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allen0072000

is my basjoo corm alive?

allen0072000
14 years ago

Hello, I am hoping someone can help. I planted 18 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. Now it is Spring and I have no pups coming up anywhere and I was concerned that none of them made it.

So, I just dug up a corm and it is very hard and firm (not mushy) with lots of roots everywhere, but no new growth. The roots are covered in a slimy coating, but when I scrape it off it is white underneath.

So, my question is are these corms alive? If they are does anyone know when I should be seeing some growth?

Thanks for anyone's help!

Chris

Comments (10)

  • gold3nku5h
    14 years ago

    Idk, but did YOU know that basjoo is a hardy banana? Its hardy to like 10 degrees or something?

  • fishoifc
    14 years ago

    There fine mine here in zone 8 just came through a few days ago.All of mine are mush to the ground.Your suckers should show first then later maybe main plant.

  • allen0072000
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    I just saw 1 out of the 15 plants break through the mulch finally today. None of the others yet have popped though. It makes me feel better to at least see one coming up now.

  • the_virginian
    14 years ago

    Be patient, they will start to break if they haven't already.

  • allen0072000
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    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 withing 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

  • allen0072000
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    I hope someone can help. Thanks!

    Chris

  • tropicalzone7
    14 years ago

    They must be slow coming back. I have never overwintered a banana, but with cannas if the bulbs crunch when broken, its still alive and usually if you squeeze the rotten ones juice comes out. hope this helps. If it doesnt come up by mid-late july then its dead for sure. Most are up by mid june.

  • sfhellwig
    14 years ago

    I wish I could add more than to be patient. It sounds as if the corms are just fine. Maybe someone knows a certain treatment of watering or fertilizing to "jump start" them. I am in the same boat. I had 3 dwarf cavendish and 1 basjoo overwintered in a basement. All died to the corm. All corms are firm and clean. NONE have growth. I remember last year just having to be patient but I didn't write it in my journal so I have no idea when it was. I have mine in pots and are probably way to dry. Otherwise I would go by tropicalzone7's advice on waiting time.

  • sfhellwig
    14 years ago

    Just to give a bit of hope, my basjoo finally woke up. Just noticed it on Saturday and it is showing signs of vigorous growing. Also one of the potted cavendish is growing quickly. We had a week of high heat with no rain. Then we took on 3" in a few days. Then the bananas popped. As cannas and elephant ears are already growing well bananas appear to be the late tropical for my area.

  • nucci60
    14 years ago

    Basjoos are hardy but not bulletproof. I occasionaly lose them overwinter. This year I lost one that had come back three years in a row.