This is all about basjoos......
 

I bought one basjoo banana plant a couple of years ago from one seller on Ebay. I bought it b/c it was already about 5’ tall! You know figuring that I would have a better chance to have a very tall banana plant in the next couple of years. It’s only ever given me 2 pups. No fruit and it only ever got up to be 6’ tall or so.

If that ain’t weird enough I just bought 2 ice cream banana plants this year from a different Ebay seller. However, they didn’t turn out to be ice cream plants at all. I believe them to be basjoos! Hey, that’s fine with me! I needed some more basjoos anyway! Anyway, they were not nearly as big or tall as the other older basjoo was when I bought it years ago. They are now at least 7’ tall or even bigger! They’ve grown by leaps and bound in just a few months! Not only that but they have given me at least 10 or so pups just this summer! The pups as it turns out are sword pups, even better! Yes I do know that the sword pups have really thin sword looking leaves. So the point being who would have thought 3 basjoo plants would be so different from each other! I don’t know why, but I sure am happy about it! :woohoonaner::birthdaynana::goteam:

If anybody would like I might be able to later on post some pictures to go along with the story! If not that’s fine!

Thanks so much for reading my story!

Any comments?

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

In what zone are you? North, south, midwest?

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I’m from Northeastern Ohio and am in Zone 6a. Thanks!

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I grew up btwn Akron and Canton, are you near there?

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I hope you don’t mind, but for privacy I will answer that question on a private message to you! So please check it out.....:goteam:

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I'm close to your zone, but Basjoos fruits have seeds in them and supposedly not edible. I have had Basjoos for a few years now and they have lots of pups. In cold climates you have to cut back and mulch heavily to get Mother plant to come back, she is the one that will have a bloom. Once you get a bloom that is the end of that stem and you rely on the pups for the next plants. In my area (Illinois) it takes 2-3 years to get a bloom. I had two blooms this year, but too late in the season to to produce bananas. Hopefully next year.

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

[IMG][/IMG]

This is a basjoo bloom

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

Well, even though it was too late this year for you... Congrats on the 2 blooms! Quite impressed! Wish you good luck for next year! Thanks so much for the help and for just having replied to me! :08:

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

[IMG][/IMG]

Basjoos in Illinois

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing your pictures! Your basjoos are very tall! Nice!

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I understand. PM was read and replied to. Tks :08:

When I lived there I never considered bananas as even being possible to grow. Good luck!

(back then I didn't know about Basjoo nanners)

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

[IMG][/IMG]
I was able to get ripe Orinoco bananas (not hardy here) by digging this plant up, potting and keeping in the basement all winter to mature for the next Spring. With my short season, the only way for me to get ripe bananas. They did mature the next Spring and were sweet and delicious. Something you may have to do, too.

[IMG][/IMG]

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

So you were able to get some real bananas off your plants! Congratulations! I’m so glad to hear someone else who lives in a northern climate was able to do that! Plus I am very excited! I also have an Orinoco plant myself! Maybe just maybe I’ll get some fruit myself next year or so! Thanks again for all the help you’ve given me! Plus it was nice to see your pictures as well! :nanadrink:

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

Yeah I know! Who would have ever thought that any banana plant could be grown here in Ohio! I’m thankful for bananas like Basjoo and Mekong Giant! Those that can stay in ground all year round! :birthdaynana: Thanks again! Please check out your inbox! I’ve sent a reply!

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

I have another Orinoco that I am leaving out this year...too big to dig. Cut the bottom out of a large trash container, put it over the cut-down plant, stuffed it with straw and put the lid on....will see if it makes it through the winter here. I also have 2 other Orinoco that are in large pots, will see if I can get them to flower next year. Don't want to put anymore in the ground as they are too hard for me to dig. Thanks for your comments. Just be persistent, you will find a way to get bananas in the north.

Re: This is all about basjoos......
 

Yeah I’ll be interested to find out how your Orinoco does over winter myself! I wish you good luck! I really liked your comment to me about being persistent and being able to get bananas in the north! Thanks! :nanadrink: