Carolina Gardening: Anyone from the Carolinas going bananas?, 0 by keonikale

keonikale wrote:
Figured I'd started most of my 'nanner posts in the tropical forum, but wanted to discuss it with the local crowd too. Lately I've become pretty obsessed with bananas, it's my latest craze.

What all types of banana's do you grow in the Carolinas?

Honestly I didn't even know you COULD grow bananas here until sometime early last year - and even then I figured I was pushing my luck. Boy was I wrong. I started with a single basjoo in 2007 and then got two DC's and a Velutina. This spring I went a little bananas (sorry, couldn't help it) and expanded 20 fold in the yard - but only with basjoo. Cause until the last few weeks I figured that was all that'd survive. Again, wrong.

So here's my list for next year -trying to get them from a similar zone (7 or 8) if I can: [Updated: 11/20/08]:
Basjoo [already have planted]
Bordelon [from zone 7b/8a]
Dwarf Cavendish [already have]
Dwarf Namwah [from zone 8a]
Dwarf Orinoco [from zone 10]
'Ice Cream' (Blue Java) [from zone 7b/8a]
Manzano (?) [from zone 11]
'Truly Tiny' [already have]
Orinoco [from zones 10 and 7b]
Pisang Ceylon [from zone 7b/8a]
'Praying Hands' [from zone 10]
Saba [from zone 7b/8a]
Siam Ruby [from zone 7b/8a]
'Rewnfrow' Hybrid [from zone 7b/8a]
Velutina [already have]


And I learned something new today. Apparently Musa 'Praying Hands is basically a dwarf Saba. Saba's are just incredible, and I had no idea they would survive in our zone. But they are so thick and massive they are one of the hardiest bananas. Glad I did my research on them, they are one impressive (and gigantic) banana. My neighbors are going to flip when they see that thing growing in the back yard, LOL - it'll be taller than my house.

So what 'nanners are you growing?

A basjoo I dug up today... 4' pup from a first year banana (over wintered the 1' parent in a pot last winter).

This message was edited Nov 20, 2008 9:21 AM