Question about Banana Plants..

When I was in California I had banana plants. I LOVED them. But now I'm back in the midwest and I miss them.

I'm quite well aware that if I have banana plants I can cut them down, over winter them in the house and grow them outside as decorative only. But I'm wondering about something.

I have a grow room that I'm putting together. I was wondering what would happen if I get a 3 or 4 month old new banana side shoot in say June.. Then I could let it grow outside in a large container until the end of October. It would then be about 8 months. I could keep it in the grow room until around March and it would be 12 months old. Then I could put it outside and it would be ready to flower and fruit by the end of summer.

However, here's the deal. I know I can buy whatever I need from the Banana Tree company. They have everything. But what type of plant can I get that will be less than 9 feet tall by the time it's 9 months old? My ceilings in my grow room are only 9 feet tall. Also, I wonder if I could burry it in my grow room to make it shorter.. I'm thinking I could dig a hole and put the container and all in it. My floor is only dirt and rocks LOL!

Ok..so saying I can follow this routine, is it possible to get it to fruit if I mist it a few times per day when it's living outside? I know they need the right humidity.

Any ideas?

What zone are you in? Musa basjoo is hardy to zone 6b. Otherwise you might consider something like Dwarf Cavendish.

Suzi, I am in the KC Mo. area, too. The lady who owns Campbell Oil near the corner of I-423 and Truman Road has two banana plants that she plants in front of the gas station each year, and they actually fruit for her. Her name is Bonnie Campbell - stop in and talk to her about how she grows hers. She is a lovely lady, and you can call the gas station to find out when she will be available.

Thank you Kay. I'll definitely have to find time to go and see her bananas :) Did you mean I-435? I've never heard of I-423.

Thanks :)

Suzi

SUZIMCMULLEN, back before i had my greenhouse i would bring my two bananas into my house and lay them on the floor with out any dirt or pot and i had one of them bloom and had six little bananas on it. but when i planted it outside the wind broke it in half ,then it died. wish i could figure out how to send pictures thru computer,i would send it. try all ideas, you will find one are more that will work! jerry

This message was edited May 6, 2007 9:53 PM

We grow Musa basjoo here and they are quite hardy. Here they are in snow last November. They grow back.