ricbr

Hello....my name is Ric and I figured I would introduce myself and maybe ask a question or two. I live in Pennsylvania (Amish country) and dont have a green thumb....but I dont necessary have plants dying around me. I am more of a novice gardener.

Well yesterday I happend to be watching some television and turned on QVC (not sure why...I never watch or buy from this channel). But low and behold I see they are selling Banana plants (link provided).

Roberta's 2-pc. Fast Fruiting Grand Nain Banana Plant - QVC.com

I got very interested because it was said that they can thrive just about anywhere. Living in Pennsylvania I got excited. How cool would it be to pick my own bananas. I thought this would be a very fun project/hobby for me and my 3 sons. We go through bananas as much as milk and eggs in my house so why not make it a bit easier and just pick them from my backyard. It was a no brainer...I had to give this a try.

The link that I provided actually has the video segment that was played on QVC. I was wondering if some of you wouldnt mind checking it out to be sure that it is accurate on what they are saying. I was planning on planting this in a container and I would hopefully be able to keep it well watered. Is everything that is said in this video accurate to get me started with growing my own bananas?

It is nice to meet you all and thank you in advance for any information that you can provide.

harveyc

That's not a very cold hardy variety. I suggest you check out the cold hardy banana thread and post there since more folks from cold regions will be likely to give you advice. Welcome and good luck!

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ricbr

Thanks. Not sure if there is anything I can do about it now but to hope for the best. Here is to hoping for some heat and humidity.

If this doesnt work out me and the kids will have to find something else that may work. They are really excited about this.

Abnshrek

Hello & Welcome :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

palmtree

Welcome!!
Bananas take about 3-4 years from a small height to reach a fruiting age and your not guranteed to get ripe fruit this far north (it usually ripens in time if it blooms early on in the growing season but since they take a good 5 months to fully ripen, they have to bloom before July to get a chance to taste the fruit). This far north bananas are grown more for the tropical look (and the ultimate goal of getting to taste your own fruit) but not so much for actually feeding a family with bananas all summer long. However if you do get your banana to fruit early on in the season, you can easily have 100 bananas to eat! Thats more than enough to make it worthwhile. And bananas taste MUCH better when grown nearby than when gotten from a store.

You might want to try a Musa "Namwah" banana. If you get a nice sized pup (maybe you can do a trade with someone on here) then they can make fruit in their second year at a height of about 12 feet tall.

Musa basjoos do not make edible fruit, but if your looking for a tropical look, they are great! They will die to the ground after the first frost and if you mulch them well they will come back vigourously in the spring time. Eventually they do make fruit but the only thing that's in them are some big seeds.

Good luck and once again, welcome!

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Location: New York City, zone 7b

a1nipper

I ordered a Musa Cavendish dwarf from directgardening. Supposed to grow 5-8 feet. Trying this totally indoors. So far bought CFL lighting and will probably add more. As a novice, I'm assuming giving enough artificial light along with sunlight from picture window it will grow and fruit. We shall see...

TRAY

Good luck with the DG order! They have good prices but not the most respected place to order from. Just thought i would give u a heads up! Not saying u won't get your naner in good condition but speaking from experience, i got my doubts!

The scoop on 'Direct Gardening'

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a1nipper

Thanks for that info! I am.a novice so any and all input is very much appreciated. Since the order was only $31 (and I've already far exceeded that on lighting) will write that on the ice. Where should I order from?

TRAY

Ron,
there is a thread on here somewhere about where to buy plants i just don't have time to find it (have to get to work) but off the top off my head Ebay and Brian's Botanicals.

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