Who knows about bananas? (flower, growing, 2013, trees)

[gentlearts]

We have a banana planted at the corner of our patio, here in zone 8. we don't ever expect to get bananas, but enjoy the tropical feel of the foliage.

In other years, we cut the entire plant down to the ground and it sent up fresh new growth. This year, the plant did not totally die back, since we had a mild winter, so all we did is cut off the dead leaves, and new leaves have started to grow on the main stalk and the pup.

I could just wait and see, but I wonder if we made a mistake in not cutting it down, as usual, again? Or, maybe we might get bananas this year, since the spring energy in the plant won't have to go for growth.

[Hemlock140]

People grow bananas here (also zone 8) and just cut of the dead every year, and like you, the mild winter means less to clean up. There is no need to cut it to the ground every year, and yes, some years they will develop bananas, but that requires real shelter from the winter elements. They need 10-15 months of temperatures above freezing to flower and fruit.

[gentlearts]

Ah! It is possible, but highly unlikely here. I suspect it depends upon the type of banana plant it is too. We could make it 10-11 months, but not 15.

[Cambium]

Summer shot





There's something cool about seeing a Banana tree in the snow.
Had to bring it outside for 1 minute for the picture but notice I didn't have to cut it down even in winter. It was growing nicely inside. This was in 2013-14

I bring it inside in October and bring it outside in May.


It's called Musa Basjoo Cold Hardy Banana

[southernnaturelover]

I remember my grandmother's banana trees used to make bananas sometimes here in zone 8, but they were usually small and inedible.

[marino760]

You don't need to cut it all the way down. Just wait cut back the dead leaves.

[denverian]

I grew Musa Basjoo last summer here in Denver (the very cold hardy banana) and for winter, I wrapped the stalks in bubble wrap, then covered with leaves/mulch and a sort of tent over it all. I don't know if the stalks will make it or not, but from what I've read, they're hardy to -20. Coldest we've been is 6 above. So I'm wondering how fast they'll grow if they have to come back from the ground. Guess I'll find out.

[maggie2101]

We had a banana tree in our yard in Houston. When we bought the house our realtor told us to just cut it down at about midway down the trunk every year around Valentine's Day. That worked out fine. We got bananas once, but they tasted terrible.

[gentlearts]

Ok, so this year, as I said, the stalk did not die back and we have a nice big leaf growing out of the top of each stalk. I will try to preserve the stalk every year and see what happens.

[Moth]

I grow Musa here in Zone 7 Maryland.

I wait until the frost starts to whomp them and then cut them down. Cover up the stumps with leaves.

They come back every year and multiply. No bananas though.

Another fun one to try is Papaya. Easy to germinate. I actually started one early and by October it was huge and flowered.