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View Full Version : New from Pelion, SC


capkirb
05-28-2012, 10:41 AM
My name is Paul and I have a nice garden in my large (3 acre) yard. I live in Pelion, SC in Lexington County which is in USDA 8A. I am 48 and retired with a disability. I haver been married for 21 years and have 2 girls at home, 1 out on her own and a grown son with multiple grandchildren who I love and we see regularly. I have one grandson who is 13 that helps me garden.

I am very interested in growing Bananas near my 24' above ground pool that is surrounded by a large deck. I have very sandy soil and access to lots of organic compost as well as a generous dump truck full of cow manure from a farmer friend. I get full sun and scorching heat in the Summer with usually mild winters. Winds are moderate at most.

I am considering Grand Nain or some other type that most resembles the grocery store varieties. Would love to hear about other recommended types and where I can get them.

oakshadows
05-28-2012, 11:34 AM
Welcome from central Florida. Quite sure you will enjoy the site and the members, who will extend their friendly knowledge and find answers to any of your questions. We have been growing bananas here for only a short time, about 10 months. Now we are really bananas. Have over 15 varieties and are trying to find which grows best for us. The soil here as also sand so it gets a lot of compost and mulch. After 3 to 4 yrs it is starting to show a good sign of improvement. Good luck and shop the members for banana plants as they are a lot more accurate with the labels.

Simply Bananas
05-28-2012, 04:54 PM
Orinoco is my suggestion. Way more cold hardy than the gran nain. in my opinion.

amantedelenguaje
05-28-2012, 05:15 PM
Greetings from western NC zone 7. You may want to research different varieties of bananas. My understanding is that the Gran Nain/Cavendish variety bananas that we purchase in grocery stores are the poorest tasting bananas. The only reason why they are sold in stores is because they are the only bananas that ship well and have not been totally decimated by disease (although they are now under attack in Asia and Australia). About 60 or so years ago, the markets carried Gros Michel, which was a tastier, bigger banana. However, disease wiped out most of this variety. Since you are going to take the time to grow bananas, may as well get a better tasting variety, if possible.

If you want supermarket variety bananas Williams (i.e. Giant Cavendish), Grain Nain (tall Cavendish) or the Dwarf Cavendish (Shorter Cavendish) or Super Dwarf Cavendish (really short Cavendish) will do the job.

Best banana wishes!

Abnshrek
05-28-2012, 05:43 PM
Hello, Welcome, and Happy growing.. Orinoco or Dwarf version are probably the most hardy.. :^)

crazy banana
05-28-2012, 08:17 PM
Welcome from another "banana growing newbie" in CA