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Hello this is the second year of my musa basjoo banana. It survived the winter in zone 5b. It is the end of may 2012 and the banana is about 4 ft high doing good. It also has 4 pups of various sizes, was wondering if I should cut some or all of the pups off the main plant? It is looking a little crowded. Added a couple of pics. thanks

Keith

nothing wrong with giving them to friends or just leaving them
if giving them away though, let them grow until agust to cut them from the mother plant to establish roots

Keith,
Adam's advice is bang on.

If you have enough room though, musa also look nice in the natural clumps that are formed when pups are allowed to mature around the mother.

BTW, has your palm fully recovered?
And I haven't forgotten that you wanted an "extra"...I only have a few palm seedlings in community pots and haven't transplanted them yet.
Will give you a shout around that time...that is, if you're looking for a seedling.
But none of these can stay outdoors.

Barb

Thanks for the replies. The banana seems to do well facing east under the overhang. So I might trim a couple pups off later. Also yes Barb I am interested in seedlings. give me a shout when you are ready.
thanks
Keith

Nice growth on your basjoo's!

Wow excellent growth on the basjoo already -- what were your May temperatures like?

Hey Keith, are you still there?

give me a shout when you are ready.

In a couple of weeks, I'll have four or five seedlings ready for you; gotta still add labels to everything new.

Would also like to see your "mystery palm" update photo, as well as your Basjoo progress over summer.

Barb

Hey Barb , yes I am still here. The seedlings sound great. Also I will take pics tomorrow of the mystery palm and other plants. thanks
Keith

Hello Barb here are the pics you asked for. camera is not great.
















First 2 pics small pups, 3 pic big pups, 4 pic windmill palm got this spring, 5th pic white bird of paradise, 6th pic windmill palm, chinese silver grass, BOP. 7th pic med. fan palm? 8th pic . Big musa basjoo.

If I am taking pups,I do it now to give the mother plant
time to heal(if overwintering)so it will hopefully not rot
at the point where the cut is-also allows the pup some
time to root in while temps are still warm.

Hey Keith, thanks for the updated pics....
Nice new windmill.
How will you protect it this winter? Same "tight" wrap as you did with the other one last winter?
I'd recommend against wrapping tightly, but PN members will have some thoughts on that as protection time approaches.

Is that 7th pic the one that looked so sickly in Feb/March?????
If so, it's FAB-U-LOUS and has really come back gangbusters.

I guessed species incorrectly...again

Your plants enjoyed our cool spring and hot summer!

Barb

Yes Barb the 7th pic is the palm that looked bad this spring, recovered nicely. Been thinking about winter protection. will still put heat tape around trunk, not sure what i will do around fronds. Also hardyjim thanks for your comments, I took a couple of pups off early June one is doing great the other is slower but will survive. might pot these 2 and bring inside overwinter. The big basjoo out front has about 14 pups now varying from 2 inches to 5 feet. I will leave them till next June.added pics of the 2 pups I took off in june.

Holy cow, Keith, if that's the same palm....I should switch to YOUR winter protection ideas.

Fabulous how well it's done this summer.

Good work on the basjoos.

Barb