COLD HARDY
PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy
Plants |
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Musa "basjoo"
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Quantity
of plants tested: 1
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedling which was 3" tall in
June 1999.
Soil texture: sandy loam and covered with 2" pine bark mulch.
When planted: the seedling was planted in the ground on June 9,
1999.
Winter protection: 4" to 6" leaf mulch from late
November through end of February.
Microclimate: warm microclimate, 80% sun during the winter months
and planted 3 feet away from building foundation with basement.
Temperature: refer to 1999-2000 winter on this chart
Findings: the plant survived. The small suckers first appeared
through the ground surface during the first week of April 2000 (about
1/2" in height). Plant grew fast into a 4foot tall specimen
with leaves to 3' long. Note: the main trunk of the
banana did die to the ground. |
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February
24, 2000 - This photo shows the trunk at the end of winter. |
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May
6, 2000 - here's the suckers emerging through the ground
surface. Notice how the "mother" plant has not started to
grow yet. |
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May
27, 2000 - this photo shows the suckers as of the end of May.
Shortly after this photo, we relocated the banana and separated the
suckers. The photo below is what grew from the "mother"
plant and new suckers which emerged in the summer. |
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September
20, 2000 - here's the plant near the end of summer. Quite
impressive! This is a must for every garden. |
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September
27, 2001 - here's another Musa basjoo we are going to test this
winter. The roots of the banana are located in a nearly 100% shaded
position from November through early February (a cold microclimate).
We will protect by placing a small cold frame over the plant starting in
November. |
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October
8, 2001 - here's the banana after a night down to 26F. Not a
pretty site. |
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September
7, 2002 - here's the basjoo before the first freeze. |
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October
22, 2002 - here's the same banana after the first 2002 freeze.
Low temperature was 27.9F as measured near the top of the trunks (see the
cord?). The growth shown in photo is all new this year. The
bananas die to ground level every winter (even last winter the warmest
ever recorded in Rhode Island). |
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August
8, 2003 - the plant died from the winter cold and never returned. |
