cjpJQ38f

I'm building a greenhouse in Michigan, primarily for self-sustenance. There will be twelve feet of space from floor to ceiling, and the temperature will remain above freezing. I'm considering a "Highgate" dwarf Gros Michel for the old-fashioned banana flavor that I've only read about, and a dwarf Namwa to add some variety. Does such an environment sound like it would be suitable? Should I expect any trouble from placing the plants in the vicinity of each other? Thanks.

cincinnana

Welcome to the Jungle.
Have fun here.

You may plant side by side if you wish.
The plants chosen are not the best cool tolerant though.
You might to have to choose plants that are more forgiving.

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cjpJQ38f

Thanks. With a bit of extra setup, the temperature can be kept around 45 degrees (F) during winter nights. Does banana biology allow the plants to hibernate, or do they just die?

Snarkie

Hi there-

Welcome aboard the Banana Express.

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The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

smeash

Ive had plants survive mid 20s for several hours in the ground. I think most Musa are dormant below 55-60 degrees.. Anything above freezing should not kill the plant IMO. I dont think Gros Michael is very cold tolerant at all, and although I only grow tall namwa, I can say that they are quite cold tolerant.

cincinnana

Just for fun.......Over 2-4 years you will probably incur 3-700 hundred dollars to maintain the space depending on how much you want to taste some usually cruddy bananas.

For some great throw down knowledge (you) do an internet search to nail down your frost to frost date.....my guess 152 days?

Your temps are still a bit cold.......but with heroics you might pull it off.


Hibernate.....another story....

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cjpJQ38f

There may be enough space in the greenhouse to put up a sort of "shower curtain" enclosure for the banana plants, which would further insulate them from the greenhouse's winter 40s. I'm thinking that adding an incandescent light within said curtain might be enough to keep them going, perhaps even fruiting. That might help also with the dreary days, if the plants need a certain amount of light.

Opinions?

lpatelski

[IMG][/IMG]Dwarf NamWah are cold hardy to zone 8b so it seems like a little over kill. I do not protect my bananas. They grow or die. My Dwarf NamWah produce yearly. My Orinoco take more care and fertilizer to produce.[IMG][/IMG]

What the temp spread does not show is the freezing and the blazing. We do only have about four months of winter. But it teases the plants to come out then cuts them off at the knees. I lost all my citrus sets this year due to a late freeze. My bananas were fine.

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4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Growin’ a bunch
Orinoco
"Ice Cream" Namwah
Williams hybrid
FHIA 17
Dwarf NamWah