View Full Version : looking for suggestions
pmurphy
09-20-2012, 05:06 PM
I am looking for suggestions for "dwarf" varieties of bananas.
I have being working in my various gardens trying to turn them into "exotic" gardens with assorted palms, hibiscus, bamboos etc (anything that looks tropical and out of the ordinary) but in order to make them look the way I want, I know I need some bananas. And this is difficult to do in a northern zone 8 (Vancouver Canada). So I have come up with the idea of getting some dwarf varieties (no more than 6ft in height) and placing them in large pots in the front gardens as my centerpieces.
I think that plants suited for zone 9 will be okay as the pots would be moved into a heated greenhouse for overwintering.
So now I am asking for suggests on what types will fit the size requirements and look exotic (more so than the usual). And finally - the hard one - where can I get access to these plants locally as bringing them into Canada is almost impossible.
Abnshrek
09-20-2012, 05:35 PM
Since your putting them in I'd say Raja puri, Caligold, and D. Namwah for sure. :^)
Olafhenny
09-21-2012, 06:37 PM
Hi "P",
from Penticton, - colder winters but warmer summers than you have. I am raising two species
of bananas: The Musa Basjoo and the Musa Ornata. The basjoo is going into the third winter
here outdoors. You will find lots of information on that particularly hardy species in this forum.
I usually wait until an early frost has damaged some of the leaves and then slice of the PS to a
manageable level, protect it from excessive wetness (more important in your area) and then mulch
it heavily. The ornata is small enough to bring it into our living room, even at adult size. More on
that here: http://www.bananas.org/f2/i-think-i-scored-coup-13386-2.html
To get an idea of the size, you will have to scroll down to page 2. I have so far not heard of
another one in Canada.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them here or with PM.
Good Luck,
Olaf
pmurphy
09-21-2012, 07:27 PM
Thanks,
I too have the basjoo - a nice little "groove" of about 8 or so plants - that I have had for about 4 years now growing in the backyard (ranging in height from just over 1ft to about 7ft). New for this year I have a couple of Musella Lasicocarpa with one producing a few pups that I will try seperating soon (this will be a first for me) but both of these are cold hardy so no issues about leaving in the ground.
I was hoping for something a little more exotic and thus not as cold hardy for these pots but your suggestion also sounds like it would work....the problem being where to get. I do know of a fellow in Montreal that lists Musa Velutina
but he has not had any available but I will keep trying for the new year.
If you get any leads on availabiliy for the Ornata, let me know.
:goteam:
Thanks again,
Pam
Olafhenny
09-21-2012, 10:34 PM
Hi Pam,
I have three ornatas, two of them still connected by the same corm. They are the older ones and they
brought out a Pup in spring, but that one appears to be withering away.
Here is, what is weird: Those two are in my planter (see: http://www.bananas.org/f8/my-brand-new-tropical-planter-15715.html) with superb
soil conditions and the third one is in a large pot with lots of good soil, but limited in comparison to
the planter and it has two pups, still much too small to make it on their own.
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that they throw out more pups, when the growing conditions are
less than optimal. That would jibe with the observations, that plants in distress throw all their energy
into propagation, i.e. bloom and seeds. I am considering starting a thread on that subject, hoping
from some input from others' experiences.
Best,
Olaf
pmurphy
09-22-2012, 11:14 AM
Thanks for the info.
The weather has started changing here (first day of Fall) so I am going to attempt to separate one of the lasiocarpa pups today - it is about a third the size of the mother and I do want to try to get this done before it is too late.
Wish me luck...
2woodensticks
09-22-2012, 01:13 PM
i like the red dwarfs...prefer jamacian..nice red contrast..DC do have some nice color..but the red fruit is what i like..
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