to hot
 

i know this sounds crazy but can the california sun be to hot for a banana. :2767: can it damage the leaves? do you have to keep it in the shade?

Re: to hot
 

Hi there BB - I'm no expert on California, but I wouldn't have thought the sun would be too hot for them. If they have been in the shade they might need to get aclimatized and scorch a little until they do, but should grow much better in the sun. We do hot sun in a big way, and all the nanas love it.

Cassie

Re: to hot
 

I live in CA and I never thought it this way. I thought the more sun the better.
Countries near the equator have bananas as one of their major exports.

Re: to hot
 

I started growing bananas late summer of 2007. I have a sumatran(green / purple leafed)
Seems like it liked sun part shade. The leaves would fold together when the sun hit it.
But when the sun passed over to the other sun of the garden....it would plump back up!
On the other hand...My basjoo was fine. The basjoo was in sun from am to sundown every day.

Re: to hot
 

The California sun is not the problem. The problem is the fact that we live in an arid desert, not the tropical humid climate that they love. The leaves will always fold in the midday sun to conserve water, and I find that they tend to get a little dry along the edges from the lack of moisture in the air, but that's not going stop me from growing them!

Re: to hot
 

The only time i have had a problem with it being to hot was 2 years ago in the summer. It was 114F one day. Had some leaf burn on many of my bananas.

Re: to hot
 

mulching the ground with leaves wil retain mosture and temperature balance

Re: to hot
 

just make sure the soil has plenty of moisture and they will be fine.

Re: to hot
 

What area of CA are you in?

I do notice stress on my plants if it hits like 105 and over. I think the deluge we've had is causing more problems than the heat though. Spring will be here soon, thankfully!

Re: to hot
 

his map position shows he's by exeter, if I recall correctly

Re: to hot
 

when its small if it gets over 100 should i spray it with water on the leaves?

Re: to hot
 

Spraying the leaves will not help. The water will be gone in a few minutes due to evaporation.

Re: to hot
 

I think it may depend on the species. Most edibles should be fine, but others from high elevations or more understory types seem to burn more easily.
I had Musa cheesmanii in full sun with Musa balbisiana. The temps hit about 110 and the M.cheesmanii fried, and the M.balbisinana was unfazed.