Bananas.org - View Single Post - Hello! And questions about bananas in Zone 7a

LilRaverBoi · 05-06-2013, 11:27 PM

Getting bananas to flower and develop fruit to a ripening stage can be a challenge in climates where temperatures get cold during part of the year. There is no real 'time to flower' with bananas....it all depends on conditions and the type of plant. They can flower at any time of the year (which is unfortunate for us colder climate growers when a flower pops out in the fall). Also, fruit will need months on the plant to fill out and develop to a mature stage. None of the edible varieties will survive in your climate without protection. The best options are letting them grow as a houseplant during the winter or storing them dormant (though either option has its problems and not all varieties do well with one or the other). I wouldn't really hedge your bets on getting fruit.....but it's always something to try for! My best advice is to work first on learning how to grow bananas for their foliage and practice overwintering methods to find what works for you. If you are successful with that, you can then start working toward flowering and fruit.

Not trying to stifle your goals or anything....just giving you an honest response.

05-06-2013, 11:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 126,146 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Hello! And questions about bananas in Zone 7a Getting bananas to flower and develop fruit to a ripening stage can be a challenge in climates where temperatures get cold during part of the year. There is no real 'time to flower' with bananas....it all depends on conditions and the type of plant. They can flower at any time of the year (which is unfortunate for us colder climate growers when a flower pops out in the fall). Also, fruit will need months on the plant to fill out and develop to a mature stage. None of the edible varieties will survive in your climate without protection. The best options are letting them grow as a houseplant during the winter or storing them dormant (though either option has its problems and not all varieties do well with one or the other). I wouldn't really hedge your bets on getting fruit.....but it's always something to try for! My best advice is to work first on learning how to grow bananas for their foliage and practice overwintering methods to find what works for you. If you are successful with that, you can then start working toward flowering and fruit. Not trying to stifle your goals or anything....just giving you an honest response. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!