need advice to all banana growers.
 

Okay!!! you experts banana growers, i need advice. After seeing all the banana fruits you all showing from your garden, i am convince that i want to join in. Since i have no clue at all of what kinds/variety i can have here in Ga. you guys/gals feel me in.

Here's what i have in mind for now. I'll start 4 or 5 plants :drum:

I want bananas that i can plant in a container, 10-15 gal. size, and about 7' to 12' mature and produce fruits that i can harvest/eat:ha:. Cold tolerant, that can go to unheated basement for over wintering is important, since i don't have a greenhouse(working with that idea with hubby).

There is banana place in Florida, that i have been looking on their catalog and know what i want but i want you ask here first of any good input on what easy to grow for a newbie.

Thanks you all and looking forward to any suggestions.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

If you want 7-12' mature, you need to be considering the Dwarf cultivars. Good-tasting and resistant bananas of this type include 'Dwarf Orinoco' 'Dwarf Brazilian' and the old standby, 'Dwarf Cavendish'. Other good cultivars, which will get a bit taller, include 'Jamaican Red' (if you can find 'Dwarf Red' so much the better), and if you want plantains, 'Hua Moa' is a great one.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Welcome to the org, barnercora! I would also suggest 'Raja Puri' to you as it is one of the more cold hardy types and stays pretty short.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Thanks' lorax' and' bananaman'.

Now, where can i buy those varieties here in US, since i see "lorax " is far far away.

This question to you "lorax". in your album, you have brugmansia alba, it is pretty :ha: do you grow them? like to buy seeds if i can.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Wellspring Gardens Home Page -

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Barner, I grow a large number of different brugs, from 'Alba' right through to the species Brugs, of which B. sanguinea is my fave. You can't buy them from me, but I'll trade with you. Send me a pm.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Hi Cora,

I am all along the lines of the choices that Lorax made:

I LOVE the Hua Moa for a plantain to grow. Yummy out of hand when ripe & excellent cooked.
Recommend Dwarf Orinoco & Dwarf Namwah also, fast growers for me!!
I have 2 dwarf reds that I am awaiting results on this coming year, I KNOW they will do great!!

Just the ones I'd pick!! :) ~Cheryl

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

I've ordered from a lot of online stores and by far my favorite is Stokes Tropicals-Specializes in Tropical Plants, Rare, Exotic Plants, Trees

They always ship large healthy plants at a great price. And they ship from New Iberia, LA i think.. not too far from you

Edit: I just checked their website and their prices have doubled since I ordered from them in the summer. Maybe winter pricing..

I'd recommend Raja Puri as well.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

The best deal I got on banana's other than thru memebers here was thru greenearth a yahoo.com banana store.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

You guys/gals are awesome. I have made a list of variety i would try. The dwarf variety is most i am in favor since i am small person, i can drag the pot by myself if hubby not around.

Now!! i need to start shopping, i have plenty of time to shop around before spring come.

For now i just enjoy you folks banana pictures.


Thanks everybody.

Cora

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

I may have some 'Raja Puri' pups in the spring.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Me too :^)

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

If you want a really tiny one, try "mini" super dwarf cavendish. I have one fruiting right now and it's about 4 feet tall in a 12" ceramic pot. I'll have other dwarf varieties such as williams hybrid, dwarf namwah, dwarf red and others available in spring. Please keep me in mind! You can also fruit larger standards in pots, such as the ice cream I have fruiting now, but they have to be cut off in the fall to help keep them a manageable size and they have to grown in large pots.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Thank you Sandy!! i will just do that.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Thank you, Bananaman88 and Abnshrek.
I will check back later.

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

super dwarf cavendish, little prince, truly tiny, raja puri, dwarf brazilian, Musella lasiocarpa, hi color mini

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

Come on people did you forget about the Bassjoo,Sikkimensis,Yunnanensis, so you could plant & not dig up to move in........ for her zone 7.....mabe not eat but very nice banana plants thou.....

Re: need advice to all banana growers.
 

I started my banana collecting late last year. I can tell you that I had good experiences with Stokes Tropicals, Logee's, Encanto Farms, and buying from members here, including Jon, Sandy, James, and Jimmmy. I didn't have such a good experience with Green Earth: The scoop on 'Greenearth Publishing Inc. (bananaplants.net)' It pays to check Garden Watchdog before ordering online. I found some good prices over at EBay too, but it pays to do some research to discern the good sellers from the bad.