Question
I live on the coast at Romney Marsh, Kent, and have enjoyed growing hardy banana (Musa Basjoo)this year - currently they are about 48" high and visually quite spectacular. I know that if I do not protect them they will die back to soil level, but I would like to gain, next year, from my efforts this year. I can bring one into my conservatory as it is potted, but the others are planted in garden beds (against a garden wall to help with heat retention). Can you please tell me when I need to apply the protection, the best protection to apply, and when to remove the protection (plus any other precautions I should be taking).
Thanking you in anticipation,
Regards  
Geoff Holt  

Answer
Hello Geoffrey,

I am not familar with the climate of Kent but if you receive a lot of hard frosts this method should work for you nicely.

Just prior to a hard freeze get yourself a wire cage and place it around the trunk of your banana, the higher the cage the more of the trunk you will be able to protect. Stuff the cage with DRY insulating material such as leaves, straw, etc.. Cut down the top of the banana so the remaining trunk is below the top of the wire cage by at least 6 inches then cover the top with more insulating material. Then get some heavy weight polyethylene and wrap the entire cage including the top tightly. This will keep out moisture and help retain heat. Heap more insulating material on the outside around the base of the plant.

In the spring, if your winter was not too severe, the trunk should still be solid. If there is some rot at the top where it was orginally cut, cut the rotted portion off down to where you see solid tissue. Even if you lose the trunk, it will still resprout from the base and will likely grow even taller next year.

Good luck with your banana!

Vito Nettis