Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Does anyone here have any experience with Ice Cream Bananas in 8a? I got into keeping tropical fruit trees this year, and am looking at getting into cold hardy bananas. I had my eyes on Ice Cream bananas because they appear to be quite cold hardy from what I've read, but whether they fruit in my zone can be up for debate. If they don't do well in my area, does anyone have recommendations for 7b/8a desert bananas?

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

If by "ice cream" you mean namwah, i think you could fruit them in your zone. I would add orinoco to the list as well. True "ice cream", meaning blue java may fruit for you.. you just need to protect the stems ovrer winter with frost cloth or other fabric.

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

I'm referring to blue java, but I am also open to namwa depending on which would do better in the region, or maybe if one has a definitively better flavor. Despite being on the 7/8 border, our yearly lows are usually around 21-24 degrees, so I'm hoping that will be enough to get by with just frost cloth. If necessary though, I am willing to mulch around the pseudostem, or dig the plant up during winter.

I have also considered orinoco bananas, but from what I've read, they're mainly a cooking banana, which is lower priority for me than a dessert banana. I want something I can pick off the tree and eat.

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Hey, I’m up the road from you in Acworth and have had great success with Namwa. I’ve tried the fruit from my own garden and have left them outside over winter. It takes a little bit of work to protect them from the low 20’s, but it isn’t all that bad. I’ve gotten other cold hardy bananas to fruit for me as well. For our area, a Namwa flagging in the middle of August is pushing it, but it’s salvageable. You’ll have to cut some bottom hands off to help them fill faster. I was lucky and got a June flower on one of my unknown edibles this year. I think it’s Rana Puri. Check out my Flickr page

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Awesome, I appreciate the help. I found someone selling namwah, blue java, and raja puri, so I think I'm going to try all of those. It's nice to have someone in the area to tell me what works and what doesn't!

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Zalin124 should be an excellent resource for you being in your general area. Check out his garden. Impressive!

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Raja puri has been a hearty plant for me.. an added bonus is its short stature which makes it easy to cover in the winter. You may also want to try a short cycle variety such as viente cohol.

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

You have a great collection. Very healthy looking plants and great photos.

Re: Ice Cream Banana/8a Desert Bananas
 

Those are all great plants. Namwa has always been the most vigorous non-ornamental banana in my garden. I have Giant Namwa from Thailand too, but it’s too early to tell if it grows faster than tall Namwa.