75north

That's gonna be tough. I honestly thought it couldn't be done even here in Central Florida.

I've been lucky to have gotten 4 or 5 bunches off the Dwarf Cavendish at this point and all of them barely made it thru winter with 2-3 leaves despite never seeing temps below 37F (though admittedly I didn't do anything to protect them.) Even after it heats up, most end up collapsing due to partially rotting pstems a month or so before I would have ideally harvested them.

I'm sure you could get fruit off one in SC eventually if you put a lot of effort into overwinter protection and staking, but it'll probably require a good deal of patience!

wstrickland1

I talk a big game now, in August. Come November I'll give that idea the finger and let the chips fall where they may until March.....

75north

August does tend to inspire overconfidence

Lately I've also been trying to get ahold of some types that, if I were honest with myself, are probably too cold sensitive for the climate we have around here. But I guess that's part of the fun...

wstrickland1

Definitely is. In addition to the cavendish and reds I have a praying hands that's just exploding, patupi, lacatan, truly tiny, X Cross, Thai Black and viente cohol. I'm just hoping they all will pup at least. Next hope is that the corm makes it over the winter. As I am generally lazy in addition to being pretty busy I don't think fruit will be produced by any of these. Honestly I bought them early spring when I was bored. I never expected every single one to do so well.

75north

I definitely understand that mindset, I went on a similar banana buying spree this spring and a few of the ones I got are marginal at best for this climate.

I think I'm going to need to do some overwintering on my patupi to get fruit off of this pstem. Don't think it's gonna be fruiting this year but I worry that none of the pups are big enough to fruit next year, so I'm kinda in a weird middle ground.

wstrickland1

Any fruit I get is a bonus. I just like having banana plants everywhere

It's tough to expect too much where I'm at

wstrickland1

My Thai's getting black

cincinnana

Sweet.......
Look at the awesome stem separation and placement........10.

__________________

wstrickland1

I have high hopes for......




Wait for it.......



Ali

Valor_X

That's awesome! Mine still has a green stem with black petiole edges. It's growing like crazy and getting pretty tall though.

It has the same leaf curl towards the bottom of the leaves like yours is getting, apparently that's a Thai Black trait.

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

Ali is showing out

20210828_110205 by William Strickland, on Flickr

wstrickland1

Blue Java Pup. Looking good Akula thanks

20210828_110216 by William Strickland, on Flickr

Robbertico18

Is Ali a Thai black?

Your ice cream is looking good! I think you’re a better banana surgeon than me, have you fertilized it yet?

wstrickland1

I bought it as a TB and it's looking like it is. I have not fertilized Babe The Blue Ox yet

Robbertico18

It’s lookin like it’s going to keep the black pstem and veins. Pretty cool

Also love that they all have personal names

wstrickland1

Ha well not all have names only the ones that talk back 😀😃🙂

smeash

I think with a little winter care those namwah will be reliable producers for you. As far as fruiting a dwarf cav, Ive had some for 5 years in my 9a zone and they have never even come close to fruiting. Even with frost protection. If i wanted to dig one up and overwinter under lights inside im sure i could manage a flower.. but they just dont excite me enough to try i guess.. afterall I can get them at the store! Now the dwarf red Im pretty certain i can fruit.. they overwintered well and I have 2 that are near fruiting size in one season.

wstrickland1

Roger that on the namwahs if last winter was any indication. All I did was pile up hay about 2' high around the base and no wrapping, christmas lights, etc. My back yard does get some serious solar reflection off of my house/windows so I don't think winter back there is much different from you. Maybe a bit worse but I think close. Everything came right back and Lou's pstem stayed viable all the way to the top. Even the pups. 1 pup has grown 10' since March, another about 8'. I have a dwarf starting to grow pretty good now too along with a tall and dwarf Orinoco. Next year should bring more fruit so my goals are actually being exceeded. I appreciate all I have learned from you guys.

Valor_X

Does not give me much hope for Dwarf Cavendish... 9a here too.
This is my 2nd year with them and they have been my worst growing nanner compared to my other dwarfs. 2 main plants with 1.5-2ft p-stem and they have been growing all year just putting out big leaves with little height gain.
In comparison my Cali Gold & Veinte Cohol grew tall very fast, there is no doubt I can easily get fruit from those.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

Hey the Orinoco pup I got from you is WELL on it's way. Kicked out it's first pup too!