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theocrat
12-24-2013, 08:32 PM
Looking for some suggestions on planting bananas in Hilo Hawaii area.

robguz24
12-24-2013, 08:44 PM
What types of suggestions? You mean where to get them and what type to plant?

theocrat
12-24-2013, 08:49 PM
Yes, where to get them and what kind to plant. I have never grown them.

Thanks in advance!

robguz24
12-24-2013, 10:07 PM
You can get several kinds at Garden Exchange & Home Depot, and often 1 or 2 kinds at Walmart. I guess it depends on what kinds you like best really. The easiest is the dwarf Apple and it is many people's favorite. You can also go to the Makuu Market on Sundays, near Pahoa. At the north end there are 2 vendors who each grow and sell about 30 varieties but have maybe 5-10 types on a give day. My recommendations are Dwarf Apple, Dwarf Namwah, Mysore, and Gros Michel. There are many other good ones but these are my favorites that aren't particularly disease prone here, except for Gros Michel. If you like regular store bananas, both Williams and Dwarf Cavendish are good choices too. The vendor Marvin can tell you quite a bit about the different types he sells. I sell some too, but don't have much at the moment. My site is here: Banana Varieties sold by Seaview Farms (http://seaviewfarmshi.com/Seaview_Farms/Banana_Varieties.html)

theocrat
12-25-2013, 11:20 PM
@robguz24 Thank you for the suggestions. I live very close to Makuu market. I am in a wheelchair so I guess a plant that is not too tall might be good for me. Do you know if any of these banana types are lower growing, not very tall plants? Mahalo!

Richard
12-26-2013, 02:48 AM
@robguz24 Thank you for the suggestions. I live very close to Makuu market. I am in a wheelchair so I guess a plant that is not too tall might be good for me. Do you know if any of these banana types are lower growing, not very tall plants? Mahalo!

If you are interested in growing a banana plant in Hawaii that produces fruit that tastes good and you can reach from a wheelchair ... wow, that's a tall order!

robguz24
12-26-2013, 02:56 AM
Your best bets for low height are probably dwarf or super dwarf cavendish ($7 at Home Depot), or double Mahoi. The dwarf Namwah and dwarf Apple can get pretty good sized, but they're still shorter and easier to harvest than most.

sunfish
12-26-2013, 12:01 PM
When the fruit is ready to harvest just cut the stem. No need to be able to reach the bunch