Bananas

It just goes to show that you can be pretty rough with them and they will still come back.

 

Looking good guys I planted mine back out after it's been in the frost free greenhouse over winter

 

That's a really good size Richard - looking at the base. Did you dig it up for the winter or had it always been in a pot before?

 

Thanks peter I dug it up has been in the friend two summers only thing is it will not fit in the greenhouses this winter I think so might have to cut it right back yours look to be a fair size too

 

I am just looking at the base of yours Richard - its very big. Mine are still pretty small by comparison.

However they grow so fast that we will all soon have the same problem of them being to big to overwinter as entire plants. That's why I am interested in the method of overwintering them as dry corms. I have seen talk on the internet of overwintering huge plants that way - ie plants described as almost too heavy for two people to lift them.

I overwintered four plants as dry corms. Two small ones fully recovered and are growing away well. The largest one has not recovered its main flowering point but has put out two pups - so not a complete failure. But the fourth, a small one, has not recovered at all. Its far from a perfect record and I would like to know how to improve it.

I also overwintered a fairly large one in a pot, but had cut all the leaves and stem off. That's not recovered. However I think it was a mistake to leave it in a conservatory at 10C over the winter. I suspect they need to be fully dormant at a low temperature or actively growing plants the temperature is higher.

 

I have seen people over winter them the dry like you say but I read it's can be hard to get them going I was too scared of losing it I have just got a yellow lotus banana too and have two red tiger banana ordered so will have a nice collection this summer

 

Richard, I think the dry corm method of overwintering bananas mainly works for Ensete Maurelii. I am not sure if it works for anything else - but I would love to hear if it does.

You are right in that there is uncertainty in getting them to regrow in the following spring - but I suspect the chances could be increased a lot with the right technique. The problem comes when they get too big to overwinter as a complete plant. You either have to ditch them or use the dry corm method.

Last year I bought a yellow lotus banana too (Musella lasiocarpa) because it seems to be the easiest and best flowerer. Luckily, I believe, they don't grow very tall - so overwintering is easier. The Red Tiger Banana (Musa sikkimensis) sounds nice, but I suspect it can get quite big. I have also got a Musa velutina (The Pink Banana), I read that it flowers early and doesn't get over 6 feet.

 

I'm shore I read of people storing bajoo s and red tigers as dry corms in America under there houses
But I think the guy I'm getting the red tiger s from just raps them up in the ground like a bajoo so hope that will work for me if they get big
likr you say might have no choice but to store the insete maurelii dry in the garage

 

I used to do Ensetes but I don't know if my old supplier is still going ?



I used to build a big greenhouse around them every year but I take my chances these days

 

I always leave the leaves on as they don't hurt and provide more interference for the frost penetration

With effort you will get bananas but nothing you can consume.

 

Berry nice collection banana man I like the idea of building a greenhouse round them but don't the the Mrs would be right happy

 

My bananas finally staring to get leaf that are not smashed to ribbons from the wind

 

Bananas in Leeds....... That's amazing.... I've seen them grown all around the world... thought Maderia was amazing.... But Leeds.... You guys need a trophy

 

They are a really good size Richard - are they basjoo?

 

Thanks apple blossom they are really not that hard
Peter yes they are I have a few others too but my biggest are basjos to the highest point of the leaf on the right its about 8 foot they have been ther two summers so far I protect the stem every winter but they have been slow to kick off this year with all the wind kept smashing the roller to bits but hoping to get some leafs coming on now