View Full Version : Getting Started in San Jose
Tortuga
05-21-2014, 08:53 PM
Hello,
I am in a small townhouse in San Jose with a VERY small yard. I ordered a Blue Java/Ice Cream (which from my reading I'm guessing will be something different when it arrives) and a dwarf red. I am hoping to put them both into containers, but I think I may have to put the ice cream into the ground as it may just be too big.
If anyone has any advice for me just getting started I'd really appreciate it. I've been reading the forum for a long time now but there's just so much information.
Thanks and I look forward to adding to the knowledge base as I progress
Abnshrek
05-21-2014, 09:54 PM
Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. :^)
Richard
05-21-2014, 10:11 PM
The "blue java" will probably turn out to be Dwarf Namwa, which tastes better anyway when grown in your climate.
You'll need to think about winter protection before placing your plants. They can handle brief (1-3 hours) of temperatures between 30F and 35F and do very well if for the winter the soil above the corm has been piled high (18+ inches) with coarse peat, coarse bark (2 in. diameter) or hay. Adventures below 30F should also be very brief and occur at most 2-3 times per winter. The leaves -- well, they are most likely to look bad during and after the winter but unless there is fruit on the plant some new champion leaves will come out in the spring.
If you do decide to have one or more pots with naners: For the winter, those pots cannot be sitting on concrete (a heat sink). A half-bale of hay would be about right, or even an unopened bag of peat moss. Now you need to surround the pot with more insulation like discussed above and then above the pot as well. So if you can spare a couple of 4'x4' areas in the ground, then the extra work of a pot during the winter can be avoided.
Taking them inside for the winter is a whole other can of worms. I recommend in your climate you don't even go there.
Best wishes on your new endeavor. By the way, there is no cure for the human disease of growing bananas.
:08:
kubali
05-22-2014, 08:10 AM
Welcome aboard ,
pull up a chair and have some fun learning.
Tortuga
05-22-2014, 12:57 PM
Does anyone have any information on companion planting? I generally like to have all of my plantable space filled with something, even if it's just clover. I had thought of planting my small Oregano with one of the bananas as an edible ground cover. Thoughts?
***UPDATE***
My bananas just arrived!! The pseudo stem on the red dwarf is about 6 inches and on the "ice cream" imitator is 4 inches. They both look good and healthy to me. The root ball is about half the size of a 16 oz Solo cup (red keg cup). I will eventually be planting them in these faux whiskey barrels (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-22-5-in-Resin-Whiskey-Barrel-HDR-505742/203580708) which should be between 25 and 30 gallons, depending on the taper.
Should I get those today and plant them directly in there? Should I plant them first in some keg cups? Something larger? Please let me know, I'm eager to get started.
Thanks
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