SeriousBan

I was ready to give a good account of what has happened in Houston the past few years - pretty much, you can freeze them to the ground, but you can't kill them, but no bananas to eat because everything's new, not having grown 1.5 years. But I have been called away. In the meantime, if anyone has more than a couple of plants, and wants to share experiences, please chime in or email me David.Landau@crzo.net.

Later, Dave

Bananaman88

Dave,

I live in the Houston area and have been growing bananas here since 2003. I had 4 different cultivars fruit last year (the most ever for me). Which cultivars are you growing? I have a mat or two that I need to thin so I could probably hook you up with some pups.

diamondjfarms

I too am in the Houston area (SW side [Needville]). I've had bananas for a year and a half and currently have my first flower going on. How long does it take from flower to fruit?

Also, BananaMan, what varieties do you have?

I planted my Raja Puri Banana last Spring. I covered the "trunk" with a frost blanket over the winter. It sprouted this Spring, and has done well. I was counting the pups and ran across this flower. I hope nothing happens to it until the bananas get ripe.

I bought and planted a California Gold and a Texas Star at the same time. I did not wrap the "trunk" during our mind winter, as they are both supposed to handle our, zone 9a SW Houston, winters. But they both froze to the ground. They are regrowing with pups this year. I will be sure to frost blanket them next year. So much for care free bananas.

Bananaman88

I am currently growing the following edible varieties:
Ice Cream
California Gold
Raja Puri
Ae-Ae
Namwah
Dw. Nino
Dw. Brazilian
Orinoco

...and the following ornamental varieties:
M. siamensis
M. laterita
M. velutina
M. ornata
M. acuminata ssp. zebrina
M. 'Little Prince' (techinically and edible, though I don't think it fruits much)
M. 'Siam Ruby'
Musella lasiocarpa

I wrap any plant that I want to have a chance of flowering and fruiting the following year. We did have a very mild winter this past go 'round but my plants were still wrapped, just in case.

Yug

Gabe (gabe15) would probably know of some types that would fruit very quickly. Might want to pm him.

Colmscheid

New to the site and very excited to give a try growing bananas in houston. Looking for the best place to purchase and the best variety. I'm kind of set on ice cream!

CraigSS

Well welcome to bananas.
We have several people on here that offer plants when the weather turns warmer.
Craig

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Welcome aboard!
Take the advice of the other growers in this thread. COVER your bananas in the winter. Houston can get cold 20f a couple of nights ago I think.

To your question, once the weather warms a bit, I'm sure there will be many members who have pups to sell/share.

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Colmscheid

Can't wait, please contact me asap for pups or plants!

Mr. K

I also live in Houston, in the Clear Lake area, close to NASA.

I have a Banana plant that I planted back in 1993, or 94. I have not done anything to help it be productive, so I have only gotten a few Bananas from my mat. Now I am very interested in having more fruit, and after joining, I will be working on doing what I need to do to have a lot more fruit this year. So if anybody in the Houston-Galveston area wants a Pup from an unknown, but tasty variety of Banana, just send me a message. And if you have a Pup of a known, and even better variety, let me know. I have a big yard, but it is mostly covered in trees, so maybe just one, or 2 Pups is all I need.

Mr. K

PS: OK I see this thread is a bit out-of-date, so if anybody in the Houston area has some extra Pups, let me know.

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