Absolute best tasting banana
 

Looking for input on your 4 best tasting varieties that can be grown in a 12 foot tall greenhouse. Specify if lots of fruit or small quantity per plant. Ty.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

12ft really narrows it so much that you're gonna be somewhat pigeon-holed into choosing varieties that can fit in there and actually make any fruit at all, and taste is going to have to be a secondary consideration, and is of course totally subjective anyway.

In reality, if you are successful and the plants are happy, even a Dwarf Cavendish can make fruit which is far superior to any imported Cavendish, and it's a very small and productive plant, so I wouldn't discount it. Dwarf Brazillian can make excellent fruit, the plants can get quite large over time in the tropics, but they should be fine for the first cycle in a greenhouse, and it's brother 'Raja Puri' is also worth considering though it seems to more frequently suffer from bunch choking under some conditions. Dwarf Namwah is also a nice choice because of its compact size, and the fruit is of decent quality and can get quite sweet.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

12 feet is not set in stone. Could go up to 16 feet if options make it worth it but heating costs increase with expanded volume.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

Keep in mind that the listed height of a banana is the pstem height at time of fruiting, not the overall height of the plant -- which is typically 4 to 5 feet more.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

None of the best tasting bananas will fit in your greenhouse, with the possible exception of dwarf Namwah.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

Goldfinger, dwarf namwa, dwarf Brazilian, gran nain (produce 50lb bunches) growing in ground for me, Veinte cohol, dwarf Orinoco (easy to find) Best tasting in that order (I like sweet less mushy bananas. All produce great for me except gran nain which is hard for me to get through winter in ground here. Last year was my first one to fruit.

I haven't tasted raja puri but I would include it for sure. Beware it's hard to get. Took me 4 tries to get the real RP. Way better to get corms from someone who has fruited their plant. If you order TC you may end up buying a RP and getting a 17' mystery banana. Then your greenhouse would need a sun roof. Most any banana that produces you will have leaves touching the top at 12'. They can be cut or bent down with little to no harm. Good luck and do lots of research. Especially on the place/person you buy your plants from. We have some awesome Canadian members that can tell you trusted sources.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

Just a dumbass idea, not something I have tested. Could you dig a hole for the plants - ei, grow each mat in its own well, while you the grower walk around at ground level 4 feet above. Make harvesting easy ....

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

Paggi is my favorite and it's not too tall, if you can find one. Nick Naranja may still have one. SH 3640 isn't very tall, either and many claim it's one of the best tasting. If I were you, I would make it 18 feet...if you can.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

yes, but it depends on the maximum high level of your ground water and drainage. of course these things can be over come.

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

How about feeding bananas a low nitrogen, high potassium fertiliser? Would this restrict height, while still allowing to fruit? Anyone tried this?

:2738:

Re: Absolute best tasting banana
 

ChatGPT provided the following info...

There has been research into restricting banana plant height, particularly in commercial agriculture, where dwarf varieties and growth regulation are often desirable. Some studies suggest that managing nitrogen supply can reduce the overall size of the plant without severely affecting yield. However, it’s a delicate balance, as nitrogen is essential for overall plant health and growth. Using too little nitrogen could affect the plant's ability to produce enough energy for fruiting.

Other methods of controlling height include pruning, light management, and even plant growth regulators like gibberellin inhibitors, which slow down vertical growth. These methods, in combination with nutrient management, could help control height while promoting fruit production.

There has been some research into restricting banana plant height through both genetic selection and nutrient management. The application of growth inhibitors, controlled watering, and the specific use of fertilizers have been explored, but this is typically combined with cultivar selection (e.g., dwarf varieties) for best results.

If you're interested in combining these strategies, adjusting fertilization along with selecting naturally shorter varieties like Musa Kluai Hom Krae (Dwarf Gros Michel) or Musa Dwarf Cavendish might work best.