Jasmine

Hi all, I am interested in finding a nice banana that won't get too tall and shade my fig tree. I already have a dwarf namwah, and I'm curious to know if there are any other productive, delicious bananas out there with that height ceiling. I hear that many of the ones we are familiar with -dwarf brazilian, zan moreno, etc- don't really put out nice bunches for the most part, perhaps that is a misconception?

Bonus points for looking nice and being stocky! Mislabels and mysteries and great to hear about, and if it's really great I might try to buy it from you (just a warning!).

Thanks a lot

just j

dwarf cavendish dwarf orinoco raja puri double mahoi grand nain dwarf red are all around 5- 8 feet in a pot

Worm_Farmer

dwarf brazilian, Super Dwarf cavendish, Little Prince

revolutionman

I wish i had that problem. Some of my bananas barely shade the ground! LoL

No but seriously my average plant doesn't grow past 6 feet before fruiting. My biggest dont pass 8.

Worm_Farmer

NICE! How do you do that? Are they growing in shade? My IC 8' right now, my best guess is that it will push out about 2 more feet before flower but I am waiting.

island cassie

I second what they say - have only had experience with dwarf cavendish and dwarf orinoco myself - the latter are gorgeous when fully ripe, and a nice stocky plant too. Good luck with your choice.

revolutionman

Most of my bananas are growing under the shade of two very very old breadfruit trees that If i had to guess were nearly 40 feet tall. Unfortunately they dont fruit very well, but there are a few things that could be contributing to that. the fruit unfurl in very tight and close grouping and just are not growing to a conventional size before ripening.

But even those i've planted in direct sun and give decent sized bunches are not very tall. I'm gonna take pics tomorrow.

revolutionman

maybe one of those (or both) are what my plants are, some of them do develop very thick "trunks".

Gabe15

Keep in mind that when referring to fruiting heights they are (or should be) in reference to the height of the pseudostem, the actual total height of the plant will be larger with the leaves. A plant listed as 5ft could still reach 8-9ft in the air with its leaves, and an 8ft plant could easily reach over 12ft with leaves.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

revolutionman

thanks for clarifying that. My stats stand but so we're clear the leaves do, as you say, add another couple of feet in height. So in total I, 5'9, can walk underneath the leaves with little interference.

So the trunk is called pseudostem then. excellent.

just j

you r right about the hieght i have 9 foot ceiling in my home and the leaves on one where to the ceiling and bending down so when a new leaf started comin up i just wrapped the window blind cord around it to kind of bend it to the side lol

Jasmine

Hey thanks for responding. Whever i make a new thread I wonder if it will get any replies! Anyone have any experience with Dwarf Colorado Blanco?

The 5-8 feet I initially referred to was the stem, not including leaves.

Thanks!

Richard

The Dwarf Colorado Blanco is a genotype AAA with yellow skin, orange pulp, and a pseudostem height of 8 feet in central America. In subtropical climates, it is likely to grow shorter.

Add Sweetheart to your list of candidates. I think Dwarf Brazilian is under-rated. The plants I've seen in southern California produce a nice bunch with excellent tasting fruit.

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Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

Jasmine

Wow ok, thanks Richard. I had no idea FHIA 3 was that short! I thought for sure it was 8-9'.

Last year I went to a CRFG meeting in Balboa Park in San Diego (Subject: Pomegranates) and the speaker told me he grows Dwarf Brazilian somewhere in Ocean Beach and didn't recommend it. Another guy who seemed to grow many bananas nearby chimed in that it was a poor producer for him also, that's why I assumed it behaved like that.

But if you've had different experiences that is great to know. And thanks for the banana bucks, whatever those are used for!