musa_monkey

Here in the UK with our weather to see a plant grow at such speed and a one metre long leaf appear every week is an absolutely stunning site. My only problem is the garden is getting to small for them

the flying dutchman

I don't really know.

I had a time I had roses-mania. I traveled trough the country collecting
roses.
Then I switched to cactii. I gave them all away except one.
Then I went into vegetables and herbs for many years, i wanted to grow
every veg. or herb that exists and I think I nearly did. I also had 3 apple-trees and strawberry's.
I think bananas is just a logical next step, it has all combined in one
plant. I have not much plants, 10 or so cause I don't have the space.

I think part of the drive is to grow something most people don't grow
and seeing the enthousiasm of all the members on the board and the
way they help each other, that makes it also special. Maybe without
the board I was now switched to growing all kinds of Hedera or something
similar, who knows

But I think I stay with bananas for a while.....



Ron

hydroid

My addiction started back in the mid 70's with listening to too much Jimmy Buffett and a trip to Cozumel/Yucatan. I wanted to just stay there in the tropics. I really like the tropical and leafy type plants and after living 3 yrs. in the Caribbean upon my returning decided to grow some elephant ears, palms and my favorite, the Bananas. This is my first year of being fairly serious at it so I have some hand-me-downs (I think Orinocos), a Musa Basjoo, and 2 Sabas.
I have really enjoyed this past summer in South Alabama watching this stuff grow, and thanks to this forum for great info and help. Cheers
hydroid

bencelest

Phillip:
I got caught a couple of times. I had that dumb look but continue buying anyways. I was just like a cat got caught with the yellow canary.The first time my father-in-law tattle-tale on me. That's the last time I gave him pocket money.

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Banana Nut

mskitty38583

i think ...well for me it is also a stress relief from the trials of the day. frustrations of family, work, school, and just every day life. it, is a place where i can go and where noone else in the family wants to be.(they hate plants, i get to be alone) and there in my own little world, i ponder the questions of the universe. and as for the spouse issue. its your christmas presents, your birthday present, new years present, st. paddys day present, its always a special day when you can get one more nana tree.they need to have a nana holiday so people like us can actually celebrate.

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WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

microfarmer

My DW wanted to get 1 and I chose 5 dessert bananas. Since then, I have been bitten by the bug and now collect them for their differences from each other...and not just dessert types...

Since planting them in front of my house, I notice other people slowing down and gazing at them as they pass. They give me a calm feeling that I never noticed when around any other plants. I also like to grow things that are different than everyone else's landscape plantings and the bananas fill the bill. I have always taken things to excess, and bananas are no different.

Jeff

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My new hero...

bananimal

My wife's family have been down here since 1969, and my family has been here since 1947.

I always dreamed of living in the tropics, and now, finally having the opportunity ----- I want it all; just like my uncle Frank had on his 10 acre ranch in SW Miami before it became a university campus. He grew pigs, 50 or so black angus, chickens, guinea hens, ducks, bananas, plantains, mangos, tamarind, genip, peaches, avocado, oranges, grapefruit, apricots, lemons, limes, etc, etc. He had Appaloosa and Paso Fino horses too.

When I was 14 we didn't do evening stables, like in the UK. We did evening rats, with 22 cal rifles loaded with bird shot rounds. Unfortunately, I'm now on little more than a quarter acre in Port St Lucie -- me and my bobcats -- and my bananas --- no pigs or cows. I'm home.

Dan

austinl01

I grow bananas because not many people around here grow them. I like having unusual plants that others are amazed at when they see them and can't believe that they are growing in zone 7b. "Plants that don't grow here" are my favorites.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

mrbungalow

- instant Tropical effect
- beauty of foliage
- Speed of growth
- Easy to care for
- Easy to remove if unwanted
- Fun challenge to overwinter, gives me feeling of success in spring
- Fun challenge to propogate
- Association with food (bananas)
- Nobody else grows them in Norway

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Taylor

I think Erlend hit the nail on the head with that list.

island cassie

Near enough the perfect plant - and so much FUN!

STEELVIPER

Great looking Herb. That tropical look. Great tasting fruit. I like the idea of growing something that "you can't grow around here". HA!! look at me now!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

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magicgreen

The bananas for me give me the WOW effect. God I think they are Beautiful! I want to be the one on the block that has the most interesting, beautiful, healthy, wonderful YARD!!!!beautiful plants. I really dont care what people think , but shoot I like praise, it feels good; After all i put in a heck of a lotta work. didnt I.Goat & horse manure, compost pile, grow lights or some facsimily there of. LOL But Lord knows they are curious about me, my yard, plants, holiday decorations!WOW effect!!! Know what I mean? Those long wide beautiful leaves of the bananas just keeps me thinking WOW! When People pass by my yard on their daily travels and tribulations I hope they think like I did as a child.......,,"I want to have a garden or backyard, stoop, meadow, pond, house, porch whatever when I grow up, like that ladys , when i was a kid!! I live in the inner city of Cincinnati Ohio. Its great for the people to see what can be achieved with something they knew nothing about! Like me, and these BANANAS!!! These beautiful and graceful additions to my life have added SOMETHING!!! Know what I mean banana people.?!>!
You know what I just THOUGHT..... People ...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets have a BANANA CONVENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE CAN HAVE IT IN late September 2008, alot of us would kinda be safe then. What do ya'll think!!!!! I sure would love to meet alot of you people and get info, whatever, whatever. And I think it would be SHARP!!!!!!!!It would be like WOODSTOCK or something!!!!! is anybody GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

karunasagar108

I would like to thank everyone for sharing how they have gotten hooked by the banana plant. They are truly amazing and it is awesome being able to share our different experiences with a common friend- the banana.

Now MagicGreen, I love the idea of having a banana convention. We should totally get together and have a banana nerd fest. I think that would be the most fun ever. Let us put all of our heads together and see if this would be a possibility. Maybe even one of us could host the event in a warm location?

In compassion,
Karuna

51st state

Erlend pretty much got all my reasons. I would add the point that both friends and colleagues think I am completely mad when I tell them. 'you're joking right? growing bananas in the UK?'
I took the madness to new heights last week by taking the family on vacation to florida and dragging my wife and baby round 'going bananas' nursery.

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a>

magicgreen

51st state you made me smile. Cuz i plan on dragging my daughter, her 3 kids, and my husband to Florida too! And they think they will be hanging in the Disney park for 7 days. HAHAHAHA! MG

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

High_Brix

Someone told me I couldn't grow bananas in Idaho!! Boy, were they wrong!!

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marco

What got me intrigued at 1st about bananas was the uniqueness of the plant to Ohioans.
My father had received some plants from his step-son (from another marriage), and I was brought in to the banana tree craze when he gave me a couple pups, probably back in 1996 or so.

I've always prided myself at being very good at growing things both interior and exterior, but these things posed a unique challenge because of the dry household interior winter climate.

The tropical effect out in the yard (and yes, SHOWING OFF a liitle to the neighbors) was the 1st love, but the second was the challenge of overcoming that humidity obstacle successfully.

I've never had actual bananas yet...even though I've had them get up to 12-14 feet a couple times. When they get that big I have to either scrap it, or call tha local arboretum to see if they, or any volunteers there have the 'head room' for it.
I have given some pretty big ones to my kid's school and taught the science teacher how to regulate their moisture needs with the 'banana oil' (horticulture oil) anti-desiccant I put together for dry midwest buildings.

I guess that's what keeps me going now....growing them and giving them away and spreading the joy!
Getting some fruit sometime would be cool too, but if I never get any in Ohio I'll not complain.

magicgreen

Marco, I agreed with you. Theres a fella over in roselawn area that gets his to fruit! Iam cincy also. The next time iam around there i'll get the street name, and next summer you can have a look. I dont know what kind they are though,probably basjoos. I stopped and spoke to him for a min. I was so new to bananas, he probably told me and i forgot. His whole yard is spectacular! He seemed kinda testy so i didnt go back! I think he works 3rd shift. But he did let us see his garden. It was beautiful.

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

marco

Don't blame the bananas for that!
Unfortunately he's probably a lonely fellow.

There's quite a few banana people I've seen in 'Cincy proper', but I haven't run in to too many up where I am, in northern Warren Co.

One yard that comes to mind down there is a woman's yard on River Rd just west of Elberon Ave exit. She decks her whole yard out with banana trees every summer, overlooking the north turn on the Ohio River there.