Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a

simplefarmer · 09-10-2017, 07:03 PM

Hello Friends,
I am Dharma, have been a silent member of this forum. Having read your experiences ,I became interested in banana growing and purchased Raja puri & Manzano banana plants from Going Bananas. They are now growing in a pot. Should I plant them in the ground, when will they fruit, Please advise on overwintering and caring for them. Thanks. Dharma.

Tytaylor77 · 09-10-2017, 11:35 PM

Welcome! I'm southeast of you down on Lake Toledo Bend. If it were me I would keep them potted till spring time. That way they will have plenty time to get established and ready for next winter! Down here in zone 8b/9a they usually flower 280-350 days (depending on variety) including winter. Then another 60-150 days for filling/ripe fruit.

Depending how big, if you keep the raja puri growing over winter (greenhouse or as a houseplant) and end up with a 4' pup or so. You may have a chance for a flower next year! It's hard to say. You should try a Veinte Cohol. I have 10 out of 14 with bunches this year. It would be your best bet for fruit in 8a. Maybe dwarf Orinoco also. Raja Puri grows great for me! I really like them.

Good luck!!

nph · 09-11-2017, 05:01 PM

Ty, how do you keep your VC alive over winter? I have mine in pots in the garage and they always rot and die. I can keep any other banana alive over winter, either as a standing P-stem against the wall or in a pot. But not the VC. Any advice on that one?

Tytaylor77 · 09-12-2017, 12:51 AM

I keep them in the ground. After first frost I chop anything over a foot tall. Then throw about a foot or so of hay on them. Then I put a livestock feed bag laying flat on top of the hay to just help keep rain out of the corm. I shovel a little sand on top just to hold it in place. Done!

I have and still do sometimes overwinter VC pups. I just plant them in a 50/50 mix of earthgro potting soil (contains 70%+ rice hulls) and perlite. 30-50% perlite is a must!! I mix 50/50. I throw them in the greenhouse and ignore them. I may water once over winter. im trying to keep them alive. Not get growth. If you don't water them all winter it wouldn't kill them. Just remember if you water them you have a HIGH chance of rot. If you don't water them all winter. The only thing it could do is dry out the corm/roots. No big deal. They are dormant anyway.

The big bunches come from established ones! i have one this year right at 8'!!

If that's not an option, you need to store 3' pups or so then plant them mid Spring! VC and most other AA types are very sensitive to moisture. Make sure you have a very well draining soil. Like the 50% perlite mix. Or even pure sand. My greenhouse gets down to 34f or so. I never loose a VC.

Then come growth time, let them hit about 5' then pour on the fertilizer. They love nitrogen and can grow very fast.

simplefarmer · 09-12-2017, 09:26 AM

Thanks Ty. Lots of good information on VC. I look forward to trying it.Upon reading about VC & Musa Patupi , I am beginning to develop interest on growing them.

cincinnana · 09-12-2017, 06:14 PM

Welcome to the Jungle....

Have fun here.

Tytaylor77 · 09-18-2017, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplefarmer

Thanks Ty. Lots of good information on VC. I look forward to trying it.Upon reading about VC & Musa Patupi , I am beginning to develop interest on growing them.

My Musa Tigua flowered before my Patupi this year! Our hurricane knocked over my 2 largest Patupi. They look very close. Not much time left till winter! I hope they hurry!

HMelendez · 09-18-2017, 10:05 AM

Welcome to the banana gang!........

simplefarmer · 02-09-2018, 12:28 PM

Sorry friends, it has been a while since I have read/posted messages. These few months has been very difficult for our family. Both my parents have been admitted to nursing homes and I became the primary care giver.I have lost many plants and had to give away a few too. Will return when situation is resolved. Happy spring to all.

Tytaylor77 · 02-12-2018, 10:59 PM

Sorry to hear Dharma! Hope everything works out ok!

09-10-2017, 07:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
simplefarmer Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Dharma Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,188 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 101 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Hello Friends, I am Dharma, have been a silent member of this forum. Having read your experiences ,I became interested in banana growing and purchased Raja puri & Manzano banana plants from Going Bananas. They are now growing in a pot. Should I plant them in the ground, when will they fruit, Please advise on overwintering and caring for them. Thanks. Dharma.

09-10-2017, 11:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,620 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Welcome! I'm southeast of you down on Lake Toledo Bend. If it were me I would keep them potted till spring time. That way they will have plenty time to get established and ready for next winter! Down here in zone 8b/9a they usually flower 280-350 days (depending on variety) including winter. Then another 60-150 days for filling/ripe fruit. Depending how big, if you keep the raja puri growing over winter (greenhouse or as a houseplant) and end up with a 4' pup or so. You may have a chance for a flower next year! It's hard to say. You should try a Veinte Cohol. I have 10 out of 14 with bunches this year. It would be your best bet for fruit in 8a. Maybe dwarf Orinoco also. Raja Puri grows great for me! I really like them. Good luck!! __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

09-11-2017, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
nph nph's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 216,497 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 365 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Ty, how do you keep your VC alive over winter? I have mine in pots in the garage and they always rot and die. I can keep any other banana alive over winter, either as a standing P-stem against the wall or in a pot. But not the VC. Any advice on that one? Last edited by nph : 09-11-2017 at 08:13 PM.

09-12-2017, 12:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,620 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a I keep them in the ground. After first frost I chop anything over a foot tall. Then throw about a foot or so of hay on them. Then I put a livestock feed bag laying flat on top of the hay to just help keep rain out of the corm. I shovel a little sand on top just to hold it in place. Done! I have and still do sometimes overwinter VC pups. I just plant them in a 50/50 mix of earthgro potting soil (contains 70%+ rice hulls) and perlite. 30-50% perlite is a must!! I mix 50/50. I throw them in the greenhouse and ignore them. I may water once over winter. im trying to keep them alive. Not get growth. If you don't water them all winter it wouldn't kill them. Just remember if you water them you have a HIGH chance of rot. If you don't water them all winter. The only thing it could do is dry out the corm/roots. No big deal. They are dormant anyway. The big bunches come from established ones! i have one this year right at 8'!! If that's not an option, you need to store 3' pups or so then plant them mid Spring! VC and most other AA types are very sensitive to moisture. Make sure you have a very well draining soil. Like the 50% perlite mix. Or even pure sand. My greenhouse gets down to 34f or so. I never loose a VC. Then come growth time, let them hit about 5' then pour on the fertilizer. They love nitrogen and can grow very fast. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

09-12-2017, 09:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
simplefarmer Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Dharma Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,188 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 101 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Thanks Ty. Lots of good information on VC. I look forward to trying it.Upon reading about VC & Musa Patupi , I am beginning to develop interest on growing them.

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09-12-2017, 06:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,782 BananaBucks : 552 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Welcome to the Jungle.... Have fun here. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

09-18-2017, 10:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
HMelendez The Banana Gang Enforcer Zone: 10B-11 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2,750 BananaBucks : 192,706 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 11,104 Times Was Thanked 5,278 Times in 1,618 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 737 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Welcome to the banana gang!........ __________________ HMelendez Photo Gallery

02-09-2018, 12:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
simplefarmer Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Dharma Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,188 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 101 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Sorry friends, it has been a while since I have read/posted messages. These few months has been very difficult for our family. Both my parents have been admitted to nursing homes and I became the primary care giver.I have lost many plants and had to give away a few too. Will return when situation is resolved. Happy spring to all.

02-12-2018, 10:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,620 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Hello From Plano, Texas, growing zone 8 a Sorry to hear Dharma! Hope everything works out ok! __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

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