Should I start with a larger basjoo? (and pup/planting question)

14 years ago

I decided to try Musa Basjoo in a few spots this year (am a total banana newbie). I ordered some starter plants online, and they're going well (about 18" tall) in a spare room.

I was at a nursery yesterday, and they have Basjoo in a gallon pot. One is about 30" high, and the stem is much thicker and more mature-looking (browner, more fibrous looking) than mine, and it has five short/small pups and two "nubs" that I assume will develop into pups.

I was thinking that buying one of these would allow me to try planting it deep. Also, given its older appearance plus pups, it seems like this might be more established than mine, and might be more likely to make it through its first winter. (I realize I'll have to cover a lot regardless.)

I haven't grown bananas before. Does this sound like a more mature plant, or will mine look like that and pup relatively quickly? Any comments on deep-planting? The pups are currently above the soil level.

Thanks!

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Comments (9)

chrisware
14 years ago
Yep, go deep.
Good luck!
Chris
Ruth_MI
Original Author
14 years ago
Chris,

Thanks. I'd actually read your "experiment" post before posting my question and thought it was very interesting and sounded logical. Can I plant even the small plants deep?
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Randy31513
14 years ago
That is interesting. Are you saying plant a banana plant deep like you would a tomato plant?
mksmth zone 7a Tulsa Oklahoma
14 years ago
I remove my pups when they are atleast 2 feet tall then I plant my corms at least 14-16 inches deep. With enough heat, sun, water and food your 18" plants could be 6' plus by the end of summer if not bigger.

Mike
chrisware
14 years ago
If it were me and I had a pup that was shorter, I would baby it in a pot and try to get it a little taller so that I could plant it deeper.
I have one right now that only has a trunk about one foot tall that I am trying to get to about two foot so I can plant it deeper.
Somewhere on a blog I read that as log as the base of the leaf was still sticking out, then it was ok.
I'm amazed at how tough they are.

Chris
Randy31513
14 years ago
I too wonder about timing of planting. If you want it to fruit, would it be better to plan it so the plant reaches fruiting height in say June? That might be wintering it two years with the goal of reaching fruiting size as early in the summer as practical.

Newbie here so I have no idea if this would work or not.
Ruth_MI
Original Author
14 years ago
Mike and Chris,

Thanks...that's all very useful information!
jimhardy
14 years ago
If you do grow it in a pot,put in the biggest one you can
move......any restriction to the roots will cause it to pup.

But-it will never grow as fast in a pot!

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islandbreeze
14 years ago
I'm in Michigan as well. I have basjoos that overwinter in ground on the west side of my house. I would go for one of the larger ones that the store has to offer. They're not super common around here, so if you see them, buy one. I can't say from personal experience about deep planting, but it seems like it makes sense, although a lot of other plants don't like being planted deep. I plant mine at ground level and mulch for the winter. I also have Musa Mekong Giant that came back this spring as well. They definitely get larger and grow faster than Basjoo FYI.