Freeze
 

I live in Houston, and I have a Monzano banana. Every year it starts to fruit in late summer, but does never mature before we have a frost.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get it to fruit earlier?

I've tried fertizing with a high potassium fertilizer to no avail.

Re: Freeze
 

If the shape of fruit is completely done, but still green, you can cut the fruit when it's green and treat it with Ethylene gas. Or, put a blue bag around the fruit when it's on the tree and make holes for oxygen. Put in the bag few apples or blueberries which release ethylene gas when they rot.

Re: Freeze
 

Thanks. That would work if the fruit was grown to the mature size, but in mist cases the fruit is only about 2 inches long.
What I was wondering is if there is any way to force the plant to fruit earlier in the summer, so it's ripe or at leat mature and green before the frost hits?

Re: Freeze
 

Yes, you can change the growing condition.
By puting banana plant in artifical inviroment you can change her blooming season.
You must put her in warmer and sunnier place than before, so she can 'think' that her time to bloom has come.

Re: Freeze
 

Are wintering this one in the ground?