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talynn671

Musa Basjoo - Splitting and Winterizing

Talynn671
10 years ago

I planted this in spring of this year from a 5 gallon pot. It stands about 4' tall and has 3 pups about 15"-20" tall with a trunk diameter of about 3"-4". Can I propagate the pups now and re-plant outside - frost should be hitting in a couple weeks.

I am planning on winterizing by wrapping the trunk in burlap and covering the base with a thick layer of cedar mulch - would that work?. Also when should I winterize before or after frost, do I have to trim off leaves or just let them die and stay on plant.

Thanks.

Comments (10)

  • christine1950
    10 years ago

    I think the winters are to harsh to leave your banana out, others will give you better advice, but I'd plan on digging it up if you want to save it for next year. My banana is in a pot and I brought it in already. I'm in the mid hudson valley ny. Hope I've helped a little.
    Christine

  • grabmebymyhandle
    10 years ago

    Musa basjoo should be hardy there!

    But don't mess with it now!

    Wait til spring!

    They won't make the winter if you disturb it now, mulch it good now, wait til frost knocks the leaves out and wrap the trunk.

    I'm going to protect my hardy naners with lawn and garden bags stuffed with leaves, stuck right down over the trunk! That'll help keep it dry!

    Once it wakes back up in spring, slide a knife between the parent and the pup, you need a decent sized chunk of corm to get the pups to take...it's easy

    Good luck!

  • chrisware
    10 years ago

    Most importantly, just keep it from wanting to rot. After hard frost, cut back some, rake lots or soil and mulch up around the remaining trunk.
    You can throw a garbage bag full of leaves over it or an old trash can... Just help keep it dry and you'll be fine.

    This year I'm going to protect a couple of my huge ones just to keep some trunk heights alive, but last year I didn't protect any of the eight I had in the ground and they were all fine.
    Good luck,
    Chris

  • miketropic
    10 years ago

    I think everyone missed somthing here..the pic in this post is not bajoo..it looks like SDC and it will die a quick death if left out no matter the protection..get some better shots and post them or get it into a pot very fast and into the house.

  • christine1950
    10 years ago

    Thank you for clearing this up Mike, I know NY and it is to cold for any type of banana.. I'd hate to see Talynn loose it..
    Christine

  • grabmebymyhandle
    10 years ago

    Yea! They are super dwarfs! Totally not hardy!
    I guess I didn't see the fat trunks! Chock that up to only using my phone with its tiny screen!

    Christine- I don't know NY!
    I do know basjoo, I promise it's hardy up there!
    Along with atleast another, Mekong giant, there's probably several more that are marginally hardy there if protected.

  • grabmebymyhandle
    10 years ago

    Googled basjoo in NY and gardenweb yeilded several good results!

    It's not uncommon for basjoo to be hardy in zone 4 there's even reports of successful overwinterings in zone 3!

    Don't be confused tho, those SDC should be dug promptly, before frost, and acclimated to a pot for winter time!
    I can't believe I didn't notice they aren't basjoo, I thought the leaves looked funny and just never actually looked...whoops...

    They look really nice talynn!

    Here is a link that might be useful: Basjoo in Canada!

  • tinylady1
    10 years ago

    I know mine is hardy, I planted it in the ground last year in a temporary spot till spring and then dug it up and planted back in the pot. But this year I want to plant it permanently. I just want to make sure I plant it in the appropriate spot . I had thought about near the pool, but with babies coming up, I don't think that is good. Then I thought about 3 ft from the fish pond, not sure. The area I was also thinking is in a area that ferns grow well. Any ideas?

  • Talynn671
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    How are you able to tell the difference between the musa basjoo and the SDC? I purchased this plant from "Fast Growing Trees" and was labeled as a musa basjoo (sorry not advertising).

    Here is a link that might be useful: Difference

  • islandbreeze
    10 years ago

    Super Dwarf Cavendish have really wide leaves in comparison to how short the overall plant is. They are also very compact with a lot of leaves growing very close to each other with regards to their placement on the pseudostem. They're more stubby looking than most other bananas. Basjoo are more leggy, although definitely not a leggy banana. They're just taller with narrower leaves. Google pics of both.

    I agree with the above posters, that's definitely a SDC.