I haven't yet... BUT, the weather channel is calling for nice weather this weekend. So I may take a peek.

Anyone? (:D

As expected, the entire stalk was mushed. But worse, I found the base frozen solid. I'm thinking that's not good! LOL

But, I'm letting it thaw out now and will keep it dry. I've only removed the leaves, not the plastic cage. I guess we'll see what happens in a few weeks.

If it does come back, then great! If it doesn't, then I have to make a decision if I'll try again next winter, but maybe this time, put some christmas lights inside with some sort of thermostat to only turn them on when temps get to just above freezing.

Oh well, time will tell.

Did you spray with copper fungicide?

Except for the mush, as expected, it was fairly dry around it. IN other words, the only moisture was from the stalk itself as it disolved.

Hopefully by Sat. I should be able to get a better look at the corm. I do hope that it made it through. But if not, just another learning experience.

At least ALL of the palm trees made it through beautifully.
Even the baby Trachycarpus Takil looks the exact same as the day I covered it. I can't believe how nice and lush and green it is.

I love this stuff! LOL ):D

Boca Joe

This spring, I will most likely plant the other trees so that they'll grow like crazy, but will dig them up in the fall and store them, perhaps, in the basement.

But I hope that once this stupid long, drawn out cold is done that it will grow again.

Where in your garden did you plant your basjoo?

tropicalintoronto, when you said "In regards to the mush, sometimes we over protect these guys." are you implying that too much winter protection may lead to the pseudostems dying back more than they otherwise would? Please explain!

Our garden is in Hamilton.

We planted a Basjoo pup (from one of the main plants) last spring. It did very well all summer long. I tried the protection schemes mentioned.

As treeguy, when I checked it in March, it was also frozen solid. I had removed all the leaves inside the structure and left the protective plastic intact. It's not near the corm, but does protect from water as well as provide more heat during the day.

As of today, it's still mush, but I still have hope that there might still be some life.

If not, then next year I'll cut the stalk down on the new plant and put some of those mini lights in, over the corm to keep it warm.

Keep trying I guess, unti I have success.

treeguy, I had about 18" of pseudostem survive the winter before this one, with very minimal mulching. This winter was so nasty, I'm a bit scared, but I'm hoping my corms are still OK.

I've done better just mulching with the frost-dried leaves (sometimes I add some dried canna stems too) than the plastic and straw. But my basjoo is in a very protected microclimate, probably wouldn't work as well if it were a little colder.

If you overprotect the plant it can become very warm inside during mild days. That can lead to moisture build up which in turn can lead to rot and fungus.

Blondboy,

I still believe that your plant may still rise from the ashes. Keep us informed.

This will be the weekend that I have my first look at my basjoos. I'm a little nervous.

I live in Markham and wonder what protection you give your basjoos. I would assume we have a very simialr climate. Since you have been successful maybe I can benefit from your experience.

So today is install the fan day.

As for the Musa, it's mushy on top, but if I push my finger into it, it seems firmer. Perhaps there's hope yet.

In the fall, after a light frost turns leaves to mush, dig out the entire rootball with a spade, it can typically be removed readily, although a large clump can be heavy. Trim off all the leaves, you can keep the newest one on, and place the rootball and stem clump into a garbage bag and leave it in a garage that preferably stays above freezing.

In the spring, you have 2 options...place the clump into a large pot, fill with any potting mix, and leave it somewhere warm and bright (east or west window), water it, and let it grow for about a month before they're ready to be planted out...

-or-

Plant the whole clump outside directly after last frosts, this will result in slower initial growth of course.

By storing in a garage, you do not have to worry about extreme cold or if the plants will survive.

Dan1465

Learning's from this last winter are;
Not to concentrate on protecting the entire 6-7ft of stalks. Next fall I will cut the stems down to 3-4 ft and build wide as opposed to tall. Should require less effort. And hopefully better results.

Edbtz,

I spray the plant with copper fungicide after the first good frost. I may have waited a little too long last fall. Then I simply build a crude cage using chicken wire, fill it in with leftover straw from Thanksgiving decorations. Wrap the cage with bubble wrap and finally cover everything with a waterproof tarp.

xerophyte_nyc,

For some strange reason I find satisfication in being able to overwinter a banana plant outside where the temperatures can drop well below 0F/-18C.

Thanks
Phil

This is kind of a stupid question but I assume they're going to come out of the ground looking like the plants I bought last spring? I found this odd thing coming up in the area where the banana was, I'm not sure what it is...

Our weekend was very warm, weather probably in the 80's and sunny, the shoots are visibly longer in just those two days.

To over winter I cut the stalk off at 3', wrapped it in bubble wrap and then a large clear leaf bag (which I'm told was a bad idea because the plastic traps moisture), then took my garden composter and set it over the wrapped stalk. I then filled the composter with leaves. The composter is black plastic with a lid and lots of ventilation holes along the sides. In early april I uncovered the plant and the top part of the stem was mushy and I feared further rot. I cut it off at about 20" and then wrapped the whole thing again in burlap as I anticipated more freezing weather. In hindsight I probably didn't need to cut it back so short because it seems only the outside layers were mush and the inside was a solid healty part. About two weeks ago it pushed it's self through the burlap and so I uncovered it. It's seems uneffected by the several slightly below freezing nights we have had since.

Oh well. It was an experiment anyway.

We still have 4 health ones in pots in the greenhouse and 2 of those are shooting out pups.

Maybe next year again. Or maybe not! LOL :)

Too bad on the your basjoos. You never know, they may still surprise you as long as the corm is still solid.

Mine are alive though they did not fair as well as they did last year. Many pups coming up but the main stems are still mushy.

BTW, I went to Broadway last week and picked up some plants. I might make one more trip when they get their other hardy banana plants in.

Cheers
Phil

Mine are about 3 1/2 feet tall and I cut them down even with the ground this is the second winter for them and they are growning like gang busters.

I uncovered mine today - I have a three little sprouts a few inches tall. Wouldn't you know there's a frost warning for tonight now? I wish I'd left the mulch on one more day!!

I don’t really have a secret I just cut them down even with the ground then I spray copper fungicide on them then I put plastic over the top. Then I just cover the plastic with mulch, and then I wish for spring. I am not going to start a zone war here but I am in a zone 6 we might just get warmer sooner and stay warmer longer. There is not a freeze warning here and it is only going to be in the 50’s tonight

I had a beautiful little green tip coming up but it turned out to be a hosta. :( I have one musa basjoo in a pot and I'll probably order a few more. Try, try again!

No, not really. As of today, still nothing. But, not a big deal. I still have the 3 mother plants and 1 more pup.

I will be leaving them all in pots. I don't think I'm going to try this again.

But, there is one thing that's nagging my mind.

Is it possible that the pup that I planted last year, was just too juvenile to survive? I mean, it was fairly small, but did grow to something like 7 feet, if memory serves.

The mother plants have MUCH larger corms.

I suppose there are lots of variables as to why it didn't make it.

If I don't see anything by mid to end of May, I think I'll dig up what's there and look at it. IF it's still firm, maybe I'll just put it in a pot and see what happens.

Where and how much did you order your basjoo, if you don't mind me asking? I ordered mine last fall from going bananas out of fl... I think it ran me under 30 total. Mine have been in the ground for over 2 weeks and have finally put out some new leaves...growth has begun!

WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! >:D

I can NOT believe it. But this afternoon, we came home to a sweet surprise! You guessed it. The first Musa Basjoo shoot coming out of the ground from the mother corm!!!

May I please repeat, you know, for clarity..

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 'FREAK'N HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LOL

Picture taken today at 7:15pm

Congrats, don't be surprised to see more of these little guys and gals pop up.

I think that this is going to turn out to be a huge plant and with luck, maybe it'll have pups too. I am SOOOO happy that this experiement worked out. ):D

Sorry, I'm just catching up! I ordered mine on Ebay. This is my second time ordering and I think I generally pay around $5-6 a plant. I received them already and they look great, so I have four in the ground at this point (three new and one I had as a houseplant).

Blondboy, I'm so happy for you!!!! What a sight!!!

I guess I was the only one who actually killed mine. :( But as a Zone 5er (and borderline 5 at that), I'm not all that surprised. I WILL try again this coming winter though, maybe even with Christmas lights for a little warmth! I did a few things wrong this winter like having plastic directly on the plant!

But, there's something about having bragging rights to grow banana plants in our zones! LOL ):)

We have had some hot weather here, but I haven't even fertilized yet. The largest is already 4 or 5 feet tall, and there are tons of pups - so many I'm whacking them down with a kitchen knife every few days, because I only want about 3 of them in the space I have allotted (I don't like them really crowded, and I can't let the clump spread too far into the other plants).

Also planting them at least 1ft deep will help protect the corm even if the psuedo-stem gets killed to the ground so that it can come back the following year.