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

Sheri,

The small plants obtained from a local nursery actively growing in a 
gallon container will take at least 1.5 years of growing at optimum 
temperatures to reach its mature height at which time the flowering 
inflorescence should appear.

It usually takes 4 weeks for the inflorescence to completely flower out 
and 3-4 months of growth at optimum temperatures for the fruit to mature.

At temperature below 55 degrees F., the plant ceases to actively grow.

Optimum temperatures in zone 8 will require a heated greenhouse during 
the winter a shade material and an exhaust fan during the summer.

Excess heat (85 degrees F) and high humidity can cause disease problems. 
Excessive sunlight can cause the fruit to sunburn. Wind can tear the 
leaves, but other than cosmetic damage the leaves continue to 
manufacture food. Hail one summer damaged the skin of the bananas, but 
the pulp was still delicious although the outside was ugly.

Plant height to the top of the trunk were the flowering inflorescence 
emerges is generally 4-8 feet below the top of the foliage. With a good 
soil, adequate supply of moisture, and a fertilizer, most banana 
cultivars exceed the space available in a regular greenhouse even when 
planted directly in the ground.

I planted 3 different cultivars in the ground approximately 5 feet 
apart. They now constitute a clump of stalks 10 x 20 feet. The root mass 
is solid.

It is necessary to remove suckers and limit the number of replacement 
stalks to 2 for the necessary nutrients to be channeled into 
flower/fruit production.

Ideally at flowering, I would want one shoot that is half the height of 
the main trunk and one that is about a foot tall.

I suggest that the male flowering portion of the inflorescence should be 
removed. The male inflorescence can be cooked as a vegetable.

My preference is to selective harvest the hands of bananas as they ripen 
while still attached to the tree. The fruit that is tree ripened has a 
much better flavor than if the entire stem of fruit is harvested green 
six weeks prior to maturity as are the store bananas.

Sincerely,

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA


Sheri Richerson wrote:

> Claude,
> 
> The man was in zone 8 and it was a fruiting variety.  He wanted to know
> how long it took to produce and I answered a year to a year and a half
> if they did not freeze.
> 
> I am in zone 5 and just acquired a Musa Basjoo (Mispelled) and do intend
> to grow it year round outside.  As of now, I dig my bananas in the fall
> and pot them up so they can continue to grow overwinter with the
> exception of this year.
> 
> This year, I took them completely dormant due to space requirements.
> 
> Sheri

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