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Loraine
05-08-2012, 11:47 AM
I live in Arizona, and am trying the musa banana plant for the first time. I am anxious to know all that I can about the plant. I have put it into a large pot for indoors, as our summers are rather warm here, and keeping it in our solarium. I cannot believe how fast the leaves have appeared, I can almost see it grow each day. I am in my eighties, and have loved gardening all my life. Wish me luck on this new adventure!::woohoonaner:
caliboy1994
05-08-2012, 11:55 AM
Welcome! If information is what you want, then you've come to the right place.
You might actually be able to keep your plant outside all year. Do you know what hardiness zone you live in?
Loraine
05-08-2012, 05:39 PM
Either zone 9 or 10, but having lived here for over 30 years, I do know that it freezes here sometimes, so would rather have it inside. I have also know it to get to 138, and I do believe that is a little warm for it. Do you know how long it takes to get fruit? I am constantly amazed how fast the leaves grow and how big they are. Have only had my plant for about 2 weeks. Thanks for the question.:nanadrink:
caliboy1994
05-08-2012, 05:48 PM
I live in zone 10a and my plants did fine in the ground over the winter, and are resuming growth right now as if nothing happened. If you have a hardier type, it would be good to put it in the ground, it will get bigger faster and yield more fruit. Even if it gets extremely hot, you can mist the plants a few times a day to help them deal with the heat. The plants will recover at night. It has gotten over 100 degrees in my area and the only things my plants do is slow their growth and fold their leaves. 138 degrees, I don't know about that, its never gotten anywhere near that hot where I live. But even if it damages the plant significantly they will usually recover, bananas are extremely tough plants.
As for the fruiting, it really depends on the type of plant it is. Fruiting types typically take one and a half to two years in the continental US. Some ornamental times can fruit in a single season, but the fruits usually aren't edible. Do you know what kind it is? Pictures would help.
Loraine
05-09-2012, 04:58 PM
I do have a picture of the plant, but do not know how to post it on this site. It is a dwarf musa banana plant, has large green leaves with brown spots on it. does that help?
caliboy1994
05-09-2012, 05:05 PM
It sounds like a Cavendish variety, maybe Dwarf Cavendish. It's an edible kind, similar to the ones you find in the super market. Except if you grow it at home it will end up tasting much better :D
Here's how to upload photos:
http://www.bananas.org/f9/i-need-help-uploading-photos-15569.html#post193708
harveyc
05-10-2012, 01:24 AM
Welcome, Loraine! What area of Arizona are you located?
I'm a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers and there is an Arizona chapter that meets in Tempe. I attended a chapter meeting in March 2010 to discuss pomegranates (which I grow on my farm in northern California) and at that time I toured the yards of some growers there. One member, Doug Jones, was growing Namwah (tall version, not Dwarf) there outdoors very successfully. I recall he had about 6" of bark mulch over his entire yard. He said he had tried many varieties and this one worked best for him.
If you can grow a variety that can survive your winters in the ground it would be best to leave it in the ground full time as it will grow fastest that way.
Good luck!
Abnshrek
05-10-2012, 07:22 AM
Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing :^)
hybridpower
05-10-2012, 08:35 AM
Hi Loraine,
I'm in AZ as well; all of my bananas are growing outside (planted), and doing well, I had no problems over the winter. Just something to watch with the potted banana, is the pot temperature. The closest I've been to killing one of my bananans was leaving it in the pot in a very sunny spot. The pot was a dark color, and the plant was really suffering. I hadn't realized how hot the pot was getting until I went to move it an nearly burned my hand!
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