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View Full Version : Should I trash my bananas?


Vlad
02-17-2019, 05:14 PM
I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

Richard
02-17-2019, 05:23 PM
Expect 3-5 years in your growing conditions.

Banana cultivation in non-tropical climates (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q2AHPZ_56nGZGmAsleMfeqdiOqPRom2J_meAMcPQ5BU/edit?usp=sharing)

Iowa
02-17-2019, 05:27 PM
I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

They may fruit but could take 3-5 seasons for plants wintered over in colder areas. A larger pot 20-40 gal will help or planting in the ground in the growing season.

sandylbuck
02-17-2019, 06:21 PM
Don't give up on them! I live in eastern PA and have had two plants flower and actually had ripe bananas this past summer. It is SOOOOOO worth the wait, I promise. Just be patient. Mine grow in pots too and I put the pots in the blacktop driveway in the summer. Plant your plants in bigger pots and feed them often and you will eventually get bananas!

cincinnana
02-17-2019, 06:58 PM
I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

Hi Vlad.

Unfortunately you and I are in a zone which is is not a favorable zone for banana plants.

Your plants are in a maintained hot house as mentioned in previous posts.

Are you keeping the heat low to grow those plants?

Do not give up until your bananas cost 45.00 a pound to produce in your hothouse.....then rethink the project.

Me ....I just wait it out.

cincinnana
02-17-2019, 08:37 PM
Expect 3-5 years in your growing conditions.

Banana cultivation in non-tropical climates (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q2AHPZ_56nGZGmAsleMfeqdiOqPRom2J_meAMcPQ5BU/edit?usp=sharing)

Word...

Apparently no-one believes.....

Vlad
02-17-2019, 08:51 PM
They are not in my greenhouse because the greenhouse is kept at 55 F except when the sun hits it and it goes to 94F.
How tall will they get? My house has 8 ft ceilings.

Iowa
02-18-2019, 07:13 AM
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?[/QUOTE]

From wiki - All bananas are monocarpic, meaning that they flower and fruit once and then die. The good news is that they perpetuate themselves by putting out pups or suckers. Once you have harvested your fruit, cut the entire pseudostem that fruited down to the ground. The pups that have come up around the main plant during the growing season will carry on the next generation for you.

cincinnana
02-18-2019, 07:24 PM
They are not in my greenhouse because the greenhouse is kept at 55 F except when the sun hits it and it goes to 94F.
How tall will they get? My house has 8 ft ceilings.

Vlad,
They can get pretty tall and wide.
When small the plant is easy to manage but when they are 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide they need a big footprint in the house.

If there is some way you could even out the temperature swings in the green house to about 80F your plants could benefit better

Vlad
02-18-2019, 07:57 PM
I just found out that the Apple will get to be about 12 ft and the Blue Java about 15 ft. Makes no sense for me to keep them since my ceiling is 8 ft.

bananimal
02-18-2019, 08:11 PM
When the leaves grow to full length you can crack them and let the upper part hang down. Looks aside, it won't affect plant growth --- and make sure to get the temp up. Use larger pots and find a high potassium fertilizer. I started out like this when I lived in New Jersey, and then again in Charlotte, NC. Got one bunch of fruit a year per pot. Here in S Fla it's a lot easier.