Bananas.org - newbie

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladybugg111 (Post 323781)

I am interested in banana plants that can survive Ohio winters if that is indeed possible:2722:

Do you have a greenhouse with heat? Several types would then be possible but not otherwise commercially feasible.

Now a note on what it takes to grow and fruit a banana. Bananas normally grow in a temperate zone where it is year round growing weather. Depending on the variety, bananas need 230 to 360 or more days of growing weather. For your area, just assume the days between the 1st and last frost as your growing time. That would be end of May to the 1st of October. which is about 4 months or about 122 days of growing time. So with a variety that needs 300 growing days it would take 2 1/2 to 3 years to grow and fruit the plant without a greenhouse with heat. ... Any days when the temp is below 55-60 deg F is simply timeout.

Your best bet is to grow ornamental types ( Basjoo & a few other types). Dig and store the corms in the garage during the winter. Then replant in the spring. Some of the basjoo corms may survive the winter in-gound if cut down & well covered with mulch. Basjoo do fruit but just not considered eatable due to the number of seeds.

There are a few forum members growing in your area so may be they will reply too.

Just my 2 cents. Heck, I'm in south Georgia and it ant easy growing bananas here with about 180 - 190 growing days per season.