Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space?

andy17 · 09-13-2013, 09:06 PM

Hey Everyone,
I would really like to get another variety, but I'm really short on space (needs to be fairly portable). Can anyone recommend a short variety (<6 ft.) that is a pretty reliable fruiter? Thanks!!

caliboy1994 · 09-14-2013, 12:39 AM

Raja Puri. The wall in the back there is under 6' tall. The flower bud emerged at head height for me, and I am 5'7".

Dalmatiansoap · 09-14-2013, 02:30 AM

DO? SDC would be to sensitive I guess?

srash · 09-14-2013, 12:20 PM

My California Gold is small and has produced 2 years in a row. I just got a flower from a Raja Puri and it is also less than 6 feet tall. Both of these are more cold tolerant.
The Veinte Cohol are small and rapidly ripen, but I have to bring them in, in the winter in order to get bananas.

Worm_Farmer · 09-14-2013, 12:51 PM

Lima flowers at 5' - 6' ft EVERY Year!

andy17 · 09-14-2013, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

Lima flowers at 5' - 6' ft EVERY Year!

That's awesome! I've not heard of that variety what is that kind?

andy17 · 09-14-2013, 10:16 PM

Thanks everyone --I really appreciate it! How does the flavor and texture of the rajapuri compare to the DO or SDC? I've heard its really good much like Dwarf Brazilian

caliboy1994 · 09-14-2013, 10:20 PM

Unfortunately there was an unusually cold winter and I didn't get to taste the fruit because of that. But I am expecting more flowers from this mat. I hear that it has a nice sub-acid flavor, and that many enjoy it.

Lemmysports · 09-14-2013, 10:46 PM

I know it's kind of boring, but I've had good returns on my dwarf cavendish. Just over a year for the first to flower, than 2 months later the sister shot up a flag leaf. In that time I've moved or given away well over 20 pups. I've got high hopes for a couple of dwarf reds, but I have not heard much praise at my latitude.

Kat2 · 09-14-2013, 10:56 PM

Dying to see if my "DC" produces next year. I'm looking at lots of flag leaf, flower and emerging fruit pictures so I won't be too shocked if it does "bloom". I've grown a lot of plants in my life but, quite honestly, this whole banana "fruiting process" looks like an alien has overtaken a pretty plant. Maybe I should have stuck to figs...

Lemmysports · 09-14-2013, 11:04 PM

Kat2, don't go back to figs! I am new to gardening in general (especially tropicals), but bananas seem so gratifying. Up until my first bunch of fruit I just though they looked nice, but once I got a bloom and a big bunch of bananas I became obsessed. To me, it is less "alien" and more magic!

I will admit however, the dwarf cavendish plants are cool, but I've since become obsessed with the big plants. Than again, I have plenty of space (and grass to get rid of) and it doesn't get too cold here.

Kat2 · 09-14-2013, 11:14 PM

I'll probably get sucked into figs again; they're so easy. And I'm trying other things now that I've moved from the arctic north. Seriously, doesn't anybody else think that strange purple thing is a bit creepy when it pops out of that pretty green foliage? guess not...

caliboy1994 · 09-14-2013, 11:16 PM

For me, their extremely fast growth rate alone is magic.

andy17 · 09-14-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemmysports

I know it's kind of boring, but I've had good returns on my dwarf cavendish. Just over a year for the first to flower, than 2 months later the sister shot up a flag leaf. In that time I've moved or given away well over 20 pups. I've got high hopes for a couple of dwarf reds, but I have not heard much praise at my latitude.

Hey Lemmysports, that's great! Despite its rep, I still think the dwarf cavendish is a classic banana variety. It's good to hear that they flowered in around a year! I currently have one in a 19 gallon pot, but it's been a slow grower. This will be its second year, but it spent a huge chunk of last year indoors and didn't get out of its one gallon pot and outside until two months into this year's growing season. It seems to be finally starting to take off, so I think it was due to poor growing conditions. What height did your plant flower? Also, how did the flavor compare to the ones in the supermarket?

Lemmysports · 09-14-2013, 11:25 PM

Andy17, I have probably had more luck than some because I am in a warmer climate, have my plants in the ground, and have fed them heavily with compost. We also had pretty good growing conditions for most of this year.

As for the fruit, it's still hanging from the tree and not ready to be harvested yet. I did try a fruit from a feral mat (which I believe to be orinoco, though I could easily be wrong) and it was quite good, and one fruit from a local nursery's icecream which was also quite tasty. To me, they still tasted like a banana but certainly had some different characteristics... and magic... don't forget the magic.

andy17 · 09-14-2013, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

For me, their extremely fast growth rate alone is magic.

That's the truth! They're so fun to grow because you can see new growth everyday!

andy17 · 09-14-2013, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kat2

I'll probably get sucked into figs again; they're so easy. And I'm trying other things now that I've moved from the arctic north. Seriously, doesn't anybody else think that strange purple thing is a bit creepy when it pops out of that pretty green foliage? guess not...

Figs are unique too! I've got a large Brown Turkey and it's really wild how they just appear out of the stems unannounced without any flowers or big show. Especially on mine, because of where it's located, you can't see the figs until they're almost ready to pick--then they seem to pop out of the foliage suddenly

Although something always gets them every time like two weeks before they're ripe, it's just one day, they're gone.

Kat2 · 09-15-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy17

Figs are unique too! I've got a large Brown Turkey and it's really wild how they just appear out of the stems unannounced without any flowers or big show. Especially on mine, because of where it's located, you can't see the figs until they're almost ready to pick--then they seem to pop out of the foliage suddenly

Although something always gets them every time like two weeks before they're ripe, it's just one day, they're gone.

You have to net them or the birds/squirrels get them. Learned that lesson.

caliboy1994 · 09-15-2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy17

That's awesome! I've not heard of that variety what is that kind?

I think he's talking about Datil la Lima. One of those short cycle, dwarf bananas like Veinte Cohol.

venturabananas · 09-15-2013, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

I think he's talking about Datil la Lima. One of those short cycle, dwarf bananas like Veinte Cohol.

Yes and no. That's what it should be, a Sucrier subgroup plant, but what is actually getting passed around in the US as "Datil la Lima" is just Rajapuri.

09-13-2013, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
andy17 Location: Central Alabama Zone: 8b Name: Andy Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 279 BananaBucks : 102,058 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 251 Times Was Thanked 154 Times in 99 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Hey Everyone, I would really like to get another variety, but I'm really short on space (needs to be fairly portable). Can anyone recommend a short variety (<6 ft.) that is a pretty reliable fruiter? Thanks!! __________________ "Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." --Francis Bacon

09-14-2013, 12:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 250,954 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Raja Puri. The wall in the back there is under 6' tall. The flower bud emerged at head height for me, and I am 5'7". __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer Last edited by caliboy1994 : 09-14-2013 at 01:46 AM.

09-14-2013, 02:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,160 BananaBucks : 606,431 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,508 Times Was Thanked 8,381 Times in 3,031 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? DO? SDC would be to sensitive I guess? __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib Last edited by Dalmatiansoap : 09-14-2013 at 02:35 AM.

09-14-2013, 12:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
srash srash's Photo Gallery Location: Savannah, GA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 90 BananaBucks : 22,424 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 95 Times Was Thanked 96 Times in 30 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? My California Gold is small and has produced 2 years in a row. I just got a flower from a Raja Puri and it is also less than 6 feet tall. Both of these are more cold tolerant. The Veinte Cohol are small and rapidly ripen, but I have to bring them in, in the winter in order to get bananas.

09-14-2013, 12:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 44,141 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Lima flowers at 5' - 6' ft EVERY Year!

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09-14-2013, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
andy17 Location: Central Alabama Zone: 8b Name: Andy Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 279 BananaBucks : 102,058 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 251 Times Was Thanked 154 Times in 99 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Thanks everyone --I really appreciate it! How does the flavor and texture of the rajapuri compare to the DO or SDC? I've heard its really good much like Dwarf Brazilian __________________ "Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." --Francis Bacon

09-14-2013, 10:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 250,954 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Unfortunately there was an unusually cold winter and I didn't get to taste the fruit because of that. But I am expecting more flowers from this mat. I hear that it has a nice sub-acid flavor, and that many enjoy it. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

09-14-2013, 10:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lemmysports Location: Tampa, FL Zone: 9b Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 80 BananaBucks : 12,107 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 31 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 44 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? I know it's kind of boring, but I've had good returns on my dwarf cavendish. Just over a year for the first to flower, than 2 months later the sister shot up a flag leaf. In that time I've moved or given away well over 20 pups. I've got high hopes for a couple of dwarf reds, but I have not heard much praise at my latitude.

09-14-2013, 10:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kat2 Location: Now nesting in Titusville, FL Zone: 10A or 9B ish. Like it matters? Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,153 BananaBucks : 239,630 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,921 Times Was Thanked 2,669 Times in 1,322 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 595 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Dying to see if my "DC" produces next year. I'm looking at lots of flag leaf, flower and emerging fruit pictures so I won't be too shocked if it does "bloom". I've grown a lot of plants in my life but, quite honestly, this whole banana "fruiting process" looks like an alien has overtaken a pretty plant. Maybe I should have stuck to figs... __________________

09-14-2013, 11:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Lemmysports Location: Tampa, FL Zone: 9b Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 80 BananaBucks : 12,107 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 31 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 44 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Kat2, don't go back to figs! I am new to gardening in general (especially tropicals), but bananas seem so gratifying. Up until my first bunch of fruit I just though they looked nice, but once I got a bloom and a big bunch of bananas I became obsessed. To me, it is less "alien" and more magic! I will admit however, the dwarf cavendish plants are cool, but I've since become obsessed with the big plants. Than again, I have plenty of space (and grass to get rid of) and it doesn't get too cold here.

09-14-2013, 11:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Kat2 Location: Now nesting in Titusville, FL Zone: 10A or 9B ish. Like it matters? Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,153 BananaBucks : 239,630 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,921 Times Was Thanked 2,669 Times in 1,322 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 595 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? I'll probably get sucked into figs again; they're so easy. And I'm trying other things now that I've moved from the arctic north. Seriously, doesn't anybody else think that strange purple thing is a bit creepy when it pops out of that pretty green foliage? guess not... __________________

09-14-2013, 11:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 250,954 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? For me, their extremely fast growth rate alone is magic. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

09-14-2013, 11:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lemmysports Location: Tampa, FL Zone: 9b Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 80 BananaBucks : 12,107 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 31 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 44 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: Best Fruiting Banana for Small Space? Andy17, I have probably had more luck than some because I am in a warmer climate, have my plants in the ground, and have fed them heavily with compost. We also had pretty good growing conditions for most of this year. As for the fruit, it's still hanging from the tree and not ready to be harvested yet. I did try a fruit from a feral mat (which I believe to be orinoco, though I could easily be wrong) and it was quite good, and one fruit from a local nursery's icecream which was also quite tasty. To me, they still tasted like a banana but certainly had some different characteristics... and magic... don't forget the magic.

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