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RE: [GWL]: (GWL) Are there any banana experts

Are we talking about ornamental flowering or edible fruiting selections? 
  Growing them year round in the ground occurs best in frost free 
climates and the best results are obtained in relative narrow 
temperatures of 60 to 90 degrees F.

To my knowledge, the "cold" hardy banana plants being marketed are grown 
as ornamental plants for their foliage and rarely fruit in colder 
climates as the growing season from a dormant corm to the production of 
maturing a stalk of fruit requires a much longer period of growing at 
optimal temperatures.

Flower stalks produced in late summer or fall in my San Diego climate 
will not ripen until the following spring/summer as the plant ceases 
growth below 55 degrees. My site is described as low desert with a 
coastal climate influence, our night temperatures usually drop 10 to 20 
degrees from the daytime highs, even in the summer. I can grow bananas 
and mangoes in close proximity to low chill apples, peaches, and plums.

Cool air drains from the tops of our hills and collects in our valleys. 
The humidity and air currents result in chilling factor that influences 
plant growth so sites near a heat absorbing wall, blocking prevailing 
winds, and northern/southern exposure combine to produce micro climates.

In 30 plus years, I have not had any clumps freeze back to the corms, 
but they should recover from freezing temperatures that kill the foliage 
provided the ground doesn't freeze and damage the corm.

I am now container growing some of the smaller selections being marketed 
as dwarf, but none have flowered so far.

In colder climates, attempting to move 15 gallon containers filled with 
soil and a large banana plant into a greenhouse or frost free cellar for 
storage over the winter would require a stronger back and far more 
enthusiasm for growing bananas than I have at 63.

I would be interested in hearing about activities of people growing 
bananas in colder climates. Could the responses be posted on this forum?

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA
co-author "All About Citrus and Subtropical Fruits"

Doreen Howard wrote:

What do you want to know about bananas?  I've grown them in Zones 8 and 9
and now in Zone 4b.
Doreen Howard

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