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caliboy1994
11-05-2011, 06:30 PM
I'm thinking of getting some kind of plantain next season, but because I get lots of wind in my area during the fall I need a dwarf variety. Winds have already gotten over 50mph in my area. It needs to be cold hardy and be able to produce in zone 10a. I was thinking maybe Dwarf Puerto Rican, but is that cold hardy in my zone? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

venturabananas
11-05-2011, 07:38 PM
Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

sunfish
11-05-2011, 07:50 PM
Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

I THINK Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain.

caliboy1994
11-05-2011, 11:52 PM
Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

I'm already planning on getting D. Namwah since it should be able to brave the winds we get here. I'll look into D. Orinoco as well.

Nicolas Naranja
11-06-2011, 09:31 PM
dwarf puerto rican does well here, the dwarf super plantain has trouble with finger diseases

caliboy1994
11-06-2011, 09:33 PM
dwarf puerto rican does well here, the dwarf super plantain has trouble with finger diseases

Thanks. The only thing I'm worried about here is the cool, wet winters.

Nicolas Naranja
11-07-2011, 11:19 AM
Thanks. The only thing I'm worried about here is the cool, wet winters.

If you can provide drainage, they should be ok. You might not get 10" fruit, but you should get a plantain.

caliboy1994
11-07-2011, 11:39 PM
If you can provide drainage, they should be ok. You might not get 10" fruit, but you should get a plantain.

That's not great because my soil isn't particularly well draining. I have a layer of good topsoil, and underneath that is a thick layer of heavy clay. I could probably offset this by amending the soil though.

Nicolas Naranja
11-08-2011, 10:22 AM
You could put the tree on a raised bed or dig a big hole and ammend it with better draining soil or you could put in drainage tile, but you would need somewhere to drain into.

bananimal
11-08-2011, 01:44 PM
Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

caliboy1994
11-08-2011, 02:06 PM
Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

I have lots of places with full sun, but the slope is taken by one of my Not Ice Creams. There is a place in full sun at the bottom of a slight slope where I planned on putting it, but water tends to collect in that place. Maybe I can find a way to drain it?

Nicolas Naranja
11-08-2011, 04:39 PM
I have lots of places with full sun, but the slope is taken by one of my Not Ice Creams. There is a place in full sun at the bottom of a slight slope where I planned on putting it, but water tends to collect in that place. Maybe I can find a way to drain it?

Basically you could build a mound and trench around it. If you could get you the soil about 2' above the lowest point you would be ok.

sunfish
11-08-2011, 05:03 PM
Another option is a gravel sump.

caliboy1994
11-08-2011, 08:16 PM
Another option is a gravel sump.

What's a gravel sump?

Nicolas Naranja
11-08-2011, 10:42 PM
give us enough time and your yard would be a marvel of modern hydrologic engineering.:08:

caliboy1994
11-08-2011, 10:53 PM
Haha I wish...

sunfish
11-09-2011, 07:11 AM
What's a gravel sump?

Basically you dig your plant hole. In a corner of the plant hole you dig a sump,hole, with a post hole digger.Install a piece of perforated drain pipe with filter sock.Leave the pipe 4" above soil level.Any excess water in the planting pit will flow into the sump.The pipe allows air in which helps dry up the water.You can also use a hand pump to pump out the sump. If you are lucky and have gotten deep enough to good soil the water will drain on it's own.:08:

Darkman
11-09-2011, 05:27 PM
Put in lots of gravel sumps.

Pump them to one small pond.

Pump the pond to the top of your property.

Build a stream bed for the water to flow back down to the pond.

Now you have water feature and have solved your drainage problem.

:woohoonaner: :nanadrink:

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 05:30 PM
Put in lots of gravel sumps.

Pump them to one small pond.

Pump the pond to the top of your property.

Build a stream bed for the water to flow back down to the pond.

Now you have water feature and have solved your drainage problem.

:woohoonaner: :nanadrink:

Thanks for the sarcasm. :ha::ha::ha: But I need a cheap, easy solution. Maybe I could just plant it farther back from that spot.

sunfish
11-09-2011, 05:51 PM
Thanks for the sarcasm. :ha::ha::ha: But I need a cheap, easy solution. Maybe I could just plant it farther back from that spot.

Easy solution plant a guava

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 05:59 PM
Easy solution plant a guava

There are guava trees at my local nursery. But they need to be able to take the high wind in that area, as it's an exposed spot. That's why I only want to put dwarf varieties there.

sunfish
11-09-2011, 06:03 PM
There are guava trees at my local nursery. But they need to be able to take the high wind in that area, as it's an exposed spot. That's why I only want to put dwarf varieties there.

Guavas can be grown as a hedge,they take well to pruning

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 06:09 PM
Maybe I can try that then. Do they have invasive roots that will compete for nutrients with any nearby banana plants?

sunfish
11-09-2011, 06:11 PM
Maybe I can try that then. Do they have invasive roots that will compete for nutrients with any nearby banana plants?

I really don't believe you ever have to worry about that happening with any plant,Just fertilize enough for both.

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 06:44 PM
What kind of guava would be good to use in my area? Frost can occur in the winter, and the lowest I've seen it get in my area are the high twenties, but only for a short time at night.

sunfish
11-09-2011, 06:47 PM
What kind of guava would be good to use in my area? Frost can occur in the winter, and the lowest I've seen it get in my area are the high twenties, but only for a short time at night.

The best thing is to taste different varieties see which you like.Guavas are in season now.I would think you could go to the high end nursery and sample some

sunfish
11-09-2011, 06:52 PM
You may need to go with Pineapple Guava

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 07:35 PM
You may need to go with Pineapple Guava

Maybe, but I saw this other kind of guava called the Cattley Guava that is supposed to be hardy down to 22 degrees. Would that work too?

sunfish
11-09-2011, 08:06 PM
Maybe, but I saw this other kind of guava called the Cattley Guava that is supposed to be hardy down to 22 degrees. Would that work too?

Yes small fruit but tasty

bananimal
11-09-2011, 08:10 PM
Move to south Florida. The sugar sand drains like a sieve.

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 08:12 PM
I don't think my parents would want to move to South Florida. And I've been there. The heat and humidity is just too much for somebody who is used to the dry heat of California.

sunfish
11-09-2011, 08:13 PM
Move to south Florida. The sugar sand drains like a sieve.

It can rain here and my soil will stay wet for weeks.Even in mid summer dig down 1' and it's wet

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 08:14 PM
Besides, in California, you can grow pretty much anything except for things like coconut, mangosteen, and cacao.

sunfish
11-09-2011, 08:16 PM
I don't think my parents would want to move to South Florida. And I've been there. The heat and humidity is just too much for somebody who is used to the dry heat of California.

It's not bad if you live near the beach and take a dip every few hours:ha:

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 08:19 PM
It's not bad if you live near the beach and take a dip every few hours:ha:

Too bad I live 20 miles from the coast. The closest beach is Will Rogers, 45 minute drive. When I get a house, it will definitely be near the beach.

Darkman
11-09-2011, 08:23 PM
You'll adapt to the humidity in about two years. We enjoy Winters that are not that bad usually and I think that is our allure.

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 08:28 PM
You'll adapt to the humidity in about two years. We enjoy Winters that are not that bad usually and I think that is our allure.

The winters here are chilly and wet. But the summers can get baking hot, especially in August and September. The funny thing is it can be twenty to thirty degrees cooler just a few miles away at the beach. 80 degrees is considered hot at the beach. In Florida, it's hot EVERYWHERE, even the beach.

venturabananas
11-09-2011, 08:41 PM
Cali, seems like just about any guava will do well near you. You see all sorts growing around the valley. Papaya Tree Nursery has all kinds that do well just 2 miles from your house. They're all a lot more wind and cold resistant than bananas from what I've seen!

caliboy1994
11-09-2011, 08:42 PM
Sounds great! I just might have to get some...