Introduction and question all in one

Nicwyn · 06-05-2019, 08:41 PM

Hello everyone my name is nick and I am a budding gardener with a little help. I am from Ohio zone 6a. I am new and I am not sure how to post yet so I will here please look past my Obtuseness. I am looking to grow a ice cream banana plant and I am getting a lot of conflicting info online. Some sites say it is hardy in my zone with good Insulation. Others say that I would need to pot or dig up and and cut to the ground for over wintering inside. I am completely ok with that if that is the route I will have to go. My question is though if I cut it to the ground every year will it ever actually produce fruit since it will be Essentially starting over again every year in the spring. Any info would be greatly appreciated appreciated thank you

Tytaylor77 · 06-05-2019, 11:25 PM

Welcome Nick!

Blue java and namwa which is sold as “blue java/ice cream” are both very cold hardy. In your zone I’ve seen people plant them in the south side of a house and mulch them heavy. And they did survive. However exactly like you say, if you cut them to the ground you will never get fruit. A banana plant needs an average of 300-350 growth days to flower. Then another 60-120+ days to fill/ripen. So digging and storing dormant over winter would be your best option!

I would highly recommend dwarf Orinoco. It is the most cold hardy fruiting banana. Plus it only grows to 6’-7’. So it’s easy to handle. Some people store them dormant or even keep them as a house plant over winter. Then simply plant back after your last frost! In your zone getting fruit does require a bit of work and effort! But it for sure can be done!

Good luck! There is a lot of info on here to help you!
Ty

Nicwyn · 06-05-2019, 11:56 PM

Thank you for the welcome and the reply! Just so I fully understand does the time it’s dormant Count towards the days of growth? So say I put it in a garage or greenhouse slightly above freezing for the winter come spring would that all count as growth time? Thank you

Tytaylor77 · 06-06-2019, 01:16 AM

It takes both warmth and light to grow. So even in a heated greenhouse it may grow 1/4th speed or a little better. In a artificial lighted area it need ALOT of light $$$. So you may get a little time towards it but not much. The main thing is keeping it alive till spring.

cincinnana · 06-06-2019, 03:23 AM

Welcome to the Jungle...

Have fun here

HMelendez · 06-07-2019, 05:29 AM

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

edwmax · 06-07-2019, 06:18 AM

Welcome to the Bunch. ... !00% what Ty said! ... At 300 warm growing days equal 3 to 4 years growing time in your growing zone without a heated greenhouse. The likelihood of be successful is not good but possible.

Yug · 06-07-2019, 05:49 PM

Welcome! Ohio is warm enough, but is the season long enough?

For some types it may be better to start them indoors in a pot, and once it warms up, plant them outside.

cincinnana · 06-08-2019, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicwyn

Hello everyone my name is nick and I am a budding gardener with a little help. I am from Ohio zone 6a. I am new and I am not sure how to post yet so I will here please look past my Obtuseness. I am looking to grow a ice cream banana plant and I am getting a lot of conflicting info online. Some sites say it is hardy in my zone with good Insulation. Others say that I would need to pot or dig up and and cut to the ground for over wintering inside. I am completely ok with that if that is the route I will have to go. My question is though if I cut it to the ground every year will it ever actually produce fruit since it will be Essentially starting over again every year in the spring. Any info would be greatly appreciated appreciated thank you

The only plant for you is Musa Basjoo/Mekong Giant if you want to leave it in the ground year round.
Both plants are ornamental and will not give edible fruit in our short growing season.
Any other plant you choose will not survive inground during our winter months.
You can get the plant online or from forum members.

Any plant you choose expect it to mature enough to flower in 3-5 years in your zone.

Nicwyn · 06-11-2019, 09:12 PM

Thanks everyone for the welcome and info I guess I will have to stick to the grocery store a a few years anyway

06-05-2019, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nicwyn Location: Dayton Ohio 6a Zone: 6a Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 2,378 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Introduction and question all in one Hello everyone my name is nick and I am a budding gardener with a little help. I am from Ohio zone 6a. I am new and I am not sure how to post yet so I will here please look past my Obtuseness. I am looking to grow a ice cream banana plant and I am getting a lot of conflicting info online. Some sites say it is hardy in my zone with good Insulation. Others say that I would need to pot or dig up and and cut to the ground for over wintering inside. I am completely ok with that if that is the route I will have to go. My question is though if I cut it to the ground every year will it ever actually produce fruit since it will be Essentially starting over again every year in the spring. Any info would be greatly appreciated appreciated thank you

06-05-2019, 11:25 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 : 53,085 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,608 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Welcome Nick! Blue java and namwa which is sold as “blue java/ice cream” are both very cold hardy. In your zone I’ve seen people plant them in the south side of a house and mulch them heavy. And they did survive. However exactly like you say, if you cut them to the ground you will never get fruit. A banana plant needs an average of 300-350 growth days to flower. Then another 60-120+ days to fill/ripen. So digging and storing dormant over winter would be your best option! I would highly recommend dwarf Orinoco. It is the most cold hardy fruiting banana. Plus it only grows to 6’-7’. So it’s easy to handle. Some people store them dormant or even keep them as a house plant over winter. Then simply plant back after your last frost! In your zone getting fruit does require a bit of work and effort! But it for sure can be done! Good luck! There is a lot of info on here to help you! Ty __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

06-05-2019, 11:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nicwyn Location: Dayton Ohio 6a Zone: 6a Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 2,378 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Thank you for the welcome and the reply! Just so I fully understand does the time it’s dormant Count towards the days of growth? So say I put it in a garage or greenhouse slightly above freezing for the winter come spring would that all count as growth time? Thank you

06-06-2019, 01:16 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 : 53,085 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,608 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one It takes both warmth and light to grow. So even in a heated greenhouse it may grow 1/4th speed or a little better. In a artificial lighted area it need ALOT of light $$$. So you may get a little time towards it but not much. The main thing is keeping it alive till spring. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

06-06-2019, 03:23 AM	#5 (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: 8,878 BananaBucks : 5,236 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,914 Times Was Thanked 11,779 Times in 4,912 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,957 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Welcome to the Jungle... Have fun here __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

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06-07-2019, 05:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
HMelendez The Banana Gang Enforcer Zone: 10B-11 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2,750 BananaBucks : 211,025 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 11,094 Times Was Thanked 5,279 Times in 1,618 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 737 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Welcome to the banana gang!...... __________________ HMelendez Photo Gallery

06-07-2019, 06:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 100,597 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,740 Times Was Thanked 4,437 Times in 2,093 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Welcome to the Bunch. ... !00% what Ty said! ... At 300 warm growing days equal 3 to 4 years growing time in your growing zone without a heated greenhouse. The likelihood of be successful is not good but possible. __________________ Last edited by edwmax : 06-07-2019 at 06:31 AM.

06-07-2019, 05:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Yug Yug's Photo Gallery Location: Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Name: Knobby D. Holme Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,468 BananaBucks : 68,076 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4,011 Times Was Thanked 1,744 Times in 813 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 463 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Welcome! Ohio is warm enough, but is the season long enough? For some types it may be better to start them indoors in a pot, and once it warms up, plant them outside.

06-11-2019, 09:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nicwyn Location: Dayton Ohio 6a Zone: 6a Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 2,378 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Introduction and question all in one Thanks everyone for the welcome and info I guess I will have to stick to the grocery store a a few years anyway

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