Some of those frozen dead plantain stems are being overtaken by their living cores, leaving dry, tan  debris hanging underneath the newly sprouting green tops.  I wish I had cut out more of the dead stems while they were not covered up by living leaves, but am glad for what I did get done.   The plantains grow from the center out, and the centers of some of the thicker ones survived, and have begun growing.   Also those corms which had formed underground are now sprouting.

In addition to the dead stems, I will cut out the tallest plantains soon which are located in the patch in the back and on the right,  and thereby reduce the garden shade a bit in the coming months, though plantains are not the only source of shade for the vegetable garden.   The houses, other trees, and other vegetation contribute to shade. I am way behind in making compost and mulch out of the  plantain leaves and stems, but I am confident that  both are high quality, the result of fixed and held carbon dioxide and other nutrients.

We will not have many plantains this year because it takes at least 15 months for them to bear fruit.  Next year we should have many again, if we are spared a freeze in the coming winter.

As I learn, I am rethinking the emphasis that this garden should take.   When I saw plantains in the store last week they were $0.60 +  each, I realized that plantains are by far our most  monetarily rewarding  and dependable crop, and aside from the patch grooming, require no effort  or cash input on our part.   Our garden emphasis will surely change year by year.