Good dwarf plantain varieties?

caliboy1994 · 11-05-2011, 06:30 PM

I'm thinking of getting some kind of plantain next season, but because I get lots of wind in my area during the fall I need a dwarf variety. Winds have already gotten over 50mph in my area. It needs to be cold hardy and be able to produce in zone 10a. I was thinking maybe Dwarf Puerto Rican, but is that cold hardy in my zone? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

venturabananas · 11-05-2011, 07:38 PM

Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

sunfish · 11-05-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas

Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

I THINK Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain.

caliboy1994 · 11-05-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas

Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather.

I'm already planning on getting D. Namwah since it should be able to brave the winds we get here. I'll look into D. Orinoco as well.

Nicolas Naranja · 11-06-2011, 09:31 PM

dwarf puerto rican does well here, the dwarf super plantain has trouble with finger diseases

caliboy1994 · 11-06-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolas Naranja

dwarf puerto rican does well here, the dwarf super plantain has trouble with finger diseases

Thanks. The only thing I'm worried about here is the cool, wet winters.

Nicolas Naranja · 11-07-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

Thanks. The only thing I'm worried about here is the cool, wet winters.

If you can provide drainage, they should be ok. You might not get 10" fruit, but you should get a plantain.

caliboy1994 · 11-07-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolas Naranja

If you can provide drainage, they should be ok. You might not get 10" fruit, but you should get a plantain.

That's not great because my soil isn't particularly well draining. I have a layer of good topsoil, and underneath that is a thick layer of heavy clay. I could probably offset this by amending the soil though.

Nicolas Naranja · 11-08-2011, 10:22 AM

You could put the tree on a raised bed or dig a big hole and ammend it with better draining soil or you could put in drainage tile, but you would need somewhere to drain into.

bananimal · 11-08-2011, 01:44 PM

Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

caliboy1994 · 11-08-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananimal

Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

I have lots of places with full sun, but the slope is taken by one of my Not Ice Creams. There is a place in full sun at the bottom of a slight slope where I planned on putting it, but water tends to collect in that place. Maybe I can find a way to drain it?

Nicolas Naranja · 11-08-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

I have lots of places with full sun, but the slope is taken by one of my Not Ice Creams. There is a place in full sun at the bottom of a slight slope where I planned on putting it, but water tends to collect in that place. Maybe I can find a way to drain it?

Basically you could build a mound and trench around it. If you could get you the soil about 2' above the lowest point you would be ok.

sunfish · 11-08-2011, 05:03 PM

Another option is a gravel sump.

caliboy1994 · 11-08-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Another option is a gravel sump.

What's a gravel sump?

Nicolas Naranja · 11-08-2011, 10:42 PM

give us enough time and your yard would be a marvel of modern hydrologic engineering.

caliboy1994 · 11-08-2011, 10:53 PM

Haha I wish...

sunfish · 11-09-2011, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

What's a gravel sump?

Basically you dig your plant hole. In a corner of the plant hole you dig a sump,hole, with a post hole digger.Install a piece of perforated drain pipe with filter sock.Leave the pipe 4" above soil level.Any excess water in the planting pit will flow into the sump.The pipe allows air in which helps dry up the water.You can also use a hand pump to pump out the sump. If you are lucky and have gotten deep enough to good soil the water will drain on it's own.

Darkman · 11-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Put in lots of gravel sumps.

Pump them to one small pond.

Pump the pond to the top of your property.

Build a stream bed for the water to flow back down to the pond.

Now you have water feature and have solved your drainage problem.

caliboy1994 · 11-09-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkman

Put in lots of gravel sumps.

Pump them to one small pond.

Pump the pond to the top of your property.

Build a stream bed for the water to flow back down to the pond.

Now you have water feature and have solved your drainage problem.

Thanks for the sarcasm.

But I need a cheap, easy solution. Maybe I could just plant it farther back from that spot.

sunfish · 11-09-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

Thanks for the sarcasm.

But I need a cheap, easy solution. Maybe I could just plant it farther back from that spot.

Easy solution plant a guava

11-05-2011, 06:30 PM	#1 (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 : 254,324 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Good dwarf plantain varieties? I'm thinking of getting some kind of plantain next season, but because I get lots of wind in my area during the fall I need a dwarf variety. Winds have already gotten over 50mph in my area. It needs to be cold hardy and be able to produce in zone 10a. I was thinking maybe Dwarf Puerto Rican, but is that cold hardy in my zone? Does anyone have any other suggestions? __________________ "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

11-05-2011, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 240,791 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? Pitangadiego has tried several and hasn't found one that can consistently hack the cool, wet So Cal winters. I think he's trying dwarf French plantain, which seems to do OK at Quail Gardens. Or you could just go with dwarf Orinoco or dwarf Namwah, both of which are good cooked and don't have a problem with our weather. __________________

11-06-2011, 09:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 464,804 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? dwarf puerto rican does well here, the dwarf super plantain has trouble with finger diseases __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

11-08-2011, 10:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 464,804 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? You could put the tree on a raised bed or dig a big hole and ammend it with better draining soil or you could put in drainage tile, but you would need somewhere to drain into. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

11-08-2011, 01:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 564,454 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

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11-08-2011, 05:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 963,707 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? Another option is a gravel sump.

11-08-2011, 10:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 464,804 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? give us enough time and your yard would be a marvel of modern hydrologic engineering. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

11-08-2011, 10:53 PM	#16 (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 : 254,324 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,196 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? Haha I wish... __________________ "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

11-09-2011, 05:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
Darkman Dirt Master Darkman's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL South of I-10 Find me on the map! Zone: 8b/9a Name: Darkman Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,249 BananaBucks : 206,431 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9,263 Times Was Thanked 1,582 Times in 702 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 243 Times	Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties? Put in lots of gravel sumps. Pump them to one small pond. Pump the pond to the top of your property. Build a stream bed for the water to flow back down to the pond. Now you have water feature and have solved your drainage problem. __________________ Darkman in Pensacola AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!! Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong! Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable! Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

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