Mamol,

For the bananas...cut the trunk to about 1 foot. Enclose it with chicken-wire, then fill the enclosure with leaves. This will protect it enought to come back the following year. Since we had temps 20 degrees colder than yours, it may be in poor soil. Make sure it is in constantly moist, well-drained soil in full sun.

The cage method of protecting bananas works excellent for M. basjoo, Musella lasiocarpa and maybe M. sikkimensis?, but not for Ensete glaucum even though it is called "Snow Banana", it does not stand a chance in below freezing conditions.

magick9642/mamol,

I would add to magick9642 proceedure by enclosing structure with a waterproof tarp. It's very important to keep your bananas dry through the winter. Also, it doesn't hurt to use a copper based fungicide before you wrap the whole thing up.

Phil

PhilMusa is correct...I forgot about the fungicide. I did use that before wrapping. If you tarp or "wrap", make sure it can breathe. Bananas will rot.

I planted M. sikkimensis, "orinoco", and M. lasiocarpa this year for trial up here in 6a. I will use same procedures and let ya' know how it works come springtime.

Mamol,

I am very interested in J. chilensis. What are your thoughts on the hardiness in a continental climate such as yours? Is humidity a problem?

Are a zone 8 palm at best. I have heard of spear pull at 15F but it did recover. If you are going to experiment with this palm which is very expensive and very slow growing I would protect it and add heat. They do not like extreme heat situations either.