Thanks to everyone for giving me such good info. I will make sure my neighbor sees it. I gave him my "best plant" because I was sure I couldn't grow it but now I see we both have a chance at growing bananas. I keep the bananas until there is nothing left and hope something grows but alas, I just get rotted plants or nothing. This year I will have something. Or I will go bananas. Chris -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Judy Glattstein Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:50 PM To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [pbs] Bananas in New Jersey I've been growing Musa basjoo outdoors year-round in my Hunterdon County, New Jersey garden for about 8 years. Started with one, which has been pupping freely. They're close to the house. Late each autumn I cut them down to garbage can height. Fill each can with pine needles, and upend over stump. Each summer the bananas reach much higher than the first story roof, with immense leaves. Last year one culm flowered and set fruit. Research indicated this cultivar's fruits are not especially edible / tasty so I didn't sample any, merely felt smug about cropping bananas when my neighbors crop soybeans, hay, wheat, and oats. A friend in Sergentsville NJ who believes bigger is definitely much, much better when it comes to plants in his garden puts fencing about 8 foot tall around his M. basjoo, fills with oak leaves, and covers with plastic. His bananas easily reach 14 feet tall. No flowers / fruit. He has also wintered Musiella lasiocarpa over the winter. Another friend in Willingboro NJ also grows M. basjoo. Global warming? Judy in New Jersey where today's temperatures have edged over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and I've opened those few windows where I never took the screens down last fall _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/