Best fruiting Banana?
 

Hello. New member here. Got a question. which Banana/s is the best to grow in the lower 48 for fruit? i know you guys in Flordia can grow alomst anything,but what about us out here in the other 47 states? i live in zone 9b.

thanks
steelviper

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

AnnaJW lives very close to you. She is growing a wide variety of bananas.

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

As one of those Florida guys, I wish I resembled that remark. I'm not sure if the Orlando area is 9a or 9b, but bananas usually freeze if unprotected. And just to whine a bit, this year we've had Florida humidity and California rain.
Anyway, you have it better than a lot of people on this list. California Gold, Orinoco, Rajapuri, Ice Cream, 1000 Fingers, and a variety of others should fruit for you most years, and will grow back quickly even if the leaves get frosty.
I was looking for materials for a temporary greenhouse today, but only plan to protect immature/short plants, and that from first frost (1/1?) until March. You are probably in the same situation.

Paul

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

thanks PaulOdin. I grow a lot of tropical palnts. Heliconas, gingers, alocasias, etc. But we just do not have the great weather you guys have out there for growing tropicals. Ive done real well with the plants i do grow. I will try a few of the bananas you suggested. Looking Fwd till next spring. thanks!!

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

Try growing helen's hybrid if you want something extra hardy. You can get seeds of these from Rarepalmseeds.com

This is a sweet desert type banana that's seeded. It's a cross of musa sikimensis and a sweet desert banana. It should be hardy to at least zone 7b/8a.

For zone 9b, you can try growing saba, orinoco, and raja puri.

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

I'm in Riverside.... near March AFB, and am growing the following with no problems... dwarf orinoco, rajapuri, dwarf namwah, superdwarf cavendish, basjoo, and a couple more I can't seem to remember.

I try and get the smaller, dwarf varieties so they don't get quite so shredded when the Santaana's come.

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

Thank's for the great info. i have a couple in mind that i want to try.


mark:2190:

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

Hi Steelviper,

I'm in the Lake Mathews area. We have the following right now:

Orinoco (has fruit right now)
Raja Puri
Manzano
Thousand Fingers
CA Gold
Red Iholene
Monkey Fingers
Saba
Dwarf Namwah
Cardaba
Ice Cream (fruiting)
Mahoi
Dwarf Mahoi
Monthan
Super Dwarf Cavandish
Dwarf Red
Sweetheart
Kru
Zebrina
SH-3640
Dwarf Namwah Pearl
4 unknowns

I'm hoping for a very mild winter since several of those should be ready to bloom next summer!

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

oops... should have left Zebrina off since the fruit is inedible. Beautiful foliage though!

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

Hello AnnaJW. thanks for your info. So i take it these bananas did well for you last winter? did you lose any?


steelviper

again thanks for your info.

Re: Best fruiting Banana?
 

I did lose a red to frost last winter. I try to put the more tender ones close to the house since the stucco holds heat for them. Our back yard gets sun almost all day, so that works well. For the smaller ones I get tomato cages and make covers so the frost can't touch the leaves. And for most I put a nice layer of mulch around the base of the trunks.