This is my first attempt at growing a dwarf banana tree, I live in FL; but in zone 8, as it's close to Pensacola. So, when the weather started to take a dive downwards, I pulled the banana inside, it has a baby banana growing off the side; but now is turning brown why? Is it because it is dormant? Should I continue to water it or what? I did fertilizer it a month ago; with Palm fertilizer and maybe used a bit more than I should have?
joy
My poor banana tree help!
Yes, it's likely it's going to sleep for the winter - only water it sparingly, like once a month until March, when it should begin to wake up. I'd suggest planting it in the ground this spring and this fall, mulch it well.
Kay: Hey, you are from my neck of the woods, I'm close to Pensacola and Ft Walton. Do you have some in the ground? I thought it would be too cold for it; but, I do have some friends who have fruit trees in the ground here. A friend told me they just fill 5 gallon buckets with water and place around the trees to keep the trees warm, the water absorbs the warmth from the sunlight during the day and warms them at night.
Do you grow veggies too?
joy
Which type of banana is it? I have a dwarf one that has an upright purple flower. They're gross feeders and need a lot of fertiliser. Blood and bone is good for them. Also poultry manure (aged) is good as well. It's a bit hard to over fertilise them.
Yes, I have several bananas in the ground - some fruit-bearing and some ornamental - the foliage dies back each year and returns in the spring. I live 2 hours north from Pensacola.
Edited to correct my spelling and to say 'I don't grow any veggies except tomatoes'.
This message was edited Dec 27, 2010 10:15 AM
Kay Jones: I like tomatoes too, I'm thinking about starting my tomato seeds about the first or second week in February, you?
joy
I buy plants - seeds don't work for me.
I found a cold frame, so will be starting my maters a week early, the first week of Feb.
joy
It's the weather. They do not like the cold.
It may put out new leaves in the Spring. If not it will probably put out new babies.
Ours are not small ones....just reg. size and they do. I thought we had lost all of ours last winter in the freeze. Had them all cut to the ground (90). They came back with a vengenance. I haven't counted lately but I think there is more than 100 again. They are now over 6 ft tall in just one season. I love them so much in the summer but they are very trashy in the winter months.
Jeanne
Jeanne: Yes, those are huge, do you get any bananas off them or are they just for that tropical look? My cannas I love dearly; but in the winter do the same look, look horrible as the leaves turn brown and they look dead; but, come summer, they look so cheerful and bright.
joy
We have in the past. They usually don't produce bananas until they are 18 mos old I have read, so maybe next year on this bunch. It's OK, because the bananas are not as good as when you buy them in the store and then the tree dies. It does put out new shoots.......but it does take another season for it to get full ht and start all over again.
We cut ours back to about four ft in the Spring normally. They start putting out new leaves right away and look sooooo pretty.
This past season they just turned to mush in the one week freeze that just about killed everything. I am really hoping for a warm winter so we don't have to cut them to the ground again this year.
So we might get bananas in the summer. We don't get very many at a time. They just don't get pollenated enough, and I don't know how to do it.
I have pollenated daylillies with success, but not banana blossoms! If anyone knows, I would be glad to find out.
Jeanne
Jeanne: I think mine might be dead but I'm gonna wait and see if maybe it springs back to live this Spring. The foilage is so pretty isn't it?
joy
It is pretty. I thought for sure ours were dead and they came back.......so just wait!