Post #548326 by bananabobs on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 7:49 PM

When you say "spreading out", I assume that you mean sending up "pups" or new shoots, it varies but most do about the 3rd year. Your soil must drain well or you will rot the tuber. I would leave them in the ground given what you said about the temps there, if it was to stay in the low teens for a few days at a time you might get a die back but only at the top of the plant and at worse it will die back to the ground and start back up in the spring. Your plants will do so much better in the ground than in pots but ya do what ya gotta do! If you have considerable winds, the leaves will "shatter" and look kind of ratty but again will pick right back up in spring. The bananas will do great under a shade structure during the winter. Good luck