Dreaming of a beach vacation? My guess is you’re picturing a palm tree. Fantasizing about life on a remote island? You’re probably envisioning a walk among birds of paradise, cannas and bananas. Nothing conjures up the feeling of the tropics like giant, lush-leaved plants, and if you live in the tropics or subtropics, you get to enjoy them year-round. The rest of us have to buy them every year and treat them as annuals or, if we’re in the know, save them from year to year. After reading this, you’ll fall into the latter camp, saving money and making future summers at home feel like an exotic getaway.

Preparing Your Plants for Winter

As the days shorten and the weather cools, it’s time to prepare your tropical plants for the cold winter months. This includes bringing potted plants indoors, pruning and dividing plants that are too big for their containers, and protecting plants from frost damage.

Bringing Potted Plants Indoors

If you have potted plants like elephant ears, cannas, or caladiums, it’s essential to bring them inside before the first frost.

Prepare Your Garden for Winter with Pruning and Cleaning Tasks.

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

As the days shorten and the temperatures drop, it’s time to prepare your garden for the cold winter months. This involves a series of tasks that will help protect your plants, prevent damage, and ensure they remain healthy and thriving when the weather warms up again.

Pruning and Cleaning

Pruning and cleaning are essential tasks to perform before the winter months.

Preparing Potted Banana Plants for Winter

As the first frost approaches, it’s essential to prepare your potted banana plants for the cold winter months. This involves a series of steps that will help protect the plants from damage and ensure their survival until the weather warms up again.

Cutting Down the Plants

The first step in preparing your potted banana plants for winter is to cut them down to soil level. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a crucial step in protecting the plants from frost damage. When the first frost browns the foliage, it’s essential to cut the plants down to the soil level to prevent the roots from freezing. This will also help to reduce the risk of root rot, which can be a major problem for banana plants during the winter months.

Storing the Containers

Once the plants are cut down, it’s essential to store the containers in a dark spot at a temperature of around 40-45°F. This will help to slow down the plant’s metabolic processes, reducing the risk of damage from the cold temperatures. It’s also essential to keep the containers away from direct sunlight, as this can cause the plants to become scorched.

Inspecting and Watering the Soil

In addition to storing the containers, it’s also essential to inspect the soil monthly and water very lightly only when it’s completely dry. This will help to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, which can lead to root rot and other problems.

The Art of Storing In-Ground Bananas

In the world of banana enthusiasts, there’s a common debate about the best way to store in-ground bananas. While some swear by digging them up and storing them in a cool, dry place, others claim that cutting them back in the fall is the key to a successful harvest. But what’s the truth behind these methods? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of in-ground banana storage and explore the best practices for keeping your bananas fresh and healthy.

Understanding In-Ground Banana Growth

Before we dive into the storage methods, it’s essential to understand how in-ground bananas grow. In-ground bananas are a type of banana that grows underground, rather than above ground like traditional bananas. They’re often grown in tropical regions with high humidity and warm temperatures. In-ground bananas typically take 9-12 months to mature, and they’re often harvested in the fall.

The Fall Cutting Method

One of the most popular methods for storing in-ground bananas is to cut them back in the fall. This involves cutting the banana plant back to about 6-8 inches from the ground, just before the first frost.

___ For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening. Jessica Damiano, The Associated Press