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I finally did it!

15 years ago

I thought some of you fellow palm enthusiasts would be interested to know...I finally got musa basjoo to overwinter outside. We got down to -12F this winter, coldest in a long time, also hitting -8F, and my banana is sending up a pup! Hopefully it will send up more than just one right from the start, but I won't get greedy LOL. This is my third time trying to overwinter basjoo, and I finally got it right.

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Comments (8)

wxman81
15 years ago
What did you do? Mine all died.
islandbreeze
Original Author
15 years ago
I planted it up against the foundation of the house, then covered it with about a foot deep of cypress mulch, and threw a tarp over that. No heat source, no fancy leaf cage, no styrofoam. I think its the foundation of the house that pulled it through. I noticed that cannas survive here unprotected if planted against the foundation, so I figured the same might work for bananas.
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jimhardy
15 years ago
Very cool Islb,I will try to overwinter mine next winter.

Hey wxman,I think your basjoo were to small,I would try them again in the ground this summer but then dig them up and bring them inside for the winter,then they should get big enough to come back next year-
bob_westmich_zn6b
15 years ago
My musa basjoo hasn't shown any signs of life yet either. I mulched it good but didn't do a good enough job keeping it dry. I had a solid block of ice in the p-stem when I uncovered it in March. I am still crossing my fingers for a pup.
palmmandan
15 years ago
Congrats. I also left my Muss Basjoo's in the ground. I had 3 plants that I did not cover at all. 1 plant has 5 pups about 6 inches tall already. The other 2 plants are not showing any life yet. I also live in Michigan.
billn119
15 years ago
Islandbreeze
Thats great,,,I have a few coming up also,,,but it maybe a little too early!! They stop growing when it gets below 37degrees,,at least that what I heard,,,,Im in northern ohio,,and I will cover them when it gets below 45 degrees,,maybe with a blanket,,,My other 5 have not come up yet,,,kinda hope they dont at least for another week,,,,Oh by the way this is the first winter I didnt cover them with mulch,,,so they are hardy for sure!! Bill
v1rt
15 years ago
Good job islandbreeze! I'm going to remove the 30 gallon plastic trash can soon. I also planted mine about 4-5 ft away from the foundation. However, it's the car garage foundation. I don't think heat will ever be produce there.

I'm hoping that musa basjoo is still alive. I'm targeting sometime first week of May for the removal of the trash can.

wxman, no signs of life yet?
rockysth1
15 years ago
I bought a friend a basjoo 2 years ago and he protected it the way I told him, that following spring by the end of the summer he had 11 plants fron just that one, this spring when he uncovered, he has about 20 sprouting from the ground right now , now telling how many he will have the this fall , just from ONE plant , he couldnt believe it now he protects on a bigger scale, and even talking about moving some since he got so many last year fron 1 plant, I'll keep you all posted on how many he ends up with

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