A banana tree does not have to admit defeat to frost and snow. With the right winter protection, the exotic gem will shine again in all its glory next year. A perennial cut in XXL format and a self-built insulating house are sufficient. How to overwinter a banana tree in the bed.
A banana should be pruned and wrapped well before winter
Japanese fiber banana is hardy
The banana tree from distant Japan began its triumphant march into our gardens. In contrast to tropical banana species, the Japanese fiber banana (Musa basjoo) is conditionally hardy. In their Asian home region, winter temperatures around freezing are not uncommon.
The thick, fibrous stems die off in winter, just as hobby gardeners know from native garden perennials. Next year, the banana tree will happily sprout again from its overwintered rootstock. It is thanks to this ingenious move of evolution that a banana can overwinter outside in Germany.
Step-by-step instructions - Overwintering a banana tree
An XXL perennial cut is the first step towards ideal winter protection for a banana tree. Further precautions arm the plant against icy frost and wintry wetness. The following instructions explain step by step how to successfully overwinter a banana palm in the bed:
Cut in late fall
Falling temperatures cause the above-ground parts of the plant to gradually die off. In late autumn, the majestic banana tree is only a shadow of its former self. The best time for pruning is before the first frost. How to do it right:
- Cutting tool: sharp knife or folding saw
- Cut back shoots at hip height
- Chop clippings, dispose of in the compost or use as mulch (€239.00).
Please cut back the outer trunks a little more than the shoots in the centre. In this way, you create a dome effect under the fleece cover that will follow later, which allows rainwater to run off better and prevents snow pressure.
Build winter shelter
You don't have to dig deep into your pocket for great winter protection for your banana tree. Materials required are wooden boards, straw mats or used mattresses as well as straw, wooden sticks, breathable winter fleece, sisal cords or tension belts. Insulation material left over from house construction is also useful as winter protection, such as polystyrene panels or foam mats. How to properly build an insulating winter box for Musa basjoo:
- Place wooden boards, straw mats or mattresses around the banana stumps
- Fix with ropes or straps
- Fill in straw
- Press the straw down firmly with the wooden stick
Finally, cover the winter box with fleece. The covering material should definitely be breathable so that condensation evaporates and rot does not form. Foil is not suitable for this reason.
tips
Ornamental bananas from tropical regions cannot overwinter outside. The breathtakingly beautiful Musa acuminata from far Southeast Asia adorns balconies and terraces in summer. Because the banana beauty freezes from 10° Celsius, you should spend the winter bright and cool. In the light-flooded conservatory and greenhouse or in the bright stairwell, the exotic banana palm keeps the chilli tree company until spring.