Should I trash my bananas?

Vlad · 02-17-2019, 05:14 PM

I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

Richard · 02-17-2019, 05:23 PM

Expect 3-5 years in your growing conditions.

Banana cultivation in non-tropical climates

Iowa · 02-17-2019, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad

I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

They may fruit but could take 3-5 seasons for plants wintered over in colder areas. A larger pot 20-40 gal will help or planting in the ground in the growing season.

sandylbuck · 02-17-2019, 06:21 PM

Don't give up on them! I live in eastern PA and have had two plants flower and actually had ripe bananas this past summer. It is SOOOOOO worth the wait, I promise. Just be patient. Mine grow in pots too and I put the pots in the blacktop driveway in the summer. Plant your plants in bigger pots and feed them often and you will eventually get bananas!

cincinnana · 02-17-2019, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad

I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5').
I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit?
Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

Hi Vlad.

Unfortunately you and I are in a zone which is is not a favorable zone for banana plants.

Your plants are in a maintained hot house as mentioned in previous posts.

Are you keeping the heat low to grow those plants?

Do not give up until your bananas cost 45.00 a pound to produce in your hothouse.....then rethink the project.

Me ....I just wait it out.

cincinnana · 02-17-2019, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Expect 3-5 years in your growing conditions.

Banana cultivation in non-tropical climates

Word...

Apparently no-one believes.....

Vlad · 02-17-2019, 08:51 PM

They are not in my greenhouse because the greenhouse is kept at 55 F except when the sun hits it and it goes to 94F.
How tall will they get? My house has 8 ft ceilings.

Iowa · 02-18-2019, 07:13 AM

Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?[/quote]

From wiki - All bananas are monocarpic, meaning that they flower and fruit once and then die. The good news is that they perpetuate themselves by putting out pups or suckers. Once you have harvested your fruit, cut the entire pseudostem that fruited down to the ground. The pups that have come up around the main plant during the growing season will carry on the next generation for you.

cincinnana · 02-18-2019, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad

They are not in my greenhouse because the greenhouse is kept at 55 F except when the sun hits it and it goes to 94F.
How tall will they get? My house has 8 ft ceilings.

Vlad,
They can get pretty tall and wide.
When small the plant is easy to manage but when they are 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide they need a big footprint in the house.

If there is some way you could even out the temperature swings in the green house to about 80F your plants could benefit better

Vlad · 02-18-2019, 07:57 PM

I just found out that the Apple will get to be about 12 ft and the Blue Java about 15 ft. Makes no sense for me to keep them since my ceiling is 8 ft.

bananimal · 02-18-2019, 08:11 PM

When the leaves grow to full length you can crack them and let the upper part hang down. Looks aside, it won't affect plant growth --- and make sure to get the temp up. Use larger pots and find a high potassium fertilizer. I started out like this when I lived in New Jersey, and then again in Charlotte, NC. Got one bunch of fruit a year per pot. Here in S Fla it's a lot easier.

02-17-2019, 05:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vlad Location: Medway, Massachusetts Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Vlad Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 17 BananaBucks : 10,424 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Should I trash my bananas? I have two plants: an Apple (Musa manzano) and an Ice Cream Blue Java each with 3 ft pseudostems. I got them as pups two years ago. They are in 5 gal containers and I put them outside for the summer and bring them into the house for the winter where they get direct sunlight, 60 - 70 F and overhead light (4 4 ft T5'). I am wondering if they are worth keeping. It's been two years - will they ever produce fruit? Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?

02-17-2019, 05:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 994,995 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? Expect 3-5 years in your growing conditions. Banana cultivation in non-tropical climates __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

02-17-2019, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
sandylbuck Location: Harlingen, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Sandy Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 74 BananaBucks : 26,222 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 142 Times Was Thanked 129 Times in 46 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? Don't give up on them! I live in eastern PA and have had two plants flower and actually had ripe bananas this past summer. It is SOOOOOO worth the wait, I promise. Just be patient. Mine grow in pots too and I put the pots in the blacktop driveway in the summer. Plant your plants in bigger pots and feed them often and you will eventually get bananas!

02-17-2019, 08:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vlad Location: Medway, Massachusetts Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Vlad Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 17 BananaBucks : 10,424 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? They are not in my greenhouse because the greenhouse is kept at 55 F except when the sun hits it and it goes to 94F. How tall will they get? My house has 8 ft ceilings.

02-18-2019, 07:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Iowa Location: Burlington,Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Mike Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 707 BananaBucks : 58,449 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 574 Times Was Thanked 1,022 Times in 384 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 605 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? Is it true that after bananas produce fruit. the plant dies?[/quote] From wiki - All bananas are monocarpic, meaning that they flower and fruit once and then die. The good news is that they perpetuate themselves by putting out pups or suckers. Once you have harvested your fruit, cut the entire pseudostem that fruited down to the ground. The pups that have come up around the main plant during the growing season will carry on the next generation for you. __________________ Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby

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02-18-2019, 07:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Vlad Location: Medway, Massachusetts Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Vlad Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 17 BananaBucks : 10,424 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? I just found out that the Apple will get to be about 12 ft and the Blue Java about 15 ft. Makes no sense for me to keep them since my ceiling is 8 ft.

02-18-2019, 08:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 730,842 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Should I trash my bananas? When the leaves grow to full length you can crack them and let the upper part hang down. Looks aside, it won't affect plant growth --- and make sure to get the temp up. Use larger pots and find a high potassium fertilizer. I started out like this when I lived in New Jersey, and then again in Charlotte, NC. Got one bunch of fruit a year per pot. Here in S Fla it's a lot easier. Last edited by bananimal : 02-18-2019 at 08:13 PM. Reason: more info

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