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New banana tree pot or ground?

Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
in Plants
Hi all. I bought two small banana trees in 1 litre pots in July, which are now both quite at home in approx 30cm diameter pots.
I have musa basjoo and ensete ventricosum Maurelii.
I originally planned to move them both indoors during the winter as I don’t have a greenhouse, but I didn’t realise that the musa basjoo is actually quite hardy.
I have also decided where to plant the musa basjoo now, so my question is, will it do better overwinter if I leave it in it’s pot and cover with bubble wrap and fleece etc, or is it too late to plant it in the ground to get established before the winter?
Many thanks
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Depends where you are. Some inner city gardens in the south would be fine for example, and various pockets where there's a micro climate, but in most areas, a small plant like that would struggle very badly, especially if it's in isolation. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited October 2020
    how tall is the basjoo?
    Devon.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Sorry yes I should have said. I’m in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. It is a small garden and is quite sheltered.
    I’ll take a pic of the Basjoo and post it! Thanks 
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Here is the musa basjoo in the position where I want to plant it


  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    I am new to banana growing so can't speak with authority on this but I would not leave a young plant outside for the winter as it is too precious to lose. We have had reasonably mild winters recently but that is no guarantee of a frost free few months. Whilst Basjoo may be hardy, a young plant is more susceptible to winter damage. If you plant it in the ground now it won't have a chance to get established before the weather turns wet and horrid.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I see no sense in that either @Ceres, even if the site and conditions are suitable.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • piratesupporterpiratesupporter Posts: 15
    Basjoo survives well outdoors here in Cornwall. Take it in for the winter. Plant it out
    in late spring. They need a lot of water. Your site may be too close to the dry spot at
    the bottom of the fence, which I hope is south facing ?
    Plant it deep. If it seems to be damaged by cold leave it until mid summer as new shoots very often appear late from deep down after frost damage.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Okie doke, thanks guys! Fence is south/west facing.
  • Loz46Loz46 Posts: 103
    Piratesupporter, is that as in BRFC? Up the gas! 😉
  • piratesupporterpiratesupporter Posts: 15
    No. Penzance rugby club.
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