Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Hi there!

My fiance has always wanted a banana plant, he apparently used to try to talk his parents into getting one regularly, they have a spectacular skylight/glass door arrangement in their living room and it's like a greenhouse, or maybe like a jungle in there with the neat plants they grow!

Sadly I have no such arrangements, I currently live in a tiny apartment with an even tinier back patio. That's my only growspace. I've thought about trying indoors, but the only possible space would be right in front of the patio on the inside anyhow, that's the only place that gets much light.

I ordered some bananas pretty much on a whim, because they were cheap, because my fiance egged me on, and because I thought it would be a fun project to add to all my other weird plants I'm growing. (I have some regular garden stuff, but I like unusual things too.)

I've been reading up on bananas all I can. Anybody got any advice for my particular situation? Anything I should be aware of that might not be mentioned in general care websites?

The two plants I ordered are a double mahoi and a dwarf namwah. Figured I might as well try two different kinds, so if one isn't happy the other might still thrive.

And is it true that it takes 18 months to get ripe fruit?

Thanks!

PS. Here's a photo of my garden so far. :D Big pots for the bananas just got added, though the plants themselves won't be here for a week or so.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Hi Spark, I think you made a great choice with the Dwarf Namwah. Not sure about Double Mahoi. I overwintered a very small D.N. and it's become a beautiful stout little plant that I decided would be in a large pot as well. As they grow give them the largest pots you can move(or the largest your fiance and his friends can move.....sorry buddy!) and when you overwinter give them as much ambient as well as artificial light you can. Keep them warm and fertilized. The best thing for you would be to read up on some of the old posts. You can use the search button or the wiki(both on the top blue line) to look up things you're interested in and of course post questions here. Good luck.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

...

Why did my thread get moved? Yes I'm a newbie, but I was asking for container advice! (And if my thread got moved for being off topic somehow, why are all the "wanted" threads in the "for sale" forum still there?)

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

I wouldn't sweat it buddy. Probably one of the moderators thought it would just be nice if more people welcomed you since you're kind of new here. If I'm short on time Ill go say hello to new people here first and read ongoing stuff later. This may even help you get more response.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

I made a choice to ask for advice rather than participate socially.

It's a bit off-putting to have somebody else un-make that choice for me without providing any reason. Especially since at first I thought my post had been deleted.

Every other forum I've ever been on the moderators add a note when they move a topic. Guess things are done differently here.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

It was not off topic. And we do not move posts merely because it's off topic. I moved your post because you will get more attention for any question in this forum when you are just starting and no one knows you yet. Moving your post here does not detract from your request for advice, and in fact, draw more response. Coming to this post initially will give you more prominence in the organization because members are eager to welcome new members (not to mention that they get Banana Bucks when they do so).

If you would rather have your post back to the original forum, I can do that, too.

"Wanted", "For Sale", "Trades" are treated as advertisements and all of them will remain in the classifieds forums. It costs posters big Banana Bucks!

Also, by starting a new thread, you will receive additional Banana Bucks.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Thank you for the explanation.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Most members that are actively engaging in discussions here do so because they are comfortable with each other "socially". It is easier for people to offer advice if they are more acquainted with the person requesting it. However, after reading my response, let me know if you'd rather have your posts back in the Container Growing Forum, and I will gladly put them back.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Spark- a question for you. It's hard to offer advice without knowing where the poster lives and what zone they are in. We can be much more helpful with that information. Thanks....and I hope you find the advice you need, and realize that we're actually a pretty nice bunch (pun intended) and you'll end up joining in with the "social scene" here. If not, at least you'll find the info you need.

Howard

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Welcome, Spark.
That's a nice container garden you have there! I'm sure that many of us will enjoy watching the progress of the tomatoes and bananas.
I have plenty of 'ground' to plant things but container gardening is so much fun that I decided to keep 7-8 varieties in pots to see if I could get them to bloom. I have a D. Niño and M.coccinea blooming now!
D.Namwah should be a good one (mine is still very small).
Looking forward to seeing pics when you get em' planted :)
I never notice the catagory that threads are placed in because I hit the 'New Posts' button when I log in.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Zone 8, just like the topic says.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Duh....you got me there LOL.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Do I get a prize? :D

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

A prize? At my age when I don't make a mistake it's an event.
BTW, that iris blooming on your patio is gorgeous; mine are just budding up now. :nanadrink:

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Thank you. :) Looks like that might be the only blooms I get this year, the rest of my irses are being crochety and refusing to grow flowers.

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Can't say as I can help with bananas, since my first one's still in the mail, but lovely container garden you've got there =D What tomato types are those, if you don't mind my asking?

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

A celebrity and an early girl. I always have to get an early girl, I'm impatient! It's already flowered. :D

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

18-24 months from pup to fruit, in my experience. Then again, I live at latitude 0 and am not encumbered by winter.

The Double Mahoi will get quite tall, and you'll end up needing a very large container for it; it's a sport of Cavendish that produces two bunches at the same time. It will be a fun foliage plant until you have groundspace for it; I've never had any luck fruiting a non-dwarf Cav in anything but the ground. My standard Cavendishes go to about 20' of pseudostem before they fruit; I've never personally grown Doubles on purpose, but I had one occur by accident once. It weirded me out.

The Dwarf Namwah, on the other hand, should thrive in a container. It will most likely be a good idea for you to take a boo at the Container Growing Forum, as well as the Soil Amendments one; these will help you keep your new plants healthy and happy.

Best of luck, and welcome to the board. What are these "Wierd" plants of which you speak?

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Well, most people think my carnivores are a bit weird. :) I have pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, and I'm going to get some venus fly traps as soon as I have a little money. I kind of spent all I had to spare for now on bananas. :D

Re: Containers outdoors in zone 8 (newbie)
 

Welcome to the Org. Try keeping your naner plants warm with fresh horse manure placed from the P-stem out to the container edge.