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Tropical Plants

Has anyone's Musa Basjoo returned in the North?

16 years ago

I live in St. Louis, MO and me and many people I know planted Musa Basjoo's last summer. They are supposed to be winter hardy to -20 degrees. I mulched mine fairly heavily and others more. None of us have any sign of a returning banana plant. Is it too early? Was our winter too hard? Does anyone have any experience with these in the Midwest or North?

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Comments (6)

birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Hi Jennifer..It's still too early.. Have you removed the mulch? If not, and temps aren't likely to drop under 38F, lift mulch. It needs sun to grow.
I grew a Basjoo years ago..it came up, 3 years in a row, I believe, around May..I'm north of you, IL, so mine was bound so sprout a little later sprouting. But the neighbors tree maple grew tall, and my poor banana wasn't getting enough sun. Plus we had an exceptionally icy winter, and I don't think I added enough mulch. It never grew. I recently ordered another Basjoo, as soon as it's warm enough, it's going in a brighter area in the garden.
Give it another month, Jennifer. Toni
ohiojay
16 years ago
Hi Jennifer,
I'm in Ohio and mine are just now starting to peek out thru the mulch. I had mulched heavily and then covered with a plastic tarp. I then spread straw and covered that with the other half of the tarp. Was all that necessary? Not sure. The year before we had temps that dropped to -20 and not all of mine recovered from that. You should see some evidence of them soon. Just when you think they've bought the farm, they will surprise you! So don't give up yet.
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Thanks fglavin, This year was a very bad year indeed for bananas. My tallest this year was only 12ft. tall,a basjoo. Most of mine only got around 6 or 7ft. tall. That late cold spell also claimed many of my bananas. I lost my largest a large red iholene that got nearly 20ft.the year before. It also got all of my velentinas. I had all of them mulched but they were already growing and the cold got them. I also lost my Yunnan bananas.I didn't loose any of my palms though.I have over 30 in my yard right now. I am trying many differant ones to test my luck. I have 29 cheesmani that I grew from seed last year to plant in the yard. I will be busy for a while when spring comes around. My house looks like a jungle right now.
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The following web address is an article posted by another member I followed about outdoor winter care. Although we had a mild winter, my basjoos were sprouting up in Feburary. MY Ice Cream and Black thai came up in late Spring. I also garage kept bananas, Queens, Sago and Pygmy Date Palms and my Palms actually leafed some except for my Sago's.My Sagos lost all their leaves but flushed once I put them outside in the Spring. I thought my Sagos had died.My garage kept Bananas stoped growing except for one that leafed. However this was my second year to keep plants in my garage and had better success than the first year.I did a better job with light and watering but still was unsure if I was over or under watering. I believe my garage temperature stayed in the upper 50's to low 60's most of the winter. Like Chad mentioned, I put a couple of pups in the garage as back-up but did not need them. I will do the same this year and have aquired some more light fixtures to install. The Basjoos I wintered outside was really nice to have alrady growing and filling-out in March when we had some nice days to sit outside. I had the tropical look going for me in March while other plants where just getting started. http://www.plantdelights.com/Banana-Trees-for-the-Garden/products/494/
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Comments (31)
Nucci is right, the trick isn't just covering it to keep moisture off, but also having enough mulch(insulation) where the cold won't be able to penetrate either the pseudostem if that's what you're trying to save, or the corm in the ground. A 5 gallon bucket won't offer enough room for enough insulation to keep the cold from penetrating, while a large trash can will offer at least a foot if not more of insulation on either side of the pseudostem. Some people suggest building a leaf cage as wide as 3 feet across, but I'm not that die-hard LOL.
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glaswegian
16 years ago
I have 2 basjoos that I bought a couple of months ago. They've grown a lot since then and keep throwing out new leaves every week and a half.

When I put them outside to harden off, I notice that the leaves droop. Aren't the suppose to love sun?

What am I doing wrong here, surely it's not the water am giving it?
nyssaman
16 years ago
Glas...night times may be a little cool yet for them.. bananas are most comfortable in the high seventies...I would keep them in until mid may.. they may be going through a little temp shock.. stick them out only on the warmest days for only a couple of hours then bring them in. you are taking them from house or window light to full sun this will shock them a wee bit and they will have to adjust...when the weather is consistantly warm stick them out in light shade for a couple of days.. gradually introducing them to the brighter light. I would not worry about the drooping leaves.

Jeff
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Glas, it's probably temp and sun...yes, they're definately sun lovers, but even high-light plants need to acclimate..Once they're in the garden, pop up in spring, they'll adapt. You won't have to do anything.
But a new plant should be taken out gradually..It's best taking out on cloudy days, when rain is predicted.
Your Musa will adapt. Toni
kelly6780
16 years ago
I live in Jackson, MO (southeast MO) and mine came up about two or three weeks ago. Then last week an additional two came up. I now have four. They should be up soon for you!

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