Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

Hello everyone.

I've always loved bananas, but I never knew I could grow them in cold areas until just a few days ago!

I'm interested in growing some musa basjoo. These will be used as perennials around my patio. Can anyone recommend sites that sell large bananas like this?

I understand that all I need to do before winter is to cut down the plant and cover it with trashbags, etc. Is this correct?

Thanks for all the help.

I'm new to growing bananas, so hopefully my questions weren't too foolish sounding!

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

welcome to the forum. the only place that i know of that sells full grown nanas is a nursery or a green house. usually when you buy one out of a catalogue or off line they wack them down to just a few feet. less stress on the plant and is cheaper on shipping. this is the first year i will be planting outside also. hope you enjoy the site.:woohoonaner::birthdaynana:

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

:2204: Welcome to the site Scott.
Get ready CUZ your going to go bananassssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!:bananajoy:

These plants are sooo addicting!:flouenaner:

You'll learn alot here; and if you put a request in for a plant, iam sure you'll get a reply! Just keep reading!!!:2738: There is so much info here, and you'll find you cant stop reading and learning about these plants!

Iam a newby also, since late july 2007, and ive learned so MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck! and i hope to see you around these parts:2179:

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

Welcome, Scott...
I assume you are the gentleman I referred to this site from the IPS forum. Am I correct with that assumption? Either way, welcome to the GREATEST forum around. Not only for nanners, but also lots of other things. Everyone here is very helpful and a most of them possess a wealth of info. Best of luck with your basjoo venture, but if you are anything like the rest of us, your addiction will not stop with basjoo. There are several varieties that should work for you with a little effort on your part...
:banana_ba:banana_ba:hiiiiyanana::banana_ba:banana_ba:

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

Welcome aboard Scott!

When winter comes, there's a few things you could do to overwinter the bananas. There's a few threads with some very clever ideas. One idea would be moving South :ha:

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

welcome fellow cold hardy banana grower(future grower). I'll bet the best place to find a large Musa basjoo would be someone on this site, or maybe the site "going bananas" since they field grow their plants.

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

Hi Scottk,
I'm growing bananas here in Idaho, I keep them alive and growing in a greenhouse during the winter. Keeping them in 20-30 gallon pots will give you a chance of moving them around as the seasons change...a slight chance if you have a forklift (LOL)
Send me a pm if you like, I drive to Denver often in the spring and may be able to help you out.

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

Ok.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I think I've found the perfect location in my yard. It's protected from the wind on 3 sides. It is in the sunshine about 70% of the time, and will receive a bit of filtered sun the rest of the time.

I can't wait for may!!

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

At colorado i find only two options. Either contact a local gardener for the outdoor grow or go for an indoor grow and purchase ever material online for the indoor hydroponics kind of a setup.

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

welcome scott!!
provo utah here.. this is my 3rd season with nanners..
it is addictive..LOL guess being ocd has something to do with that too..
LOL
i dont know your situation..but if you have a place to overwinter a few
plants.. dont limit yourself to just basjoo..
depends on what affect your looking for on your patio.. and how much
sun you get there..
ensete maurelli,ensete glaucum are spectacular plants.. can and will
get huge if you take care of them well..
if looking for smaller plants there are some super red/reddish leafed
nanners that are great too..
i agree with earlier postings.. ive bought many plants on ebay..but
my best and biggest plants came from members here..
good luck to ya !!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

I know this is a very old thread, but I live in Denver and grow Musas. I bought mine at Nick's Garden Center in Aurora. The one I planted over a year ago, the stem didn't make it through the winter. (I only wrapped it in bubble wrap... should have wrapped it in something breathable first), but it's shooting up pups now. So I bought another one from Nick's last month, and it growing like crazy. I've grown other varieties as "annuals" and one thing I noticed is how much bigger the Musa gets in just one season, compared to other varieties.

Re: Growing Bananas in Colorado
 

It's an old thread, but the information could still be very helpful to someone else your area.