Topic: Winter protection for tender plants

[Mrs Ava]

Banana growers.....  ;D and other tender plant lovers, how do you protect your big permanent plants through the winter?  I have 2 lovely banana plants by my pond which are planted in the ground.  They are in a sheltered spot, and we do not get to harsher weather here in sunny Essex, but how should I protect them through the winter?  I have access to net curtains and bubble wrap....any use?

[Roy Bham UK]

Hi Emma, do you know what species your nana’s are? ??? Most common reasonably hardy ones are Musa basjoo; there are a lot of more tender ones like Dwarf cavandishi in the big super stores that are tender. :(
If you think you have Musa basjoo and you aren’t too bothered about it getting really big then do nothing other than give it loads of mulch in winter to protect the roots and it will come back time after time especially in your sub-tropical climate. 8)
If you want a whopping big monster then you could wrap it in net curtain, bubble wrap and mulch, (the latter is important because of frost at the ground level) or you could use what I have called my Musa Matey :o…see if this link works… www.rrbg06748.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mateytripic.jpg it’s just plastic netting and fleece (don’t forget the mulch) I pop it on the stem when there is a frost and remove when there isn’t to allow the air to keep it on the dry side, the idea of this is to preserve the trunk so the nana will continue to grow from that height making it bigger. :o
You will never need to buy another nana as they usually produce many pups for you to propagate. ;D

Good luck. ;)

Roy ;D ;D ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

EJ, I put 4 stakes into the ground around me nana's.wrap netting around that, and stuff the inside with straw. Placcie bin bag over the top to stop the rain rotting the trunk. Goes on before the first hard frost, gets unwrapped in the spring! Doesn't look very pretty though, but seems to do the trick!

[Spurdie]

Snap, Doris! I use netting wire and straw round my gunnera, in fact it's not really straw, it's ornamental grass I've cut from the garden on a dry day and saved in the shed for when the frosts start to appear! By the way, the cannas have done very little this year - no flowers at all! I hope they improve next year or they'll be destined for the compost heap!

[Roy Bham UK]

Spurdie Gunnera manicata are tough as old boots here in Brum,I just cut a few giant leaves off and stack them on top of the plant, easy peasy.

Roy. ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Soooper, I know what to do now then.  The two narnars outdoors are Musa Basjoo's Roy and I would really like them to get huge, so want to protect them well.

My gunnera DP, does that need protection?  Should I take it into my greenhouse for the winter, or will that be toooo warm?  I could move it down the side of our house and wrap it up to keep it a little more cosy.

Generally, tender things are in pots and move into my greenhouse or conservatory, but some of the plants are just getting too huge for pots and really need to be in the ground.  I just don't want to loose any of these babies.

[Roy Bham UK]

Emma, not a clue what DP means, but in sunny Essex your Gunnera should romp away without protection other than a few of the old leaves thrown on top of the plant.

When you get your Nana's to a reasonable size you may not need to protect them, take a look at this site of Paul Spracklins (very nice guy) who lives in your neck of the woods, it is a sub-tropical oasis and scroll down to meet his MIL under the Banana plant just to give an idea of size. :o
http://www.oasisdesigns.co.uk/my%20garden.htm

Roy ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

EJ, what I do with my Gunnera is the same as Roy, bend the leaves over the crown, But I then cover it with straw and put a bucket over the top! They are quite hardy beaties though, but as yours is a mere babe, I would be inclined to put it in a sheltered pot, maybe wrap the pot in bubble wrap, and cover with straw and a bucket! DP

[Mrs Ava]

Super DP, I shall get it a bubble wrap babygrow for the winter.  ;D