Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Hello all. I am hopefully getting either a muss basjoo or Sikkimensis as a christmas gift. I would like to know which would be better suited to the northern Yorkshire climate so i can have an input on which species i get . Apparently Sikkimensis is hardier and faster growing but basjoo has a better water capacity and the leaves are more robust. For me the faster the better but i want the damn thing to survive the winter.
So basically, can anyone with experience in this area please advise me on which species to get. i will appreciate it greatly and hopefully i will be a successful first time banana grower.
So basically, can anyone with experience in this area please advise me on which species to get. i will appreciate it greatly and hopefully i will be a successful first time banana grower.
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Basjoo is hardier and faster growing. sikkimensis needs a bit more heat, otherwise it spends most of its life wrapped in fleece
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Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Sikkimensis is no longer planted out here (NW Kent) as lost the stems every year and only made 2 to 3 ft of regrowth the next season. After 3 to 4 seasons it fails to re-emerge
Basjoo is stem hardy in an average winter and if killed to ground level recovers to 10 to 12ft in a season.
No comparison, Musa basjoo every time from me
Basjoo is stem hardy in an average winter and if killed to ground level recovers to 10 to 12ft in a season.
No comparison, Musa basjoo every time from me
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Basjoo - This was only the second year i have been growing mine but the only protection i gave mine last winter was a mulch and they came back with no problem.
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Thanks for all the replies guys. If only basjoo had the red coloration in the leaves like some sikkimensis have.
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Basjoo hardier. But ... I think the leaves are narrower and unattractive compared to the much more impressive and big paddle shaped leaves of Sikkimensis.
Sikkimensis seedlings only a quid or two on eBay, so I'm now buying half a dozen each year (growing from seed is very hit and miss, happy to leave that to others!), overwintering them in the conservatory, and growing on in pots (plunged in the ground) for one year (plants still fit in conservatory, just!, that second winter) and then planting out and leaving to fend for themselves - pseudostem wrapped with chicken wire and straw - IF we get a mild winter chances are that they will survive and be a fabulous height for that following summer.
Someone suggested to me planting seed-grown each year and when I have a plant that survives the winter I have found one more naturally hardy, and to then naturalise that one
Sikkimensis seedlings only a quid or two on eBay, so I'm now buying half a dozen each year (growing from seed is very hit and miss, happy to leave that to others!), overwintering them in the conservatory, and growing on in pots (plunged in the ground) for one year (plants still fit in conservatory, just!, that second winter) and then planting out and leaving to fend for themselves - pseudostem wrapped with chicken wire and straw - IF we get a mild winter chances are that they will survive and be a fabulous height for that following summer.
Someone suggested to me planting seed-grown each year and when I have a plant that survives the winter I have found one more naturally hardy, and to then naturalise that one
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
P.S. I'm a long way South of Yorkshire, so this may not be an option for you.
Dry-store an Ensete instead perhaps? There's a video on here of Dave hacking all the leaves of his and then lugging it in the for the winter
Dry-store an Ensete instead perhaps? There's a video on here of Dave hacking all the leaves of his and then lugging it in the for the winter
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
I bought a Basjoo in late summer off a member here then another in the sale for £8.00 double stem. Is it true the stem dies in winter?
Its a Christmas pressie so no choice, get a voucher....which would be better suited to the northern Yorkshire climate so i can have an input on which species i get
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Yes I've seen caves video before. I love his dedication. I suppose i could do the same here, the climates not too much cooler to down there. i may just have to bring an ensette in earlier. How much could i pick one o them up for? Im really surprised they don't die after having their leaves hacked off and then pulled out the ground with no water for months
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Theres no bloody basjoo seeds on ebay only sikkimensis.
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
In my experience. Most young Basjoo's have a red streak to the back's of the leaves but tend to lose this once over 4to5ft, and most sikki's lose most of there colouration once they get tallerdoncasterpalmguy123 wrote:Thanks for all the replies guys. If only basjoo had the red coloration in the leaves like some sikkimensis have.
Kristen, what sort of height P stem are your Basjoo's getting too ?
Leigh
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Sikkimensis(red tiger) has grown far better for me,down here.I have just been to check on mine.This is what I found.
I cut the leaves off a few weeks ago to stop any damage from storm st.Jude. As you can see it is still growing(in December!).
The leaves have remained intact the whole summer,the only thing that spoiled the look,was snail damage on the emerging roller.If I lived up north I would still grow one but in a sunken pot.
I cut the leaves off a few weeks ago to stop any damage from storm st.Jude. As you can see it is still growing(in December!).
The leaves have remained intact the whole summer,the only thing that spoiled the look,was snail damage on the emerging roller.If I lived up north I would still grow one but in a sunken pot.
Re: Musa Basjoo or Sikkimensis.
Here are a couple of pics. to try to convince you, that they are worth the extra hassle protecting them.
The second picture shows a leaf of one of the many pups it sent up this summer.
The second picture shows a leaf of one of the many pups it sent up this summer.