but upside is that the corm made it..

__________________
Happy Growing,

SG

Enjoy Life as it's too Short

Southern-Grower

here's what happens in our zone 7b-8 depends on map yu look at..

these are dwarf orinoco which are hardier, with no protection.

yupper, yu guessed it they didn't make it..but upside is that the corm made it..

__________________
Happy Growing,

SG

Enjoy Life as it's too Short

Frankallen

My "Orinocos" did great stored in my outside Building last Winter, (with no heat) of course they might a little more hardier than this "Red"....No way could I get under my floor to store these, not enough space. My Bldg. is pretty large, plus (Insulated very well)... I guess I could put a heater out there, on the real cold nights!! I have a bunch of "Nanner" digging to do this Fall !!Thanks!!

Frank

Basjoofriend

Hi,

do you show a new pic, how your Orinoco is now, with new growth? Your Orinoco seems to have survived, the pseudotrunks are still some green, the leaves but dead, but I see some green. Still life in the plant!

But unfortunately not hardy in Germany, but possibly with heating cables in the basjoo protection a survival chance in Germany. Yes, you read that Dwarf Orinoco might be protected as the same as basjoos. I call the winterprotection for bananas also "Basjoo Protection".

One lady in Cologne had success to overwinter one fruit banana from Greece in her yard, she heated it with heating cables, it also will stand in my book!

Happy banana growing
Joachim