Well it's been far milder than the average autumn with October and November being frost free here and very mild on most days AND nights. This is similar to last year where we saw a similar mild first half of autumn before late November snow!
Hopefully there'll be no snow this season. It's looking like the rest of November will remain average to mild which is all we can ask for. We may even get into Decemeber without an air frost. So, having said all that, our Ensetes could still be outside as there's been no cold to damage them.
However, it's been pretty wet in the last few weeks and to be honest it's dark when I get up and when I get home from work so I hardly see the garden at this time of year except on my day (s) off. I lifted my Ensetes recently and decided this year they'll be properly dry stored which means no watering all winter and no compost/soil at all at the roots. I'm doing this for three reasons: it's low maintaince, I can store them at a lower temperature (essential this year as energy bills have gone through the roof) and thirdly my Ensetes are suffering with a fungus/virus/illness of some kind that I'm hoping can be cured with dry storing and a dusting of sulphur.
It's always a bit of a wrench when the huge banana leaves are cut away from the stem with a bread knife and piled up in the garden. But they aren't needed for winter storage and can harbour pests and diseases. It also cuts down on the weight considerably, which is vital when moving such heavy plants all the way up the garden to the greenhouse.
Once all the leaves are removed, I wash all the soil off the trimmed back roots then turn them upside down for a week in a sheltered space to dry out and remove the stagnant water collecting in some of the leaf bases. Once thoroughly drained, they are taken to the greenhouse (former garage) and dusted liberally in sulphur powder on all surfaces. This helps make the surfaces more acidic and less hospitable for growth of fungus and bacteria which could cause rot to set in.
They'll stay like this in this position all winter until March time when they'll be woken up by higher temperatures and some gentle bottom heat from the heat cable buried in the sand that they are sitting in. I'm aiming to keep the greenhouse frost free this season (5c) which is the limit really for Ensetes but they should be fine if kept really dry. Air moisture and condensation can lead to rot at lower temperatures so this will be reduced by keeping ventilation to a maximum. The windows and door will be kept open unless temperautes are expected to drop below 5c.
Fingers crossed they'll get through this winter. I've been growing Ensetes successfully for 15 years now so hopefully I'll be growing them into a 16th year.
If you're unsure which method is best for you to over winter Ensete check out this guide: