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Abyssinian banana problem.

sydVEAG5VM2sydVEAG5VM2 Posts: 13
in Problem solving

New member, first post. I have an Elsete ventricosum which I overwintered in my workshop. The frosts are over so I have brought it outside in its pot, but it seems slow to get going. After removing the leaves that had died during the winter, it started pushing up a new leaf but after 6 inches it has buckled over. There is another leaf forming inside but this also looks malformed. I have attached a photo. Any ideas anyone? Root disease? Malnourished? Bugs? (Can't see any).




Also, I remove the dead leaves but never sure how far back to cut. As you will see, there is now a lot of black dead material around the stem. Should this be removed and if so, how far? Do I expose the green stem?

Twin Oaks NGS
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hello and welcome to the forum 😊 
    ive not grown bananas but I believe @Hostafan1 has ... I’ll give him a nudge in the hope he’ll see this ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Mine is tucked up in the polytunnel and won't be outside  (Devon ) for about another month. 
    It's been cold at nights lately. I'd get it back "indoors"for a while.
    Devon.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Same here Hosta this is the most tender variety,who says "the frosts are over"!!
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Weather forecast suggests Hampshire still suffering from frosts all of this week.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • sydVEAG5VM2sydVEAG5VM2 Posts: 13
    It is protected now under a gazebo. Any idea about the dead trunk surface? I always cut the leaves at their base but never sure how far down to go.
    Twin Oaks NGS
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I cut out dead leaves, and then usually some more dies back and I trim that later. Certainly here in the chilly midlands it is still in the greenhouse, with a heater on a froststat.
  • sydVEAG5VM2sydVEAG5VM2 Posts: 13
    fidgetbones said:
    I cut out dead leaves, and then usually some more dies back and I trim that later. Certainly here in the chilly midlands it is still in the greenhouse, with a heater on a froststat.

    Do you remove the dead all the way down to the base?

    Twin Oaks NGS
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We gotta 'big white one" today,and I am in the SE UK only 10 minutes from the sea!!
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    It isn't protected under a gazebo!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS info on this plant says they are not reliably hardy below 1 to 5C and you have to factor in wind chill if you have it outside.

    This link describes the plant, its care and how far down to prune the old leaves - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/6397/Ensete-ventricosum/Details 

    I think you may need to be more patient about how soon you bring it back out in future years, assuming it survives this spring.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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