Emily, my basjoo started growing out of the mulch pile last April-mid April. I think I removed the mulch shortly after that but did worry about a late frost because the plant became too tall to protect. Maybe it is better to remove the mulch early to moderate the temps more so that you don't encourage an early growth spurt. Have you done a search over on the banana forum?

Sue

Sue,
Thanks for the tip on searching the Banana forum...I did just that, and it seems that people start that effort some time in April. Unfortunately, it also seems that I didn't mulch correctly--I did not provide a barrier against excessive moisture, so my plant is probably rotted.
Off to Logees!
Emily

Emily, don't be so quick to write off the plant. I didn't provide any water barrier last year and mine was just fine. Up until the past couple of weeks we haven't had all that much moisture here this winter so I'm hoping things will be fine again.

Sue

Emily I did not mulch mine at all last year 05/06 and 3 clumps came back fine, completely frozed to the ground and the main trunks turned to mush...when they returned last May one clump had 13 pups. I again did not mulch at all this years we'll see what happens. In Haverhill MA here near the NH border.

Chazparas and Sue,
Thanks for your responses...you have given me hope!
Emily

Emily, Sue,
I love Logee's just took a trip there 2 weeks ago, spring fever hit real bad here! LOL, I purchased my Basjoo through a local nursery that ordered them for me, 1 gallon pots for 35 dollars! That was spring of 2005, I'm sure they have gone up a bit but the plants were 3' tall when I put them in. As much as I love Logee's and do spend quiet a bit there I can't see spending what they want for such a small plant. I'm not sure what the rules are here about posting business names but I'm in Haverhill MA if you're near there I can email you the nursery name. I asked them to special order the basjoo for me, I may try needle palm this year, they survived zone 6 NJ for me easily!

Hi Chazparas,

I agree that Logee's plants appear to be highly priced for the size. My basjoo came from a mail order nursery in NJ called Fairweather Gardens in the spring of 2005. It was also a gallon sized container and around $30. Here's what it looked like in mid October of last year.

{{gwi:422702}}

Chaz, do you grow any hardy palms?

Sue

Sue,
I don't have any hardy palms here in MA, when I lived in ridgefield park NJ I had needle palms that did great with out protection. I'm thinking of ordering some for here in MA but need to find the name of the company I ordered from, they were 1 gallon sized plants that were at least 18 inches in height. The only drawback here in MA is the length of the growing season, it's about 2 mos shorter than NJ! I'd have to cold frame the palms. Gotta go back and figure how to post photos here, I know there are many subjects that explain! My basjoo only get to about 7 tall because of the short growing season, but they form nice thick clumps!

The easiest way I know to post photos is using tinypic.com. You don't have to sign up or set up an online hosting page. All you need is to have your photo on your computer in an appropriate format like .jpg.

"RE: Exterior options. (Follow-Up #3)
posted by: mightyanvil on 07.31.2006 at 10:05 am in Building a Home Forum

To post a photo:
go to http://tinypic.com (it's free and no sign up is required)

select "browse" and go find your jpg, png, gif, or tif photo file and select it (it will be automatically downsized to 250K)

select the "upload image" button

copy the contents of the "HTML" window and paste it into the text part of your message.

Now preview you message. If you can see the photo, submit the message

If you are unsure of yourself try all of this first at the "test forum" which is linked at the bottom of the main forum page. You might have to play with the dimensions of the original photo to keep the downloaded version from being too large since that sometimes stretches the text of all messages to the right (possibly off the screen)"

Claire

Here is a link that might be useful: Tiny Pic Site

Claire, thanks so much.
Sue, Emily,
this is a photo of the unmulched basjoo coming back. This was late spring once the ground warmed up. There were 3 clumps that came back of 3 planted, this was the largest and it continued to pup the entire summer!

Here is a link that might be useful:

Chazparas,
That's a very healthy looking clump! I have a vague memory of last year's winter being milder than this one. I know we started out very mild here, but the recent arctic snaps seem to be making up for lost time! I mention this because I wonder if the Basjoo will survive this arctic stuff...I suppose I will find out in the next couple of months!

Emily

Emily,
I'm hoping it will survive, the winter is a bit colder than last year and there really was not much snow cover until now. I'm hoping the fence that is behind the basjoo is radiating some heat, it faces south and looking out the window now I see that the snow is melted about 3 feet to the front of the fence, just about where the largest clump is. I'll try to remember to post this spring if it comes back. I'm horrible about mulching and prepping for winter, the leaves that are on the ground around it were put there during spring clean up. Have not decided where to compost yet.