Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlieM
I bought two different ice cream bananas online. Both arrived around the same time. One was a pup and the other was a tiny tissue culture. I was convinced that the pup was much stronger and would take right off. The tissue culture was a concern. I was totally wrong. A year later the tissue culture has already made a flower and a few pups larger than the other stronger looking pup plant. Shocker to me.
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Research shows that banana plants from TCs generally fruit months (about 10) sooner than plants from corms. Further, research at The UGA has shown some TCs, particularly short cycle types, can be planted and fruited in zone 8 (Georgia). Due to timing problems, late arrival of the plantlets & delayed planting, those 'research' bananas fruited too late in the year after planting to ripen. And several other 'research' banana plant proved to be choked the following spring. They were ready to fruit when temperatures froze. ... However, the Research recommendations was the TCs needed to be conditioned in the greenhouse for 8 to 12 weeks minimum; and started in the greenhouse by November for fruiting to occur by July/June and ripen before frost in Georgia.
By starting TCs in the greenhouse by October/November, the plant will have 4 to 6 months growth by the time it is transplanted to the field with another 6 months to fruit and ripen. This is well within the normal growth & fruiting timing of several banana varieties for zone 8. ... And, this raise the possibility of growing bananas as if it was an annual. Buy new TCs and/or collect any pups to start in the greenhouse by November.
TCs need special care when received from the nursery. Generally, these have not been harden off and not ready to be transplanted to the field. So unless you live in zone 10 ( Florida) I do not recommend planting these outside.