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karunasagar108
11-30-2007, 09:12 PM
I just got into growing bananas earlier in the year and they totally made me crazy(only in good ways). I live in A southern enough part of Florida to where I can enjoy the outside of bananas all year round. Though I have to consider a yearly freeze, I am sure that the plants will be fine with a little cold.

Anyway, while reading around here it seems that there are a lot of other people on this site that enjoy growing bananas as much or even more then I do and I want to know why. What did it, how ever simple or complex of a reason. How did the banana plant turn you on to seeing a different part of life? Also, I encourage all members that live in temperate regions to answer this question.

thank you everyone.

-Karuna

island cassie
11-30-2007, 09:21 PM
Well Karuna - I am more tropical than temperate - but the beauty of the plants and the delight of the fruits had me hooked immediately! Can't get enough of them and I have only been growing them for a couple of years so I am a complete novice. This is a great site as there are so many experienced people willing to share - the information freely available is amazing.

Cassie

D_&_T
11-30-2007, 09:25 PM
the looks of the plant and the possibility of FRESH fruit:0518:

harveyc
11-30-2007, 09:34 PM
I think it is awesome how quickly they can grow during the warm summer months. I got many pleasant surprises this past summer when I saw new leaves coming faster than I could count!

Also, my father's parents came from Madeira, Portugal and many people there grow bananas in their gardens so it feels like a family tradition.

BabyBlue11371
11-30-2007, 09:39 PM
My addiction started with citrus.. I like the idea of house plants that provide oxygen, pretty green to look at and I might get fruit as a bonus..
Then I bught a Nanner with a shipment of citrus.. I gave it away as a gift. but had plans for more.. I am also addicted to getting others addicted!!
Share the love!!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

mskitty38583
11-30-2007, 09:55 PM
im a newby to the bananas. im just a regular ole gardener. anybody can grow most anything. it was time to try something new and a little more complicated. the tropical plants require a lot more dedication to get them to flower and produce fruit, then most other plants. the leaves, flowers, the fruit, just the excitment of a new leaf unwraping itself, the hint of a bud, maybe even the way that a seedling looks pushing up through the dirt, wondering if the weather is gonna let the fruit rippen on the tree or if theres gonna be a frost, which could ruin what you worked so hard for. and the possibility of eating something that you grew with your own two hands. it is what makes you hurry home to see if theres a new leaf that came up while you were gone 30 mins to the grocery store. maybe thats why its so addictive....well for me anyway. :)

AnnaJW
11-30-2007, 10:07 PM
Well, for me, I've always been a Nature lover. Plants, animals, rocks, etc.
We got our first banana plant when we bought a new house in 2001. It was a "pretty plant". :)
Then one day, I saw a big purple thing coming out of the plant! Immediately started researching banana plants. I found out that it was a bloom. Anyone I told about the bloom told me that we can't grow bananas in Southern California. This includes nearby nurseries. (They now know otherwise) :)
I was totally hooked!!! :bananarow:
We were afraid to try the first bunch because we didn't know if they were safe to eat. :ha:
But I found Bananas.org, and the rest is history! :kiteflyingnanergif:

momoese
11-30-2007, 10:22 PM
Besides what has allready been said, I enjoy sharing the fruit with friends and family.

AnnaJW
11-30-2007, 10:25 PM
Besides what has allready been said, I enjoy sharing the fruit with friends and family.

Yes! That, too! People are so interested in trying the local bananas; and it's so nice to share!

mskitty38583
11-30-2007, 10:38 PM
i wish i had a neighbor who grew nanas.... heck i wish i had neighbors who grew plants. my neighbors grow: spare tires, junky old cars, and parts of houses. oh yeah they do grow weeds 15 ft. tall.:cool:

AnnaJW
11-30-2007, 10:47 PM
i wish i had a neighbor who grew nanas.... heck i wish i had neighbors who grew plants. my neighbors grow: spare tires, junky old cars, and parts of houses. oh yeah they do grow weeds 15 ft. tall.:cool:

I've lived there, HERE. I totally know what you mean. :)
Maybe you will rub off on some!

mskitty38583
11-30-2007, 10:51 PM
the neighbor rite up from me actually cuts his grass when he cant see his kid if they lay in the grass. i keep hoping!!!!

natedogg1026
11-30-2007, 11:59 PM
Karuna, Here in Kansas you don't see a lot of Banana's. In fact, most of the houses that have them stand out to passerbyers. Ya see I like to be a little different in the things I do, and Nana's are "different" around here. I kind of like it that way. Not seeing them growing everywhere. It really makes me appreciate them a little more. Don't get me wrong, a wall of nana's growing near the beach is beautiful but I'm afraid I'd take it for granite if I saw them all the time. Welllllll, maybe I wouldn't. But also, no one knows much about them here and are amazed that they can be grown in this area. Do they produce bananas everyone asks. That's part of it, but also the general "growing" of the plant. I can be impatient at times, though my children have improved my skills dramatically, but the speed at which they grow is truly amazing!!!! You can check on them everyday in summer and see change and really, they are pretty simple to grow. Lots of sun and water, a little TLC, and watch em go! And for me, watching them blow in a windy summer rain storm is beautiful. Ya it may shred a few leaves but well worth it. The flowering part is new to me. I've only had an Ornata flower but have grown Nana's for several years. That will all change next year and I should see several flowers and maybe even eat some fingers! I'm sure it will be very satisfying to eat Nana's knowing I produced them myself. Not to mention, they are so dang good for you. Upset stomach, depression, Stress, Mosquito bites ,Warts, hangovers, just all kinds of stuff . http://www.banana.com/medicinal.html
There's a lot of reasons I like nana's, but in general they just seem to make me feel better. Maybe that sounds strange but maybe some of you can relate. Good luck to all of the Nanahead in spring 08 We got Nov. under our belt. ----------NNNNNNNNAAAATTTTEEEEEEEEEE:08: :2784: :nanerelectricguitar :bananas_b :gangstabanana:

bencelest
12-01-2007, 01:31 AM
At first I grew bananas for the leaves to be used for cooking.
Now I am hooked to harvest some fruit by hook or by crook!

PAJ53
12-01-2007, 02:36 AM
Hello Karuna - Many years ago when I was in the military I fell in love with the tropics and jungles and probably went a little bit crazy And now I love the way bananas and bamboo shade my yard. I truly got banana fever on my first trip to Jamaica when I visited a Banana plantation on the way to Ocho Rios coming from Montego bay and went back three more times on other trips to see the blue mountain coffee being grown and harvested and to a pineapple plantation. Jamaica is were I also got interested in growing Bamboo and Pineapples. Since then I have visited many other islands Grand Cayman, St kitts, Cozemel, Hawaii. The last trip to Hawaii I carried back a case of six dole pineapples and has to hold them as they did not fit in the above storage, what a long flight back that was but all of tops off them are still growing some have suckered and I am expecting several to bloom this year if I can get them through the winter successfully. Bringing the tropics to zone 7b is hard and it would probably be a lot cheaper to move to a island and retire but I am kind of locked in here with family so I dream of a really big tropical climate controlled glass green house with about a forty or fifty foot ceiling height covering about a half acre of my land here I guess that would make the cost of growing bananas just about worth their weight in gold when they can be bought for less than fifty cents a pound and that is crazy so I guess its a kind of insanity-growing bananas is going bananas :2750:
My question of the group How many of you have hidden from your spouse buying a hundred dollars or more single plant of any kind and his or her reaction when they found out
and you had to face that are you "nuts" look--Philip :santananer:

mike
12-01-2007, 02:41 AM
I love the look of the big beautiful leaves. I love how fast they grow. You can almost sit outside with them and watch them grow if you treat them right. I love that there is some thing else to look forward to when I get home from work besides my family. There is something new to look at everyday. I love the fact that it’s a challenge to get a plant to produce fruit and a challenge to produce a lot of fruit. I love the fact that most people don’t believe you can grow bananas. I love the fact that there are so many different varieties with different taste. I can go on.

asacomm
12-01-2007, 04:10 AM
Hi every one,
What drives me to grow bananas is an endless enthusiasm and fantasy to
grow and harvest edible fruits of bananas in a marginal region and to taste
home made DIY bananas. Every effors to select species, to think over the
wintering methods are all deeply connedcted to this enthusiasm and fantasy.


So far I have succeeded in harvesting of Cardaba, D.Cavendish, King Banana
and a local species of Okinawa Islands.

Stan

klemmthamm
12-01-2007, 06:52 AM
I had 2 choices.... do drugs or grow bananas... I chose bananas. :D

Just kidding!

But for serious, I think they are one of the easiest and fastest ways to give your landscape that "tropical feel". I love all tropical plants but bananas and elephant ears are definately the easiest for me to grow in my zone... if it was a bit warmer in the winter here I would really focus on more species of palms but I am pretty limited in Z-7a.

Plus they just have some sort of surreal appeal to me and I don't know why.

Regards,

-James-

kenboy
12-01-2007, 08:05 AM
Why do fools fall in love.

Randy4ut
12-01-2007, 08:27 AM
I got into it when my family and I moved into our house 3 years ago. It already had a pool but I wanted to have a more tropical feel to my backyard. I started with palms and a couple of folks that got me into hardy palms, had nanners growing in their also. So, knowing that palms don't grow that fast, I decided to give bananas a try also. For two years I only had basjoo, and velutina. They did great in my area, so I decided to try to expand my collection, and now I can't seem to stop. Same way with palms. I honestly cannot think of anywhere I would rather be on summer nights than in my little piece of paradise I created with my family. It's AWESOME!!!

musa_monkey
12-01-2007, 10:10 AM
Here in the UK with our weather to see a plant grow at such speed and a one metre long leaf appear every week is an absolutely stunning site. My only problem is the garden is getting to small for them :D

the flying dutchman
12-01-2007, 10:35 AM
I don't really know.

I had a time I had roses-mania. I traveled trough the country collecting
roses.
Then I switched to cactii. I gave them all away except one.
Then I went into vegetables and herbs for many years, i wanted to grow
every veg. or herb that exists and I think I nearly did. I also had 3 apple-trees and strawberry's.
I think bananas is just a logical next step, it has all combined in one
plant. I have not much plants, 10 or so cause I don't have the space.

I think part of the drive is to grow something most people don't grow
and seeing the enthousiasm of all the members on the board and the
way they help each other, that makes it also special. Maybe without
the board I was now switched to growing all kinds of Hedera or something
similar, who knows:)

But I think I stay with bananas for a while.....

:2750:

Ron

hydroid
12-01-2007, 10:44 AM
My addiction started back in the mid 70's with listening to too much Jimmy Buffett and a trip to Cozumel/Yucatan. I wanted to just stay there in the tropics. I really like the tropical and leafy type plants and after living 3 yrs. in the Caribbean upon my returning decided to grow some elephant ears, palms and my favorite, the Bananas. This is my first year of being fairly serious at it so I have some hand-me-downs (I think Orinocos), a Musa Basjoo, and 2 Sabas.
I have really enjoyed this past summer in South Alabama watching this stuff grow, and thanks to this forum for great info and help. Cheers
hydroid

bencelest
12-01-2007, 10:52 AM
Phillip:
I got caught a couple of times. I had that dumb look but continue buying anyways. I was just like a cat got caught with the yellow canary.The first time my father-in-law tattle-tale on me. That's the last time I gave him pocket money.

mskitty38583
12-01-2007, 11:55 AM
i think ...well for me it is also a stress relief from the trials of the day. frustrations of family, work, school, and just every day life. it, is a place where i can go and where noone else in the family wants to be.(they hate plants, i get to be alone) and there in my own little world, i ponder the questions of the universe. and as for the spouse issue. its your christmas presents, your birthday present, new years present, st. paddys day present, its always a special day when you can get one more nana tree.they need to have a nana holiday so people like us can actually celebrate.

microfarmer
12-01-2007, 02:55 PM
My DW wanted to get 1 and I chose 5 dessert bananas. Since then, I have been bitten by the bug and now collect them for their differences from each other...and not just dessert types...

Since planting them in front of my house, I notice other people slowing down and gazing at them as they pass. They give me a calm feeling that I never noticed when around any other plants. I also like to grow things that are different than everyone else's landscape plantings and the bananas fill the bill. I have always taken things to excess, and bananas are no different.

Jeff

bananimal
12-02-2007, 08:30 AM
My wife's family have been down here since 1969, and my family has been here since 1947.

I always dreamed of living in the tropics, and now, finally having the opportunity ----- I want it all; just like my uncle Frank had on his 10 acre ranch in SW Miami before it became a university campus. He grew pigs, 50 or so black angus, chickens, guinea hens, ducks, bananas, plantains, mangos, tamarind, genip, peaches, avocado, oranges, grapefruit, apricots, lemons, limes, etc, etc. He had Appaloosa and Paso Fino horses too.

When I was 14 we didn't do evening stables, like in the UK. We did evening rats, with 22 cal rifles loaded with bird shot rounds. Unfortunately, I'm now on little more than a quarter acre in Port St Lucie -- me and my bobcats -- and my bananas --- no pigs or cows. I'm home.

Dan

austinl01
12-02-2007, 10:29 AM
I grow bananas because not many people around here grow them. I like having unusual plants that others are amazed at when they see them and can't believe that they are growing in zone 7b. "Plants that don't grow here" are my favorites.

mrbungalow
12-02-2007, 12:48 PM
- instant Tropical effect
- beauty of foliage
- Speed of growth
- Easy to care for
- Easy to remove if unwanted
- Fun challenge to overwinter, gives me feeling of success in spring
- Fun challenge to propogate
- Association with food (bananas)
- Nobody else grows them in Norway

Taylor
12-02-2007, 01:12 PM
I think Erlend hit the nail on the head with that list. :2221:

island cassie
12-02-2007, 06:41 PM
Near enough the perfect plant - and so much FUN!

STEELVIPER
12-02-2007, 08:40 PM
Great looking Herb. That tropical look. Great tasting fruit. I like the idea of growing something that "you can't grow around here". HA!! look at me now!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!:djnana2:

magicgreen
12-02-2007, 10:45 PM
The bananas for me give me the WOW effect. God I think they are Beautiful! I want to be the one on the block that has the most interesting, beautiful, healthy, wonderful YARD!!!!beautiful plants. I really dont care what people think , but shoot I like praise, it feels good; After all i put in a heck of a lotta work. didnt I.Goat & horse manure, compost pile, grow lights or some facsimily there of. LOL But Lord knows they are curious about me, my yard, plants, holiday decorations!WOW effect!!! Know what I mean? Those long wide beautiful leaves of the bananas just keeps me thinking WOW! When People pass by my yard on their daily travels and tribulations I hope they think like I did as a child.......,,"I want to have a garden or backyard, stoop, meadow, pond, house, porch whatever when I grow up, like that ladys , when i was a kid!! I live in the inner city of Cincinnati Ohio. Its great for the people to see what can be achieved with something they knew nothing about! Like me, and these BANANAS!!! These beautiful and graceful additions to my life have added SOMETHING!!! Know what I mean banana people.?!>!
You know what I just THOUGHT..... People ...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets have a BANANA CONVENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE CAN HAVE IT IN late September 2008, alot of us would kinda be safe then. What do ya'll think!!!!! I sure would love to meet alot of you people and get info, whatever, whatever. And I think it would be SHARP!!!!!!!!It would be like WOODSTOCK or something!!!!! is anybody GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:choochoo:

karunasagar108
12-03-2007, 12:59 PM
I would like to thank everyone for sharing how they have gotten hooked by the banana plant. They are truly amazing and it is awesome being able to share our different experiences with a common friend- the banana.

Now MagicGreen, I love the idea of having a banana convention. We should totally get together and have a banana nerd fest. I think that would be the most fun ever. Let us put all of our heads together and see if this would be a possibility. Maybe even one of us could host the event in a warm location?

In compassion,
Karuna

51st state
12-03-2007, 04:36 PM
Erlend pretty much got all my reasons. I would add the point that both friends and colleagues think I am completely mad when I tell them. 'you're joking right? growing bananas in the UK?'
I took the madness to new heights last week by taking the family on vacation to florida and dragging my wife and baby round 'going bananas' nursery.

magicgreen
12-03-2007, 05:11 PM
51st state you made me smile. Cuz i plan on dragging my daughter, her 3 kids, and my husband to Florida too! And they think they will be hanging in the Disney park for 7 days. HAHAHAHA! MG

High_Brix
12-03-2007, 07:10 PM
Someone told me I couldn't grow bananas in Idaho!! Boy, were they wrong!!

marco
12-04-2007, 02:52 PM
What got me intrigued at 1st about bananas was the uniqueness of the plant to Ohioans.
My father had received some plants from his step-son (from another marriage), and I was brought in to the banana tree craze when he gave me a couple pups, probably back in 1996 or so.

I've always prided myself at being very good at growing things both interior and exterior, but these things posed a unique challenge because of the dry household interior winter climate.

The tropical effect out in the yard (and yes, SHOWING OFF a liitle to the neighbors) :2750: was the 1st love, but the second was the challenge of overcoming that humidity obstacle successfully.

I've never had actual bananas yet...even though I've had them get up to 12-14 feet a couple times. When they get that big I have to either scrap it, or call tha local arboretum to see if they, or any volunteers there have the 'head room' for it.
I have given some pretty big ones to my kid's school and taught the science teacher how to regulate their moisture needs with the 'banana oil' (horticulture oil) anti-desiccant I put together for dry midwest buildings.

I guess that's what keeps me going now....growing them and giving them away and spreading the joy!
Getting some fruit sometime would be cool too, but if I never get any in Ohio I'll not complain.

magicgreen
12-04-2007, 03:35 PM
Marco, I agreed with you. Theres a fella over in roselawn area that gets his to fruit! Iam cincy also. The next time iam around there i'll get the street name, and next summer you can have a look. I dont know what kind they are though,probably basjoos. I stopped and spoke to him for a min. I was so new to bananas, he probably told me and i forgot. His whole yard is spectacular! He seemed kinda testy so i didnt go back! I think he works 3rd shift. But he did let us see his garden. It was beautiful.

marco
12-04-2007, 03:50 PM
He seemed kinda testy so i didnt go back!

Don't blame the bananas for that!
Unfortunately he's probably a lonely fellow.

There's quite a few banana people I've seen in 'Cincy proper', but I haven't run in to too many up where I am, in northern Warren Co.

One yard that comes to mind down there is a woman's yard on River Rd just west of Elberon Ave exit. She decks her whole yard out with banana trees every summer, overlooking the north turn on the Ohio River there.