View Full Version : Hello from Virginia!
terriclay
01-04-2013, 04:52 PM
Hello Everyone!
I LOVE the look of bananas...but, I live in Mathews, Virginia...Does anyone have any advice on a cold hardy Banana that will survive our winter...this old lady doesn't want to have to dig it up every fall!
My zip code is 23138
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can provide!!
TerriClay
Abnshrek
01-04-2013, 05:56 PM
Hello, Welcome & Happy Selecting.. a Nanner.. If you want to have etible fruit.. a Cali-Gold or Raja Puri. They are short and semi-easy to protect in the winter. :^)
Illia
01-04-2013, 06:28 PM
Welcome!
What zone are you in? (how cold does it get there?) Most states are fine with growing the cold hardy but ornamental Basjoo banana as well as bananas in the Ensete genus, Musella genus, and I believe also the Mekong Giant. If you're in zone 8 or warmer you can try the Velutina, which is a fast fruiting edible but seeded, or you can try the non cold hardy but fast enough to give fruit in a year "Veinte Cohol." Some semi cold hardy varieties that can benefit from protection during the winter in zone 8 are types like Namwah or Brazilian. You don't need to dig them up, you can cover and wrap them well once the leaves are off.
Zone finder says 7b (5 to 10 F) for that zip.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/)
terriclay
01-05-2013, 10:43 AM
Thanks, everyone! :-)
Some zone finders say I am zone 7, some say I am 7b...so, it's really confusing!
Thanks again!!
Terri
Illia
01-05-2013, 11:42 AM
The number is just a general zone, the b at the end means you're on the warm end of zone 7. I'm zone 8b, but in general zone 8. Most things that talk about plants taking different zones don't use the letters likely because there's not that big a difference between a and b, and often b can go through as cold of winters as a. (we have plenty before)
timmko
01-05-2013, 05:47 PM
Musa Basjoo if you want non fruiting. They just have to be mulched over for winter I am in Wisconsin and Leave mine in the ground. Look up Sandy at northerntropics.com she has an article on how to winter them. I have bought quite a few from her.
bananimal
01-05-2013, 08:55 PM
To grow bananas where you are you will need a heated greenhouse. Get dwarfs like D Namwah and D Orinoco to fit in a ten or twelve foot GH.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.