harveyc

Hello Mauro,

You can check my profile for my full list of bananas, but that isn't as helpful since many of them have not lived a full winter outdoors yet. The ones I've grown for several years include an unknown variety (search "mystery busy bee banana" and you'll find photos, etc.) which most believe to be the tall form of Namwah. It was sold to me as Dwarf Orinoco in tissue culture form, but it flowered just under 11' tall the past two summers. It has survived outdoors several winters with temperatures dipping down 26F-28F but in January 2007 we got down to 20F and the plant died but sprouted back pups from the corm. I also had Rajapuri and Dwarf Brazilian with similar situations and they flowered for me in 2008 but not in 2009. My Ice Cream died completely in the January 2007 freeze. I also have some unknown bananas called California Gold and another called California Cold Hardy. These fruit for others in my area but I am still waiting. I have let a smudge pot (outdoor heater using various forms of petroleum, I burn used motor oil), but I haven't used it for over a week and this morning we got down to 26F. I did spray my banana with fruit with the water house at about 6:45am to help prevent freezing damage. If it wasn't for the fruit on the plant, I would just leave it alone and let the leaves be killed. I'll do this eventually and expect they to sprout new leaves from the top in the spring (unless it goes down to the low 20s).

My expensive Ae Ae have had more care such as being dug up and spending the winter in the greenhouse. Others will have to survive on their own as I'm not about to be wrapping every plant or diging them all up. I don't think I'd make it as a zone 8 (or lower) banana grower.

Best wishes,

Harvey

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