New to Nanners
 

Hey everyone I am new to banana trees I have just received my first 4 from Ebay and they look good about 12 inches tall...I have grown cannas,elephant ears and castor beans just trying to bring a little bit of the tropics to southwestern Ohio. I have not planted these as of yet any suggestions...I beleive it is too late in the summer to plant in the ground so I thought about housing them inside through their first winter...also what kind of dirt should I use...I would hate to make a mistake a loose them :(

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome from Massachusetts, first of all start them out in the shade for a few days, then expose them to morning sun and eventually full sun. Once acclimated I'd put them in the ground until time to bring them in, you probably have what, about 7-8 weeks before first frost? That's only my opinion, there are several people here from your neck of the woods. Maybe they''ll have other opinions. Good luck with your acquisitions.

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome. Ray gave you good advice. they should be fine.

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome From Florida :03:

You came to the rite place these guys are the best in the USA with the nanner info

Re: New to Nanners
 

Thanks everyone...I appreciate the help and Ray I just may start them outside like you said to do...can't wait to see them grow :)

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome from central Florida. You picked a very good site for info and it comes from around the world from many who are expert in this field. Good luck with the plants and get ready to forfeit a lot of your time now that you have been bitten. "Once bitten forever smitten"

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome from another southwestern Ohioan! Warning ... bananas are heavily addicting!

Absolutely follow the advice of putting them out and gradually acclimating them to the sun ... old umbrellas work well if you don't have much in the way of mildy shady areas to move them around to. As far as planting in the ground this late in the season here, I'm on the fence, but am leaning towards suggesting you leave them in the pots. Since they are small and our season is winding down, the mild shock of re-acclimating them to the indoors before the first frost might be enough for them. When you add in the possibility of breaking off new tender roots when digging them up to repot for winter, it might be a bit too much. Once they get some size to them, they're quite forgiving, but the little guys, not so much.

Like you, I also grow cannas and elephant ears ... I just love having the tropics in my back yard!





Happy growing!
Annie

Re: New to Nanners
 

Thanks Annie that these bananas really do grow in Ohio...can't wait until next year and hope mine do as well as yours have...I may yet leave them in pots or maybe just try planting one in the ground to see what happens...and any advice you have please send it my way....Whooohoooo fellow Ohioian...and once again yours looks GREAT!

Re: New to Nanners
 

Welcome from a former buckeye.