Unwrapping bananas near Seattle - Taking a calculated risk

[@vikingf30]

Glad to see them uncovered. 😎 I've been following weather closely for me out here on the Key Peninsula. Had to trim about a foot off my Blue Java after unwrapping but felt pretty solid. Fresh green behind some of the dead layers so I decided not to trim down further. Guess we will see in a couple weeks and see some fresh leaf pushing out. The thing did really well last summer following your tips. Was just over 6 feet tall in a few months from a little pup tree. I have a feeling this year will really shoot up nicely! 🤞

[@vibonitatropics]

Nice update, thanks. The Musa basjoos have grown about 1/2 inch since I cut them 2 days ago including the ones I didn't protect. No growth visible on any of the blue javas yet but it's still pretty cold at night. If they don't end up growing, I'll try them again but will wrap with Christmas lights in addition to the bubble wrap for next year. I might do that anyway just to make them look a little less drab.

[@vikingf30]

@Vibonita Tropics the Xmas lights work pretty well! I was thinking of trying that next winter on top of the wrap if it struggles to revive this spring. I did Xmas lights around my Satsuma and Limquat trees and it worked perfect. Even when it snowed the ground right at the base stayed free of snow/frost.

[@vibonitatropics]

@@vikingf30 I think it's the only way to keep the wife happy with a bunch of bubble wrapped sticks in the yard all winter 🤣

[@vikingf30]

@@vibonitatropics 🤣 that's good point

[@vikingf30]

@Vibonita Tropics any new growth from the Blue Javas? I ended up trimming about a foot off of mine until I saw a white-ish core. Hoping after this next week of mid 30s in the late nights/early mornings will start to see some growth as it warms up. Atleast the days are starting to hover around the 50s

[@maryg1338]

Wow! After this week I’ll try to unwrap mine. Tonight it says going to bottom out at 25. So another week perhaps. Usually don’t uncover till the middle of April.

[@vibonitatropics]

Mid April is my usual as well.

[@texastropics]

Most of mine got knocked back to the ground. My biggest ones died back to a few feet. First time ever seeing them this type of dieback.

[@vibonitatropics]

I was pretty disappointed to see the blue javas in the shape they were in. I'm going to put some in the front yard for next winter and see if they fare better.

[@texastropics]

@@vibonitatropics I think there are only a few species of bananas we can reliably grow in the PNW. I had an ice cream banana which I think is the same as Blue java and it died the first winter. So I think you've done well getting them this far. This year I'm trying an Orinoco, people in zone 8 in the south have good luck with them, and they do actually produce fruit you'd want to eat.

[@vibonitatropics]

I have a friend not far from me that has kept orinocos and they do well for him.

[@texastropics]

@@vibonitatropics Great. I haven't heard of anyone growing it out west so this is encouraging.