jellyfish_sky

Hi!
I just got interested into growing bananas
Unfortunately, the weather here in Montreal is so cold (zone 4-5) so I doubt I could ever grow bananas in my backyard I heard about some positive experiments with growing basjoo here, but I think they needed exceptional conditions... they were probably lucky

However I will try growing in pots

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Celine

Bananaddiction~!

mskitty38583

welcome to the forum!!!!!!!. you are up north arent you? well im just a little farther south and my nanas are in pots too.. we are glad that you decided to join us.hope you like it here. welcome...welcome...welcome!!

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WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

the flying dutchman

Welcome jellyfish sky

Yes, many of us grow them in pots.

Ron

dablo93

welcome here!
maybe you can grow musa BAsjoo in you're backyard to a sunny wall, very hardy musas are the BAsjoos

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magicgreen

Welcome! Magicgreen

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

jellyfish_sky

Thanks for the welcome!
I have some Violacea and Lasciocarpa seeds I will try to germinate following the advice given in here, though maybe I should start with some velutina..?
I think I will try finding more sources about these extra cold hardy basjoo that were planted here before trying in my backyard.... hmmm

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Celine

Bananaddiction~!

D_&_T

hey jellyfish
you'll be like me and my wife moving them in and out depending on weather!!
planning on some basjoo this summer to plant outside then protect then for overwintering outside next winter

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AllenF

Welcome to the forum.

I have concentrated on the shorter bananas as they are easier to bring in and store.

I started with some Dwarf Cavendish that I got from the tropical plants section of Home Depot and Walmart. Since then I have added 2 Raja Puri pups that I got through mail order.

These are all inside for their first winter.

I am on my second try at germinating velutinas. I had no success the first year. This year I have had some seed germinating for over 50 days with no success yet while others started to have success anywhere from 36 to 50 days. My success this year may be impaired by the month that it took for the seed to get across the border. Extended dry storage can allow banana seed to become fully dormant. Dormant seed is quite slow to germinate.

I also finished 3rd in a contest on this forum and am waiting impatiently for spring so that I can get my Dwarf Brazilian pup sent to me.

It is nice to have another Canadian join.

Allen

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You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

jellyfish_sky

I have a Dwarf Cavendish (I think) that my dad rescued at a random flower shop for $0.99. It's kinda hard to find anything else here. I think the Montreal botanical garden has some banana trees in their giant greenhouse, but they're not labelled

Allen: Where did you mail-order your raja puri? Are you planning to leave your nanas outside someday? I think it gets colder in Edmonton than here... much colder...!

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Celine

Bananaddiction~!

AllenF

I built 2 shelters out of 3" thick styrofoam( they sell it here to insulate the outside of concrete basements). The first one I am using this winter to house my palms as well as my cycads and some yucca elephantipes. It is heated with heating cables that are made to keep water pipes from freezing. So far it has been successful in keeping the inside temperature above -5.5*C even during -25*C temps with 30 km/hr winds. It is 10' wide x 6' deep x 4' tall with the insulation going 2' below the ground level.

The other one is 8' wide x 3' deep x 4' high and also is insulated down to 2' below the surface. If the first shelter is successful I am going to try putting my bananas permanently in the ground in the second shelter next spring and try to maintain winter temperatures in the 4*C to 10*C range to allow the bananas to continue to grow over winter in the hope of fruiting the bananas.

I am trying the palms first as they will survive temps down to -10*C and gave me more room for error as these methods have never been tried before and I had no idea if they would work.

Both shelters come apart easily(I hope) for summer storage and can be expanded upward in 2 foot sections. The underground insulation stays year round.

I got the Raja Puris through another member of this forum. I can give you his name if you private message me. They were expensive because I was paying to ship them from Florida to another location in Canada and then from there to me. The pups from my Raja Puris, if I get any, are already spoken for. A small nursery in Ontario may bring in some dwarf bananas this spring. I am awaiting his response to my email. If I do not get much of a response from him soon I am working on another alternative that may allow me to pick up a few pups from California. I may be able to bring 1 or 2 extra back with me.

Things are still up in the air for the next 2 or 3 weeks. It is a little tough to have firm arrangements when the nearest Banana Nut is 1000 miles away. You are lucky. You have other banana nuts in Montreal, Three Rivers and around Toronto.

Allen

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You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

jellyfish_sky

Allen: I'll pm you.That is an impressive set up you've made. I wish you the best of luck (and let us know if you successfully beat Canadian winter!). Which species are you planning to shelter next spring?
The weather here in Montreal has been chaotic. Last week it dipped to -20C, and this week we may have +5C or more. And already three snowstorms in a month ! I will certainly do more research on frost around here, and maybe one day build my own shelters. Your idea is very interesting.

It's also true that there seem to be a little bit more nana nuts here. Although it's a pity there isn't more in Canada! I'm trying to convert all my friends now...

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Celine

Bananaddiction~!

mskitty38583

when they get bit by the nana bug it is very contagious. all you have to do is just show them one of your nana trees and its all over for them.i have a friend that i go to school with and she loves plants. then she came over and i showed her the nana room. now her mom is bringing her up 2 nanas from louisiana and i have a high color mini musa pup waiting for her sunroom to get finished.(shes getting her pup from me in the spring. jr, is what i call her pup, isnt going out in this freaky weather) she is very excited. she calls me 2 times a week to check up on it. invite your friends over just to show them your nanas and pretty soon they will call you to ask you where you got yours.. its fun to pass this bug around.

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WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

MediaHound

Welcome Jellyfish!
There's a lot of dedicated people searching for more types of banana plants that survive the cold weather... though your climate is very cold!
Anyway, enjoy the site!

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

kerrin_g

welcome to the club......

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Kerrin