Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

I've been lurking around here for a little while. What I have not noticed is many banana growers around my area (Houston(ish), Texas.

Are yall out there? I am interested in whats working for you. I think I would like to grow naners but I need to hear from experianced growers in my area.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Hi any one from San Antonio to Alabama on your plain can help you. Even folks just north of you. :^) The thingis to not over water when its cool, and make sure they have enough when its hot along with fertilizer and soil combinations.. There's plenty of threads to read if you have the time on the topics :^) I'd talk to Jimmmy and see what he actually has in the ground and other texas folks. Don't get fancy banana's, just get one's that are hardy to build confidence then take on challenges.. Good Luck :^)

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Hi Not Quagmire!!!

I am in Killeen, TX.

Jimmmy is the man to talk to!!
Also JaNan (Jananas Bananas) has some excellent experience!

I, myself, am a transplanted Texan & this is my first year (coming this Spring)growing bananas...

I have had good luck with Dwarf Namwah & Dwarf Cavendish...but I am trying as many varieties as I can!!

Have fun with it, and as a good friend of ours here on the bananas.org(Tog Tan) once told me, 'Be sure to grow ones that are hardy to your Zone, to avoid pain in the loss of your banana plants.'

I have had luck with the above varieties, but with you being further South - I'm sure you will be able to overwinter more varieties than I can!

Best of Luck to you & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ~Cheryl

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

I used to be where Cheryl is for about 4 years then I lived just east of you (Mjd) for about 6 years. A Raja Puri and Dwarf Orinoco isn't a bad idea either. :^) Even if you have a black thumb you should be able to grow DC's... lol

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Hey, welcome to the org! I'm just south of dowtown Houston by about 30 minutes. I grow a number of different bananas. I've had the most luck with 'Orinoco' and I've also had 'Dwarf Cavendish' to fruit, though not early enough to get mature fruit. It's only a matter of time, though. Just need it to flower a bit earlier.

We are in what I consider to be a "marginal" area for bananas here in Houston. I say that because the growing season is just a tad too short to reliably get fruit each year. I have been growing bananas here for about 6 years now and each year my bananas lose all of their leaves but the pseudostems generally survive the winter here OK, unless it's one of the less hardy cultivars such as 'Dw. Cavendish', 'Dw. Red', 'Super Dwarf Cavendish' etc.

Feel free to PM me and we can talk bananas all you want. I did a presentation on growing bananas here back in August at Mercer Arboretum, I don't suppose you caught that but I may be able to send you some of my notes from it if you want to PM me your e-mail address. There are several growers on the board here from the Houston area. I'm sure they'll be happy to share their experiences with you. In the mean-time you can also check out my profile for a list of cultivars and species I am growing or have grown in the past. I was doing a blog on growing bananas on the HoustonGrows website but it was just taken down due to inactivity. I just haven't had time to blog recently but I hope to start up again soon. Cheers!

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Gigity! Gigity! :0496: You will be able to find a good selection of bananas that will grow in your area at the Houston Garden Centers come Spring - both edibles and ornamentals. You can possibly find some neighors with a good stand of bananas that would give you a pup or two in the Spring as well. If you are looking for more exotic varieties Jimmmy has them available.

Specifics - All these are edibles - Orinocos are good to start off with - they are tough, easy to find.

Raja Puri - has been a good one for me as it seems to be very wind resistant and can take the weather fluctuations here.

Dwarf Cavendish - pretty tough and pups easily.

~JaNan

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

I see that you are in Pearland. I am actually between Houston & Humble right off of Beltway 8. I will send you a PM. I had not heard of HoustonGrows website. Sorry I missed that one. I will be selling vegetables this year as well as big brown chicken eggs. No, I dont wanna sell bananas, I just want to spice up my property some with them and maybe get to eat some good naners.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

HEY MJD!

Welcome to the org! Im in houston and, I just started growing orinoco, Ice Cream and Dwarf cavendish which is really common at the big stores you can find any where. All of mine have gone dormant right now due to the snow I had to trim them down, but Im hoping they come back this spring.

the houston grows site is a part of the Chron.com website. theres alot of good info on gardening in houston there.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

I went to the Cron.com website and could not locate Houston Grows. Could you provide a link please. Nice to meet you.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

here you go!

HoustonGrows: Houston gardening and choosing the best plants for your home garden | chron.com

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Welcome. You will find good info here. Lots of nice folks too.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

JaNan,

You grow edible bananas in Austin? Now, that is good to hear. Limy and a bit colder than we are here in Houston. I'd love to hear how you deal with winters there, especially this one. So, who is Jimmy?

Houston was quite a banana town, and may still be after this winter, maybe not. I grow quite a few, but nothing else to do for the next two months so far as the plants go. Can we talk?

SB

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Thank You for the Houston Growers Link.

SeriousBan, what kind of bananas are you growing?

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Bananas.org - View Profile: jimmmy He sells banana's and other plants and is just south of Austin. Reasonable, Personable, Nice Plants..

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Lol yeah my bananas have been wrapped up for a month. Its going to really get tested when it gets down to 18 this week.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

What, its going to get down to 18 degrees this week here in Houston?

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Yes and a high of only 36 the next day.

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

I guess I need to make sure my chickens heat source is working properly properly for that day.

Ah, I see, its going to be Thursday when the really cold weather is here. I absolutely hate cold weather. My hands hurt, elbow hurts, etc etc

I am trying to figure out how I am going to place banana trees to provide shade at the right time of the day to my Bhut Jolokia-7 Pod-Fatalii pepper plants

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

The two I use the most are the stove and the oven.:chefnaner:

Re: Houston(ish) Texas Banana Growers
 

Right right. I have 17 hens that are 13½ months old and they are all laying eggs like crazy. I have 20 pullets (hens not yet a year old) that are due to start laying in March. None of them are ready for the stew pot yet. I will trade large brown un fertilized, non medicated eggs for Banana plants though :ha: