I am interested in growing Bananas in Zone 5a. I briefly overheard that
it could be done in colder climates by digging and storing them in the
winter. Does anyone have details on this??
I don't know about digging and storing them, but I live in zone 5a, and I
have a banana tree. However, I grow it in a tub and bring it indoors in the
winter. Although it gets full sun in the house during the winter, and
outdoors in the summer, it's never grows bananas, I'm told because the day
length isn't long enough for it here. I searched around and did find a type
of banana that would grow in zone 6 with some winter protection, but
unfortunatley it was not a good edible banana, and I threw out the catalog
because I'm limited this year on what I can spend, and I couldn't stand
looking at all the beautiful tropical plants that they were selling. That
particular banana does freeze down to the ground, but regrows from the
roots. Perhaps that's what you had heard.
I have a sheltered spot on the south side of my house next to the foundation
of the house that I grow zone 6 plants in, so I'd probably be able to grow
that banana there, but only for ornamental reasons.
Linda Jones
Zone 5a, Nebr.
lindaj@hamilton.net
> I am interested in growing Bananas in Zone 5a. I briefly overheard that
> it could be done in colder climates by digging and storing them in the
> winter. Does anyone have details on this??
Yes *I* am going bananas ---oh that's right GROWING bananas this way.
Actually I only have a dwarf ornamental variety so know I will not
actually get any bananas, but what I did was keep a small
offset(? culm? whatever you call these new shoots in bananas) in a pot
when I bought my banana last year (big plant went in the ground). The
"baby" has been growing happily in a sunny window all winter and is as
big as "mom" was last year. I will plant out when the weather warms up
and keep another shoot in a pot for the summer. In my area people are
able to winter over some varieties out side and I will be interested to
see if anything comes back from the roots, too.
Hope this helps!
Debbie in Williamsburg, VA where we are definitely having winter for
awhile...
On 3/13/99 7:48 AM green deborah (dxgree@FACSTAFF.WM.EDU) said:
Yesterday's's Wall St Journal had an article in its weekend section about
how people scattered all over the US are wanting tropical plants. They
want "the plant we saw in Jamaica" according to Glenn Stokes of Stokes
Tropicals. Stokes sent out 100k catalogs this year compared to 4k in '96.
Nice catalog, BTW.
The article went on to say that landscape architects and garden experts
haven't seen this much interest since the mid-50s when the movie South
Pacific created a lot of interest. It mentions people in Alaska growing
tropical plants using grow lights.
Apparently the people at the Philadelphia Flower Show have reported brisk
sales of some tropical plants.
Among those tropical plants mentioned were bananas and hibiscus.
Tom Miller
.............................................................................
........................................
If you like tropical plants like hibiscus, please see:
.............................................................................
........................................
Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
Evelyn Waugh , diary entry ( Diaries of Evelyn Waugh )
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........................................
I have been wanting an Orangerie forever. Could be a bannarie, too.
Esther
"T.L.Miller"
Please respond to Gardens & Gardening
To: GARDENS@LSV.UKY.EDU
cc: (bcc: Esther Czekalski/US/BULL)
Subject: Re: Going (oops) Growing Bananas
On 3/13/99 7:48 AM green deborah (dxgree@FACSTAFF.WM.EDU) said:
> Yes *I* am going bananas ---oh that's right GROWING bananas this way.
> Actually I only have a dwarf ornamental variety so know I will not
> actually get any bananas, but what I did was keep a small
> offset(? culm? whatever you call these new shoots in bananas) in a pot
> when I bought my banana last year (big plant went in the ground).
Yesterday's's Wall St Journal had an article in its weekend section about
how people scattered all over the US are wanting tropical plants. They
want "the plant we saw in Jamaica" according to Glenn Stokes of Stokes
Tropicals. Stokes sent out 100k catalogs this year compared to 4k in '96.
Nice catalog, BTW.
The article went on to say that landscape architects and garden experts
haven't seen this much interest since the mid-50s when the movie South
Pacific created a lot of interest. It mentions people in Alaska growing
tropical plants using grow lights.
Apparently the people at the Philadelphia Flower Show have reported brisk
sales of some tropical plants.
Among those tropical plants mentioned were bananas and hibiscus.
Tom Miller
.............................................................................
........................................
If you like tropical plants like hibiscus, please see:
.............................................................................
........................................
Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
Evelyn Waugh , diary entry ( Diaries of Evelyn Waugh )
.............................................................................
........................................
Yes Esther!!! My dream house (which shall remain forever a dream) is something
of a cross between a French and an Italian stucco villa with a large
orangerie. When this misrable thing called winter comes calling, I could
retreat to my tropical plants, start new seeds, play in the dirt and lounge on
my rattan chaise to read and dream of spring!!!
For now, I settle for a southern facing dining room window and a Lazy Boy. :)
Esther Czekalski wrote:
