Protect banana plants in winter? This is how it works

2024 Author: Leonars Benson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 16:46

Not everyone has a banana plant in their garden. Fortunately, the plant is also perennial. Unfortunately, the perennial does not survive the winter without further ado. Due to its southern origins, frost protection is essential. This guide will inform you about all the important measures.

How do I protect a banana plant from frost in winter?

To protect the banana plant in winter, you can cut it back and insulate it with rabbit wire and leaves, use a rain barrel for protection, or transplant it into a container and let it overwinter indoors.

The variety is crucial

Banana plants are divided into three different categories depending on their origin:

• Hardy perennials (plants from temperate zones)
• Perennials from subtropical areas
• Perennials from tropical areas

While hardy perennials cope well with cold temperatures, specimens from the tropics need to be kept warm.

Note: Regardless of whether they are grown outdoors or in containers and regardless of their origin, all banana plants take a three-month growth break in winter. Cool temperatures are very important during this time. Otherwise there will be no new growth next spring.

Overwintering banana plants

Frost protection with rabbit wire

1. Cut the banana plant back to 30 cm
2. Drive four wooden stakes into the ground around the plant
3. maintain a distance of about one meter from the trunk
4. wrap with rabbit wire (€14.00 on Amazon)
5. Fill the fence with leaves

Rain barrel as winter protection

1. Sawing the floor out of the rain barrel
2. Cut back banana plant
3. Put the rain barrel over the trunk
4. Place wooden slats under the rain barrel for better ventilation

Transplanting

If your house or garage offers enough capacity to overwinter the banana indoors, you should overwinter it in a bucket:

1. Dig up plant
2. put in a bucket
3. Prune either immediately or in spring

If you want to save space, it also makes sense to just overwinter the rhizomes, as the banana dries out in the winter either way:

1. Dig up plant
2. Separating rhizomes with a spade
3. Fill the box with bark mulch
4. Put a plant in it
5. place a damp cloth over it
6. store in a cool place (5 to 10°C)
7. Moisten and renew the cloth regularly