Why don't the banana trees give bananas? (Houston, Austin: houses, live in)

[chicagomama]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but does anyone know?

[Sampaguita]

Bananas - good eating varieties - don't seem to do well in Houston. I don't know if it's the zone or if it's because we can dip to freezing during the winter months. My friend's mother has an amazing tropical garden including fruit-bearing trees but she doesn't have a banana tree amongst the bunch.

The following link gives you an idea of what a good fruit-bearing plants to grow in the Houston area: Urban Harvest Gardening Advice - Fruit Trees and Plants

HTH!

[NTT]

Actually, it can. What variety/type of banana do you have? Where about in Houston do you live?

I know many friends and family have had banana fruits in the past years. We all live in NW side of Houston. However, the past 2 winters have been quite hard for subtropical fruit trees. It's been harder for them to come back. That may have been the reason for not having any fruits last year and may not this year as well.

With the normal Houston winter, sometimes they die but come right back in spring. If you want fruits and the banana tree has mature, don't cut the tree down for the winter even if it looks dreadful. When warm temperature starts, it will come back much quicker. Once the tree comes up 2-3 feet high, just cut back the dead portion; normally, it's the outer skirt of the tree. If the winter was mild and the tree does not die back, it will flower in the following summer which will produce fruits.

If your trees are still alive, don't give up on them yet.

[chicagomama]

THis is only our second summer, and both times we cut them back to the ground (oops). They are very full and right bow are about waist high. Maybe this year they will produce? We thought maybe it had something to do with pollination...

[eranical]

I guess the variety matters. I have had some awesome homegrown bananas at different friends houses in SW Houston..

[westres1]

mine bear fruit...I think it is how you cut them back etc

[muffett]

Yes, they do bear fruit. My mom's in Austin bear fruit just about ever summer. They do cut them back after winter and come Spring time they grow like crazy.

[chicagomama]

It must be the variety we have. We didn't plant them and I have no idea what kind they are. Oh well!

[elnina]

read this:
Bananas in Conroe, Woodlands, Houston Area??? - Banana Forum - GardenWeb
it looks like people have no problems with banana trees in Houston

[HUM398]

i have about 15 banana tree's....6 of them bear fruit....small but they are there.

I hate them, they are like weeds. I am more interested in how to cut these damn things down. Every year i machete, dig up, and mow over these plants...and they grow back EVERY year. ive had these plant for 10 years.


side note: I bleached the back yard a couple years ago to kill off parvo....(had a sick puppy that died)...and everything died....except those plants.