Gloucester calling...

[r1ch]

Hi
This my first post and no doubt I'm already breaking the rules by asking a question here, but well I'd appreciate your opinions and advice. These photos were taken earlier in the week, I've started wrapping and digging up the tender babies. Any ideas on how to overwinter the basjoo flower?
Thanks Rich

[fern Rob]

Welcome, I don't think you can overwinter the flower.

[grub]

Welcome to the asylum Rich, highly unlikely you'll get that flower through. You could try going super overboard on the protection with loads of straw and maybe some kind of gentle heat source but you'll run the risk of keeping it all moving along in growth mode, it'll be a fine line I think between all out growth and tickling along...

[GREVILLE]

Welcome, Rich

You can always pray for the mildest winter to envelope Gloucester in living memory.

[Dave Brown]

Hi r1ch, and welcome to the forum Very impressive garden

That is quite a large flower but I'm not sure of your intention of overwintering the flower, as unless you had another basjoo in flower at the male stage of flowering, the bananas will not be pollinated. Also the stem will not grow any new leaves, and it will be almost impossible to save the existing ones over winter because of size and fragility.

I have 2 stems with flowers at the moment and had not considered trying to overwinter, but the second flower may have been later enough to be pollinated by the first flower. Pic below

[allangreenbean]

Welcome r1ch,

I do love welcomes that come with pictures attached. Nice garden, I see you are quite a big banana fan. Am overwintering a basjoo and sikkimensis in an unheated conservatory this winter. Have found that it was too cold for my superdwarfs last winter but an east facing window seems to work work and that superdwarf came out really healthy. One day I will get one to flower

[kata]

Welcome Rich and of course ask away any questions you may have,

Wow, I love your flower, also Daves flowers.

Good luck!!

[r1ch]

Thanks for the warm welcome. My first day off for a while, so of course I'm in the garden getting ready for the big chill. Typically the ginger in the photo has just started to bloom. Is it Hedychium coronarium? As it looks different to some photographs I've seen.
Regards Rich.

[r1ch]

PS Dave
Wow!!!
I'd try to save those. You never know!!
Rich

[Dave Brown]

I'll have to give it a go if they survive the wind storm tomorrow.

[r1ch]

Good luck Dave, You could be our only hope!
Rich,

[cordyman]

what would be the gain of pollinating a musa? as they give off so many free plants in the form of pups?

Welcome Rich, supurb pics, looks like a right plantation

[fern Rob]

Interesting, to see.

[jetsetwilly]

Hi Rich,
Its encouraging to see your garden has a healthy supply of tropicals in there, as you are only a few miles down the road from me. As my garden is still in the construction stage I have no idea what will do well and what will struggle.
Do you intend to protect the stems of the musas? What measures do you take preparing for winter?

[Tom2006]

Welcome and wow...your garden looks great for the time of year! Doubt you can protect the flowers but curious to know how you protect the basjoos they look very mature.