JFK

Been a long time since I came to this board and thought I'd post the results I've had with a Goldfinger so far this winter. As anyone in Norcal knows, we had some brutal cold a few weeks ago, but the Goldfinger I planted this past April is doing really well. It's actually in better shape than my basjoos and they are 4 feet away from each other against the same south facing wall. On the basjoos all of the leaves are dead and the outer most layer of P-stem is kinda mushy, but they are mulched and all is good. The Goldfinger has dead leaves but the p-stem is perefct, like nothing happened at all.

Just thought I'd post it up if anyone was looking for a good cold resistant variety. The Goldfinger also did really well this summer. It went from under 1 foot when it went in the ground in april to now well over 5 feet.

jeffreyp

congrats man! Tho it wouldn't hurt to give them both a good dose of mulch to keep the corms warm.

JFK

All of them are under about 4" of mulch.

Caloosamusa

I also keep mine under about 4 inches of mulch, I'm just concerned because it has fruit that will not be ready for a few more months depending on weather.

Thank you JFK for the cold information, it is helpful.

lkstapleton

Thanks, JFK. I'm in San Jose, and my Goldfinger is out on my southwest balcony without protection, and seems to be hanging in there, too. I planted it because I saw it was one of the best ones on the Cold Hardy List that I could get my hands on. Mine is still very small, though, about a foot. I hope to get fruit next year.

BTW, my California Gold is about three feet tall and has shown no signs of damage. I pulled it in during the cold snap, and put it back after about four days. It is also on the southwest balcony, with no additional protection.

Lisa

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Abnshrek

I like reading threads like this since I just ordered 2 myself :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

enigma99a

My goldfinger is still alive, but it seems to be marginal below 9b. But if you wrap it and take care of it well, I hope it is successful.

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Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F
Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches

lkstapleton

I had ordered Kandarian because I am following the work of Dr. Richard Wallace on bananas that can be grown as annuals if overwintered in a protected place. Against my better judgment, I ordered from Central Florida Farms because they were the only ones who had it. When it came (after I had to persistently harangue one of the owners, not a pleasant experience), the plants looked nearly dead, they were so dehydrated. Kandarian looked a lot like a dead, foot-high brown stick. But it still felt firm inside the brown exterior, so I kept it a little moist, but not wet, all through the late summer, fall and winter.

It is now unfurling! http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif Whoever said "Never give up!" was totally right. It's on a southwest balcony at my San Jose home. It's about 1.5 feet high and the leaf isn't totally unfurled yet, but it's green and healthy looking, and most of all, NOT DEAD! The other one I got from them still looks pretty dead, but we'll see, I'm not going to give up easily.

I'll give updates occasionally about how this experiment is going.

Best regards,
Lisa

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lkstapleton

Neither of them had much damage other than a little browning of the lower leaves on Orinocco. They are starting to grow again in San Jose, CA. Dwarf Cavendish looks pretty sad, though. I have four little ones, and I think maybe only two will come back.

Lisa

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Caloosamusa

I lost the leaves and fruit on both of mine during the January freezes. They came back out with new leaves and were looking good near the end of February.

I don't think a freeze has savaged them again , but when I get home I'll know.
FHIA-1 (Goldfinger) is not my favorite cultivar, but it is one that is well worth the effort!

rv

The one I have was the first banana to start pushing new growth (albeit slowly) here.
The Ice cream are growing as well as dwarf Orinoco.
I also have California Gold and California Cold Hardy but neither one of those has started pushing growth yet.

Ray

cherokee_greg

I have one of these goldfingers so there pertty cold hardy ? Mine did good out side this winter in the pot. Im going to plant it in the ground this year.

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Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

enigma99a

I have a Kandarian. It is recovering nicely (planted in the ground last year) and has a leaf unfurling.

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Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F
Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches