Total Noob in Northern California

shirauo · 04-05-2009, 01:35 AM

Sometimes I feel like I can barely keep any plants alive-- let alone tropical plants that you could argue have no place in an area with frost & drought. But here I am, with 2 Dwarf Orinocos I stumbled across at a local plant sale. Golly, I dunno where to begin!

I don't know where to plant them- I've figured out the part about avocado/citrus fertilizer, but am trying to figure out a sunny, sheltered, warm place for them to grow. ANd I've just realized that they will be spreading.. maybe I shouldn't have gotten 2... But then again- wouldn't it just be so awesome to actually grow our own bananas?!?!?! Near San Francisco? Madness... pure madness.

Excited to find this group-- I look forward to sponging up all the info I can about Nanas!

Cheers,
Lenore in Santa Clara

chong · 04-05-2009, 02:15 AM

Welcome Lenore!
You picked a great one for your area. Dwarf Orinoco has survived winters in a cool greenhouse in Seattle, WA for me. However, I have not had any fruits yet. Keeping them alive is enough challenge for me so far, but now that they are growing faster, I am hopeful that they can fruit in a couple of seasons. Your D. Orinocos should do a lot better where you are. If you can keep them in an area with good drainage, lots of sun, ample water, and fertilizer, you should have some fruits within a couple of seasons, too.

Chong

chong · 04-05-2009, 02:22 AM

Oh, and don't worry about their spreading. They grow fast, but not like Sumac! Just plant them about 10 feet apart. You can keep 2-3 pups with the mother plant, and dig out the rest to sell or give to friends if you think they are getting too thick. The mother plant will die after it bears fruit. So, when the fruits are near ripe, and you want to cut the fruit bunch down, you can just cut the mother plant down to harvest the fruits. Just make sure that you support the bunch to keep it from crashing down when you cut the plant.

Bob · 04-05-2009, 05:44 AM

Welcome Lenore. You've made a great first choice of bananas. Plenty of info and people to help if you need it here. Good luck with them.

Tog Tan · 04-05-2009, 10:32 AM

Hiya Lenore and welcome to the board!

Great to have you join us and do keep us posted of your progress with your 'naners. All the best.

lorax · 04-05-2009, 10:45 AM

Welcome aboard! In my experience DW Orinocos are very easy bananas to grow and care for. Best of luck in your upcoming season!

buzzwinder · 04-05-2009, 11:03 AM

Welcome to the Org. Lenore,

Caloosamusa · 04-05-2009, 12:07 PM

Welcome to the organization Lenore! I hope your efforts are successful!

Best wishes!

04-05-2009, 01:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
shirauo Location: Bay Area, California Find me on the map! Zone: 8-10 Name: Lenore Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 2,353 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Total Noob in Northern California Sometimes I feel like I can barely keep any plants alive-- let alone tropical plants that you could argue have no place in an area with frost & drought. But here I am, with 2 Dwarf Orinocos I stumbled across at a local plant sale. Golly, I dunno where to begin! I don't know where to plant them- I've figured out the part about avocado/citrus fertilizer, but am trying to figure out a sunny, sheltered, warm place for them to grow. ANd I've just realized that they will be spreading.. maybe I shouldn't have gotten 2... But then again- wouldn't it just be so awesome to actually grow our own bananas?!?!?! Near San Francisco? Madness... pure madness. Excited to find this group-- I look forward to sponging up all the info I can about Nanas! Cheers, Lenore in Santa Clara __________________ Lenore in Santa Clara, California

04-05-2009, 02:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 97,174 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Welcome Lenore! You picked a great one for your area. Dwarf Orinoco has survived winters in a cool greenhouse in Seattle, WA for me. However, I have not had any fruits yet. Keeping them alive is enough challenge for me so far, but now that they are growing faster, I am hopeful that they can fruit in a couple of seasons. Your D. Orinocos should do a lot better where you are. If you can keep them in an area with good drainage, lots of sun, ample water, and fertilizer, you should have some fruits within a couple of seasons, too. Chong

04-05-2009, 02:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 97,174 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Oh, and don't worry about their spreading. They grow fast, but not like Sumac! Just plant them about 10 feet apart. You can keep 2-3 pups with the mother plant, and dig out the rest to sell or give to friends if you think they are getting too thick. The mother plant will die after it bears fruit. So, when the fruits are near ripe, and you want to cut the fruit bunch down, you can just cut the mother plant down to harvest the fruits. Just make sure that you support the bunch to keep it from crashing down when you cut the plant.

04-05-2009, 05:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,708 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Welcome Lenore. You've made a great first choice of bananas. Plenty of info and people to help if you need it here. Good luck with them. __________________

04-05-2009, 10:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tog Tan Ensete nut Tog Tan's Photo Gallery Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Name: Tog Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,757 BananaBucks : 431,573 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,011 Times Was Thanked 2,723 Times in 787 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Hiya Lenore and welcome to the board! Great to have you join us and do keep us posted of your progress with your 'naners. All the best. __________________ ____ Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

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04-05-2009, 10:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 301,995 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Welcome aboard! In my experience DW Orinocos are very easy bananas to grow and care for. Best of luck in your upcoming season!

04-05-2009, 11:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 871 BananaBucks : 11,839 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,043 Times Was Thanked 846 Times in 354 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,155 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Welcome to the Org. Lenore, __________________ Bill for my friend

04-05-2009, 12:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,578 BananaBucks : 27,883 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 3,829 Times Was Thanked 1,556 Times in 675 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 334 Times	Re: Total Noob in Northern California Welcome to the organization Lenore! I hope your efforts are successful! Best wishes!

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