Any other Vermonters growing bananas? - Page 2

Mark Dragt · 12-08-2015, 10:06 PM

Last year was the first year that I put any real effort into growing bananas. No fruit yet. No flower yet. So as far as taste I do not know. Will it flower and fruit in a big pot? I think so. Will the fruit get ripe before winter? It will if you get the flower in the spring. For success I am going to put my money on some short cycle banana plants. I have two plants now and am going to purchase more in the spring. Short cycle plants have a shorter flower to ripe fruit time. If you have a tall enough heated greenhouse, than you could grow a lot of different banana plants and be successful. With our crazy weather I would encourage you to grow many different plants and see what works best for you.

Mark Dragt · 12-08-2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parallax

That's really generous of you. I wouldn't want anything that's not going to produce bananas because, for me, that's the point. But I'd love to try something that might. Does a Dwarf Cavendish taste any better than a supermarket banana? Are Orinoco pups small enough to produce while in a pot under a 9 foot ceiling?

I believe these Orinoco plants flower at about 12 feet. Maybe a little shorter in a pot. I think the Dwarf Cavendish flowers around 7 or 8 feet. Maybe less in a pot. Now something you must know is that plant heights are pstem heights. That does not include the next leaf coming straight up out of the middle of the stem, before it finds its spot on the sides of the plant. So if you want to grow indoors the Dwarf Cavendish would be your best bet. I hope this helps, and I hope I can get you some plants.

Parallax · 12-08-2015, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Dragt

I believe these Orinoco plants flower at about 12 feet. Maybe a little shorter in a pot. I think the Dwarf Cavendish flowers around 7 or 8 feet. Maybe less in a pot. Now something you must know is that plant heights are pstem heights. That does not include the next leaf coming straight up out of the middle of the stem, before it finds its spot on the sides of the plant. So if you want to grow indoors the Dwarf Cavendish would be your best bet. I hope this helps, and I hope I can get you some plants.

Thanks so much, Mark. How high would the ceiling have to be to make a dwarf plant work?

Mark Dragt · 12-08-2015, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parallax

Thanks so much, Mark. How high would the ceiling have to be to make a dwarf plant work?

My dwarf plants are still realy small. I have not got one to full size yet. Maybe someone will chime in that grows the Dwarf Cavedish to fruiting size. I just got mine late in the summer. I also have a Truly Tiny that would never outgrow a indoor location. Fruiting this plant is hit and miss.

Parallax · 12-09-2015, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Dragt

My dwarf plants are still realy small. I have not got one to full size yet. Maybe someone will chime in that grows the Dwarf Cavedish to fruiting size. I just got mine late in the summer. I also have a Truly Tiny that would never outgrow a indoor location. Fruiting this plant is hit and miss.

If fruiting is hit and miss and it's likely to taste like a store-bought banana, wh do it?

geissene · 12-09-2015, 12:35 PM

Its a labor of love... I'd like to get bananas from my plants, but its always going to be cheaper to buy the fruit.

Parallax · 12-09-2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geissene

Its a labor of love... I'd like to get bananas from my plants, but its always going to be cheaper to buy the fruit.

I don't mind spending more and I don't mind the work. Gardening is deeply satisfying, with a spiritual dimension. But I'd want to have a decent shot at producing something and have it taste good. Can anyone tell me if a Dwarf Cavendish grown at home, if one can indeed get it to prosper and fruit, will taste better than an industrial-strength store-bought Cavendish?

Mark Dragt · 12-10-2015, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geissene

Its a labor of love... I'd like to get bananas from my plants, but its always going to be cheaper to buy the fruit.

Yes it is a labor of love. For me it's so rewarding watching them grow. They grow so fast when the weather is sunny and warm. I do expect to get bananas at some point, but weather or not they get ripe before winter, we will see.

12-08-2015, 10:06 PM	#21 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 34,401 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Any other Vermonters growing bananas? Last year was the first year that I put any real effort into growing bananas. No fruit yet. No flower yet. So as far as taste I do not know. Will it flower and fruit in a big pot? I think so. Will the fruit get ripe before winter? It will if you get the flower in the spring. For success I am going to put my money on some short cycle banana plants. I have two plants now and am going to purchase more in the spring. Short cycle plants have a shorter flower to ripe fruit time. If you have a tall enough heated greenhouse, than you could grow a lot of different banana plants and be successful. With our crazy weather I would encourage you to grow many different plants and see what works best for you. __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

12-09-2015, 12:35 PM	#26 (permalink)
geissene Location: Pennsylvania Zone: 6 Name: Erik Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 489 BananaBucks : 99,102 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 301 Times Was Thanked 983 Times in 317 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Any other Vermonters growing bananas? Its a labor of love... I'd like to get bananas from my plants, but its always going to be cheaper to buy the fruit.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
(2 YouTube Videos) Growing Bananas in Florida - Orinoco, Burro Bananas	floridagrower	Main Banana Discussion	4	Today 05:22 AM
Growing Bananas	sunfish	Main Banana Discussion	0	02-14-2015 10:32 PM
New here and to growing bananas	mudd	Member Introductions	5	09-11-2014 04:23 PM
Bananas.....they keep growing and growing....	Fred Schmid	Member Introductions	11	04-01-2014 05:06 PM
please help me I'm new to growing bananas	doodles99	Main Banana Discussion	8	06-24-2010 12:58 PM

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)