Ask Alys: how do I care for my banana plants in winter?

In the spring I bought two small banana plants. They have grown well on my south-west-facing patio, but I’m not sure how to care for them now winter is approaching. Should I bring them inside, fleece them or maybe even cut foliage off?

You need to keep the worst of the winter rain off; this is the main enemy, rotting the crown of the plant. The foliage will blacken after the first hard frost and start to rot, so you will need to remove this. You can, if you like, cut the banana back before it is frosted: leave a stump a foot or so high. Mulch around the base of the plant with very well-rotted garden compost or bark mulch, wrap the crown up with fleece, then cover it with something to keep the rain off. Some people use upturned dustbins (depending on the size of the plant); perhaps you could use a cloche, which would look more attractive.

The alternative is to bring it into the lee of the house or a cold porch/garage/shed where you can keep the rain off. Bear in mind, small bananas will not survive hard frosts. There are several species – Musa basjoo and M. sikkimensis are hardier than most. I have seen versions grown in the ground survive with no winter protection at all, though these tend to be in very favourable, sheltered spots.