I am a new member, and also new to tropicals. In the spring, my mother (oriole) and myself want to plant a tropical at my house. I am looking at banana plants and there is so many different varities, I am not sure which one to get. Can anyone help in that decision. I live in zone 6a.
Question about Banana plant?
One of my favorites is Zebrina. It won't be hardy for you though. I just like the red and green leaves.
Do you have any ideas? And do you know if they bare fruit their first or second year?
I think if you want one you can take in and out and that will bear fruit, you might want to look at Dwarf Cavendish. I hope I spelled that right. I know Logee's has it. Calalily had one that she bought as a pup early last year and it has bananas on it now. I also bought one early last year and I have not even seen a bloom yet. I know they like the heat.
Thanks.
Some of the dwarf varieties can be grown in containers and handled as houseplants during the winter. Cavendish "Super Dwarf" grows to 3 ft. in a container and can produce edible fruit. There are several sources for it (and other dwarfs) - one good supplier is Logee's Greenhouses (www.logees.com).
I have this outside, FL, and if you get bananas, they are delicious with a capitol D.
Nancy lee
Nancy, you've got that right! They are soooooo good. Mine are ripening now.
I think the secret to growing them in pots is to use a large container, lots of fertilize, water and sunshine. Also leave as many leaves on the plant as possible and trim off excess pups, only allow two or three pups to grow.
My two dwarf cavendish in the more shaded area of the garden didn't grow nearly as fast as the one out by the pool and they didn't bloom. They didn't make as many pups either. The soil in both areas is different, the one by the pool is in sandy soil and got watered frequently. The ones in the shade bed are in heavier soil and only got watered once a week in summer and I didn't fertilize as heavily.
CC grows bananas in pots and she has fruit.
You could try Musa basjoo. I 've heard it was hardy bto z5. I am in 7b and left mine in the ground this winter so we will see. Some say Musella lasiocarpa is hardy to z6 but my friend left her ML in the ground last winter and it did not come back.
My Basjoo handled the cold we had at Christmas better than any of the bananas. Even without wrapping it, the leaves didn't freeze like the edible ones. Yeah, I know Basjoo is edible, but it's a plantain type with seeds.
My Chinese yellow did not like being 26*, even if it was just for one night, they aren't dead but they don't have any leaves left. Maybe that's a sign they're gonna bloom(well a gal can hope can't she?)
In most years M. Basjoo will be hardy, in the ground, for you there in 6a.
We over-wintered 2 last year and both made it.
Mulch them very deeply.
They will die back to the ground though.
If you have room indoors for storage,
M. Zebrina, Bordelon or Cavendish can be grown in containers.
You can either store them as dormant or in a growing greenhouse or bright room.
My 'Bordelon' is in flower now w/ several hands of bananas forming.
Pictures are up on PF's.