Chinandega81

I was wondering if anyone has noticed a difference in the growth of Plantains vs. Cavendish or other desert varieties?

My plantains are much slower to recover from the cool and dry season, whereas my Cavendish essentially look the same and continue to show robust growth all year round.

I provide similar supplemental water, fertilizer and mulching to both varieties, and they all receive comparable amounts of sun and temperature/wind exposure.

Nonetheless, the Plantains seem to absolutely hate it when temperatures are mild to cool (South Florida temps) and slow their growth dramatically. The Cavendish continue to grow and look great.

Has anyone else noticed Plantain sensitivity to non-rainy season weather and temperatures?

Valor_X

I'm growing both Dwarf Cavendish and PR Plantains but I recently transplanted them to some raised beds I built so they are still recovering and not growing much at the moment.

What I can tell you is that my Dwarf Cavendish pups like crazy!! When it was only like 4ft tall last year it sent out about 4-5 pups. They are all growing back after the winter storm except the main plant.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

Chinandega81

I assume yours died back to the ground because of the winter freezes in Texas. Here the coldest it got was into the 40s on a few nights...but no frost or freeze. I gather that the PR Dwarf Plantains are just more ultra tropical or tender than other hardier varieites, even though I have never heard or read that anywhere before. The plantains looked beautiful this past summer...I am looking forward to seeing them thrive again soon.

bananimal

I tried growing plantains back in 2006 and I hated waiting so long for fruit. Then a BRAVO supermarket opened up near home. Now I have plantains available all year long!!!

Tostones and Maduros forever!!!