Bananas.org - Trying again in Charlotte- any tips/advice would be MUCH appreciated!!! TY!

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Trying again in Charlotte- any tips/advice would be MUCH appreciated!!! TY!

Hello again! I am hoping some of you out there can help me as I am determined to successfully get bananas to fruit someday. I have been attempting this every season for like 4 seasons and I still have yet gotten any of mine to survive winterizing. I have watched a ton of youtube vids and read lots about different methods, but I want to try to do everything right from start to finish with your help hopefully. First I am in Charlotte, NC so, of course I know it is difficult to make this work here and this winter was unacceptably cold and I am 99.9% positive my banana didn't make it as I tried to let it remain in the ground and covered it. First i'll list my questions:

does anyone recommend any nurseries to order from online?
I have read that dwarf ORINOCO is a good option for my area, is this right? I also read venti cohol (sp) which was my last attempt
Is starting the pup inside early in a pot until weather is appropriate for transplant ok? I had success with this last year. til winter :(
I have tried to keep one in a pot (giant pot) and just wheel it inside for winter, but no matter what size pot, the roots seem to outgrow the pot. is this preventable?

:waving:

Re: Trying again in Charlotte- any tips/advice would be MUCH appreciated!!! TY!

sddarkman619 is a good go to, to buy plants.

while i am way south of you winters for me breaks my back. of the hundreds of varieties that i have bought there are some varieties that take my winters well.

raja purie is the best.
then orinoco
next, praying hands.
sh3740
pisang awak/variegated namwa

the snow banana/ensete glaucom which is not a banana really does winters well. its a very interesting plant.

i also should say that i have gotten raja puriem, orinoco, praying hands to fuit respectively. i also have had dwarf brazilian and pitu to fruit but yet to eat one. and i have a kandarin that wintered well that has a 7 ft. p-stem.

Re: Trying again in Charlotte- any tips/advice would be MUCH appreciated!!! TY!

dwarf namwa has been a good one for me
and that is bringing it inside each winter (long winter 7 months+or-) under lights
i think it is in a 35 gallon fabric pot