I am wanting to grow bananas, I know they will have to be overwintered in the house, my question is, which is the better tasting banana that may or may not be influenced by my weather changes? It would of course have to be one that doesn't get above 8 feet, I don't want the bananas to taste like cardboard either. Would less sun in the winter make the naners taste different?
Bananas in my Zone?
Hi Robyn,
I just came across this site today that has a banana(Musa ornata) that only grows to 4feet. http://rainseed.com/fruits.htm It doesn't mention anything about fruiting though.
Steven
Robin,
I hope I don't give you the wrong inforamtion, and if anyone knows otherwise, please set me straight :) I haven't found an edible musa that is truly hardy to my zone yet. Both the Ice Cream Blue Java and Raja Puri would be considered MAYBE marginal 7b-8a with serious protection. I don't know how overwintering will affect the flavor of the bananas, but I wonder if mine will have a chance to bear fruit to maturity because our growing season isn't as long as in the upper zones...meaning, I'll have to bring them into the GH right when they are fruiting (more than likely), and may not care for the change. I also haven't researched how big either get (I already have the Ice cream and rajapuri has been ordered), but I didn't have any of my ornamental musas get too out of hand last year or the year before. Basjoo did grow well, but it's outside, so no trouble.
It might be worth looking up those two to see how big they get?
Thanks Steven, I'll check it out. I am hoping to find one that tastes good.
I would think if you can put it in the GH, the change wouldn't be to far different as it would be if you had to take it inside a dark house. I have heard most of the musa don't have much of a flavor, but I don't know. I haven't been able to find anything yet on the tastes and the temperature changes.
Robyn, I went to the best source I know- my honey the international agricultural consultant. Yes, the sugar and carbohydrate content is affected by lower light. How much exactly I can't say from experience, but if you get a really tasty variety it may still be worth trying. I'm not up on my bananas, and I don't know if they'll be willing to give you any phone or email time, but try googling info. on the varieties you find at this website:
http://www.excaliburfruittrees.com/Main.aspx
I hear that all their fruits are rare or really really tasty varieties.
Here is the best link that I have found for bananas. You should find what you need here. http://webebananas.com/home.html
The ice cream is going to exceed 8’ tall but has very good flavor. I like the dwarf Orinoco, California gold and Dwarf Brazilian. Raja Puri is also good and very easy to grow.
Your welacome :) I hope you find one that grows/fruits well for you!
Thanks Jazz, aren't you lucky to have an expert there with you. I didn't realize there wre so many different varieties. This may take some time to figure out.
Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it! Yes, my life is very blessed. Not only does he have a great sense of humor, but he doesn't get mad when I put gardening in front of getting the laundry done!
Oldude, do you keep yours in containers or do they stay outside year round?
The only time that works for me is if I am working with tomato plants. Otherwise it's a no go.
Robyn
I live in Zone 9 so they are mostly outside. In the spring, I cut back only those upper portions that are damaged and they continue to grow and produce fruit. This was a mild winter so I won’t have to do that this year. Bananas really need uninterrupted warm weather to produce large amounts of fruit. I get only15-25 bananas per stalk.
The only banana that I regret having planted is the Williams hybrid. This cultivar just can not take any cold weather and it fried after the first frost.
The dwarf Brazil produced fruit the first year that I planted it, but the fruit developed in late October and was not mature enough to consume. The bad thing is that after it flowers the pseudostem will die and a pup will take its place. I will plant this variety inside the greenhouse since it fruits quickly.
Oldude
I will have to get a dwarf of some kind that is sure so at the hint of cool weather I can bring it inside in a sunny location. Maybe I should just keep it inside year round in a south facing window that gets sun all day. I just may not get any to fruit but it should be interesting to try. Off to do more research.
Robin, if you end up going for an ornamental, I really like the pictures of the pink velutina--mine grew well, just not old enough to flower it's first year. The musella lasiocarpa looks so cool, but they are harder to grow for me, I've already killed two
the dwarf and super dwarf cavendish may be fun for you to try, since they are both edible and short..sorry, don't know why it took so long to come up with those. it will be the same thing, though, not sure about fruit but they surely won't get too tall
I have been trying to get some musa velutina seeds to germinate and so far I am having no luck whatso ever. I might have to get the super dwarf cause my dh is ready to divorce me on all the plants in the house now. I have moved his chair 3 times in the past month to accommodate the plants. I told him if he built me a GH then he could have his space back. Boy did that rate a dirty look. lol
I really want one that is edible and then I can justify a couple that aren't, but just very pretty or neat looking. I do like that musella, it's really at the top of the list of wants now.
I hope my velutina winters well, it did fill in nicely.....maybe one day I'll have pups
I'm just hoping for one right now, I'll worry about pups later.