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| FOR CHRISTMAS, GIVE YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN THE NORTH THE WORLD'S HARDIEST BANANA PLANT | |
| Published: October 21, 1997 | |
Survives to 0 degrees.From Ann:The Japanese fiber banana (Musa basjoo) is the worlds cold-hardiest banana. It grows 12 -16 feet high. Shiny, bright green leaves are 6-8 feet long. Bunches of 30-60 small curved oramental bananas about 3-inches in length are produced . This banana plant has been field tested in Canada and Western Europe, unprotected, to temperatures of 0 degrees. With protective mulching, it tolerates temperatures to -20 degrees.We in South Louisiana take our lush banana plants for granted. We cant kill them with a stick. Not so the rest of the country. For our gardening friends in the North, Japanese fiber banana gives a tropical appearance that has previously been available only to those of us who garden in Gods country. Musa basjoo is available from Stokes Tropicals, 1-800-624-9706. Selecting roses for South LouisianaQ:I am requesting information on the kinds of roses that grow well in this area. I ordered the catalog from Heirloom Old Garden Roses that you recommended, but have misplaced your recommendations for the types that perform well in the area.A:Margie Manuel, Lafayette consulting rosarian, recommends the Chinas, the Noisettes, the Teas, and the Hybrid Musks for South Louisiana gardens. Chinas and Noisettes bloom 10-11 months of the year. Margie hastens to add that other varieties of old roses grow well here too, but these four are the most disease resistant, and are more tolerant of shade. For further information about all varieties of roses and about Acadiana Rose Society membership, call Margie at 984-4324.Several nurseries in the area carry many of these old roses. However, in order to see them pictured in full bloom, and to get good descriptions of size, color, etc., color catalogs are very helpful. The address for the Heirloom Old Garden Roses catalog is 24062 N.E. Riverside Dr., St. Paul Ore. 97137. There is a $5 fee for the catalog, which is an excellent reference on old roses. A good word for trumpet vineQ:In spite of all the negative comments on trumpet vine, I enjoy mine. It is planted on a fence in front of pampas grass, and I think that the combination of the orange blossoms and silvery grass is beautiful. Do you have information on pruning for control and for better bloom?A:Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) blooms on new wood. So the best time to prune it is in winter when the plant is dormant. Remove root suckers, twisted tendrils and twiggy growth as well as shoots that bloomed the previous year. You can shorten the vine by about one-third. This will encourage heavier blooming next year.Camellia buds droppingQ:Why are the flower buds on my camellias turning brown and dropping?Reasons for bud drop are extreme weather conditions, poor culture and natural thinning. Some plants set more buds than can develop, so a natural thinning takes place before blooming. It is more alarming when every bud drops, in which case nothing can be done at this point except to vow to give the plant the best possible care from now on. Temperature extremes can also be at fault, although that seems unlikely this year. The final and most likely answer is that buds drop during the last stage of development due to inadequate moisture during the growing season. The soil in which camellias is planted must never dry out. Because we are going through an extended drought period, it is likely that you will need to water every day and apply a 4-inch mulch over the base of your camellias. |