So I planted a few of my potted banana trees into whiskly barrels and they took off, 1 (non edible fruit, red leaves) is 8 feet tall. another is 4 feet

I want to store it in my basement.....
how do I easily do this? I read someone of digging it up and wrapping it....

btw I have already had 2 light frosts.........

I've read of people cutting the stalk back and just storing the plant, pot and all, in their basements. Only watering when dry and very little then. They let the plant sort of go dormant. Do some searches. There should be info out there. The other alternative is to bring them inside and put in front of a sunny window.

thanks

well It is a whisky barrel so I will dig it up

I have tons of citrus to bring in so likely it goes into the basement.....

Frank, take all soil off roots & cut leaves off. I cut the very top leaf in half... top half off. Then lay it down in a cool dry place & cover. Garage, basement, crwlspace... as long as it doesn't freeze. Don't water.
Pot it up in spring.

What Patty said. I think most important is to not let them freeze.

Hey Patty...How many times have you tried this method? Just curious as to how well it works out. I've heard about or seen where folks just put the plant in their basements but never to the extreme you mentioned. What about warmer temps in a basement? Interesting. Thanks, J

Some time back, maybe about this same time last year, Joe Real put a complete, and very thorough thread, (almost a mini lecture ) on the proper method of over wintering bananas. It was complete with many pictures of each step. As I remember, it was a real step by step pictured demonstration. You should be able to find it by using the search function on this forum. - Millet (832-)

Thanks Millet, I will look for that thread by Joe.
Hey Jay, nice to see you here again. I have done this method with 2 Ice Cream nanas 2-3 yrs ago & will again this winter. I lay them on the north side floor of unheated sunroom & cover. High temp might be about 60f & lows around mid 40's. Also, cut most of roots away. Read here too

http://www.bananas.org/f15/time-put-bananas-sleep-winter-310.html

Thanks guys...I can pass on this good info to folks without greenhouses that stop by and pic up pups.

I'm doing this because I don't have room for them inside. I have friends that cut the tops (if too tall) & put them inside or even in their unheated enclosed porch. They go semi dormant so don't need a lot of water.
Millet, I can't find ajoe's thread on overwintering plants.... just how to protect fruit from freeze in zone 9.