Bananaman88

I did an internet search for growing bananas in Texas today and, surprisingly, one of the first few links that came up was an article I had written a few years back for Texas Gardener magazine on growing bananas along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Houston, TX. I also did a version of this same article for our magazine a few years back. I have included the link here for those of you who may be interested.

Going Bananas Along the Gulf Coast

RandyGHO

That was a good read. Thanks for posting the link.

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Thinking outside the peel always.

Snookie

Thanks

Great Article:}

Gives me hope down here in South Louisiana that here in Lizard Creek we may be able to have our FIRST Banana Festival real soon:}

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Darkman

Hang in there Mayor it will happen!

Two years ago I got my first Banana plants from Hydroid (Bo in Gulf Shores, AL) and today I have I have eight bunches hanging. I'll enjoy my harvest starting in mid September through hopefully early December.

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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.

Bananaman88

Fruiting bananas in my neck of the woods is always a crap shoot. Simply growing banana plants is not an issue, but getting them to fruit early enough in the season is...even here in Houston. Last year I had four different cultivars fruit but only one of them did it early enough for me to get viable bananas. I wrote this article to give others hope and to try to show them ways that I had been successful.

Having a mild winter is a big plus but I it is just as important to make sure you protect the pseudostem from freezing. If the pstem freezes back to the ground it is very unlikely that you'll get fruit that year. It can happen but it's not as likely.

A couple of things that I have learned more about since writing this article (back in 2009, I think it was) is that I don't bother trying to grow Dwarf Cavendish or Dwarf Red at my house any more. They are simply too cold sensitive (even when I wrap them with frost cloth). I have moved those to where I work in the city and the heat island effect helps them to do better in the winter.

Darkman

What seemed to be the critical temperature or was the hard frost the problem for the Dwarf Reds. I have some in pots that I want to set out.

I lived in Houston (Bellaire/Sharptown area) from 79 - 83. I would have thought Pearland would have been great for bananas. I guess the heat island really makes a difference.

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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.

Abnshrek

I know I've read it before, but it was refreshing to read it again. :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Bananaman88

For some reason my back yard seems to have a couple of spots that trap cold air but I really think that it's just the cold overall. Since I have lived here (2003) our average low at my house has probably been around 32 but almost every winter, except last, we dropped into the high 20's a few times, and one winter down to 22. Dw. Cavendish and Dw. Red both turned to mush on me on multiple occasions, so despite how much I simply like the way Dw. Red looks, I decided it was pointless to try to overwinter it and I took both of them out of my home garden.

Darkman

Thanks. I am prepared to protect the DR if cages and wraps will be sufficient. I could even throw in some lighting or pipe wrap for heat. I hope to retire next year and that would give me extra time to deal with these issues.

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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.

srash

Thanks for writing and then reposting this article. It's good to learn of others' successes.