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Banana Plants in the Winter

Banana plants are large, tropical or subtropical, herbaceous, perennial herbs. Most types are hybrids of the wild and seedy Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana plants. Banana plants will vigorously grow and reproduce when planted in a suitable environment. Temperature extremes, particularly cold weather, will stress banana plants. This stress this will cause a decline in health, fruit production and even death. It is the banana plant's vulnerability to frost that has prevented its spread north of subtropical regions. Make sure you protect your banana plant during the winter.

  1. Plant Culture

    • Banana plants are not drought tolerant. Folding leaves, premature leaf drop and stem collapse are symptoms of drought stress. Provide evenly distributed irrigation year-round at a rate of 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. Use well-drained, organic-rich soil, with a pH of 5.5 to 7. For best banana production, provide full sunlight. Banana plants do well at various elevations ranging from sea level to 6,000 feet.

    Temperature

    • The ideal temperature for banana plant growth and fruit production is between 78 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The growth of banana plants slows once the temperature reaches 60 degrees and completely halts at 50 degrees. Temperatures between 0 and 60 degrees can stress banana plants and their developing fruits. Symptoms of cold damage stress include lack of flowering, fruit distortion or rot and a graying of exposed fruit. Banana plants exposed to temperatures less than 0 degrees are likely to die from frost damage.

    Winter Care

    • Preventative care includes proper site selection. Planting banana plants in a southern exposure, near a building and protected from strong winds is advised. When possible, take precautionary measures when freezing temperatures are forecast. If banana plants are low in height, cover the entire plant with blankets or burlap. If banana plants are tall, wrap trunks with blankets. In addition, provide subterranean warmth by covering roots with an additional 2 or 3 inches of mulch.

    Post-Winter Care

    • After a freeze, brown, damaged leaves may be present. Allow these to remain on the plant until spring. Although unsightly, these leaves will provide some degree of protection from any additional cold temperatures. Any fruit present on the plant during the frost will likely die and should be discarded. If the plant was killed during the freeze, cut it down at ground level. Dead plants appear brown, desiccated or water-soaked. Do not dig up the banana plant. With luck, new growth should emerge from underground rhizomes following the return of warm weather.

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