What do I do with the banana plant?

[HumanBehaviour]

We are renting a house since july last year and we have a banana plant in the garden. First frost in september/october last year killed it in an instant.

What do I need to do to make it grow again this year? Do I get rid of the old dead leaves? Cut them off?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Do you mean that it died completely - which is quite likely if it was not wrapped to protect it from the very cold weather conditions - or just that the leaves went brown and dry? Can you see any new growth appearing anywhere?

[HumanBehaviour]

I don't know to be honest, the leaves are brown and dry and I can't see anything growing.

Should I have wrapped it up? I wish the landlord would have told us this, I'm rubbish at gardening.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

You probably should have wrapped it, unless you're in a very mild part of the country - see Royal Horticultural Society advice here.

We had frost here again last night, so I'd suggest not cutting off the leaves until all risk of frost is over. If the rest of the plant is alive, even dead leaves will give some protection from the cold. Keep looking to see if the plant is sprouting again from the base (which it might if you're lucky). On the other hand, if the centre of the plant is black or brown and smelling mouldy, it?s had it.

[HumanBehaviour]

Thanks for the advice! The leaves are not mouldy, they are of a beige color. I will keep my fingers crossed it is still alive!

[HumanBehaviour]

It's alive and kickin'!

[Mspontipine]

Hurray :)