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?

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.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

I THINK Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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.

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.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

Do you have a slope -- with full sun?

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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?

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

Another option is a gravel sump.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

What's a gravel sump?

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

give us enough time and your yard would be a marvel of modern hydrologic engineering.:08:

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

Haha I wish...

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

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.:08:

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.

:woohoonaner: :nanadrink:

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

Thanks for the sarcasm. :ha::ha::ha: But I need a cheap, easy solution. Maybe I could just plant it farther back from that spot.

Re: Good dwarf plantain varieties?
 

Easy solution plant a guava