If the pseudostems are soft and mushy, you can cut back to the solid part but sometimes, even that part is damaged and eventually, you wind up cutting back all the way. My winter lows are usually in the mid to upper 20's and most of my banana varieties are cold hardy enough to make it through and I simply trim them up and try to expose the top most part of the pseudostem to sunlight. But this year was different and the jury is still out and I might have to whack most of them down to the ground.

Steve

I am in my third year with only one plant but first year with the 5-6 I added last spring. I left my stems or plants as is for the first time this winter. The advice I was given was to cut them down to stump size or close to the ground once the main threat of cold was over. They will start growing once the warm daytime temps kick in. Just cover and protect during the cold snaps we will continue to have until spring sets in.