Re: winter figs in Canada

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Tadsamson

Registered:1400610801
Posts: 26

Posted 1422976296	Reply with quote #1

Well, it is a balmy -11C out there today but, under this blanket of snow lies three fig trees (Goutte d'or, Brown Turkey, and Børnholm), some banana (musa basjoo) and some grape vines... the figs survived last winter when we had less snow and it was much colder! The snow acts like a natural insulator. Attached Images 20150203_104620.jpg (40.21 KB, 58 views)

Speedmaster

Registered:1404377112
Posts: 385

Posted 1422976523	Reply with quote #2

Wow Amazing!! I never thought Bananas can handle snow! __________________ Weather: Winter: 10C+ Summer: 42C+ Growing: Syrian Unk., Atreano, Egyptian Unk., Lebanese Unk., Col de dame Gris, Beall, Negronne, Ronde de bordeaux, Brogiotto Bianco Wish List: Panache.

Tadsamson

Registered:1400610801
Posts: 26

Posted 1422989377	Reply with quote #3

Yes... there are only a few types that will survive. They usually die down to the ground but come back from the corm. Much like figs here. If the tree is not properly insulated, it will die back but should come back from the roots. We may get lots of snow but the frost doesn't go deep.

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,118

Posted 1423012560	Reply with quote #4

Tad, do your bananas actually produce tasty edible fruit? If so then I need to check into this..LOL __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1423022415	Reply with quote #5

Musa basjoo does not produce edible fruit. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

COGardener

Registered:1357441505
Posts: 814

Posted 1423022861 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

From the reading I've done, the Musa sikkimensis is the hardiest banana to have a somewhat edible fruit. http://www.hardytropicals.com/bananas.html

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1423042181	Reply with quote #7

Hi Pino, Last time I checked, bananas need 18 months of growth to produce flowers and fruits. So if you're loosing the stems each winter, I would say you can't get fruits . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

masterful

Registered:1371511422
Posts: 35

Posted 1423053264 · Edited	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by pino Tad, do your bananas actually produce tasty edible fruit? If so then I need to check into this..LOL Hi Pino, You can try the green barn farm. I have visited the farm and he grows his bananas outside and takes it inside bareroot during the winter. The fruit is edible I have purchased a lot of trees from them. They specialize in cold hardy trees for canada. http://www.greenbarnnursery.ca/collections/indoor-edibles/products/musa-dwarf-banana Below is a picture of his banana plant that he takes indoors during the winter. __________________ Fig trees: Italian Red Honey, Kadota, Brown Turkey, White Honey, Genovese, Celeste, Pingho De Mel, Violette De Bourdeaux, Hollier, Bianchetta, Stella (Dalmatie) Wish List: Italian 258, Adriano fig, Zucchini Fig Zone 5

zone5figger

Registered:1395082963
Posts: 250

Posted 1423054205	Reply with quote #9

Tad, do you know what your minimum temp was last year that your fig plants survived? __________________ Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation

sammy

Registered:1330355079
Posts: 261

Posted 1423063276	Reply with quote #10

Hey Masterful, thanks for the Green Barn link! __________________ Sam zone 4 Thessalon Ontario, Canada.

COGardener

Registered:1357441505
Posts: 814

Posted 1423065924	Reply with quote #11

I keep my Dwarf Cavendish Banana in a pot, it spends the summer outside in basically a humidity bin since Colorado has no humidity... at all. Then spends the winter in Garage greenhouse.

Tadsamson

Registered:1400610801
Posts: 26

Posted 1430358525	Reply with quote #12

The banana tree does not produce any fruit in my garden. It is simply a curiosity. The figs survived under a layer of mulch temperatures below -20C. We had a few days where it actually got to -35C. Sorry it took so long to answer these questions.

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