Kerniedoe

Hello, i am new to growing bananas but am very excited. i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a beginner plant that can be grown in a pot i live in northern virginia and get a good amount of sun, Thank you!

edwmax

Bananas are difficult to grow in containers, but with care and knowledge it can be done. As a beginner I suggest growing the Dwarf Cavendish or DC. These are common in the big box stores & Walmart. Be prepared to murder you first few plants. Haha ... we may need a Wanted Poster on you. So please post more details about your bananas and where-a-bouts. and ask questions on the forum.

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cincinnana

There are a few good threads on growing plants in pots which are helpful.
Youtube has some great how to videos which also offer best ways to grow your new tropical plant.

Big box stores are selling plants now for that summer garden.

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pjkfarm

Walmart currently has them in Norther Virginia - a real dwarf - they claim it is 3-4 feet, just a M. acuminata, nothing more. $15.00. Very healthy plants circa 16-20" tall.
Anyone here have any idea which it is? Has a very fat pstem - like 2" diameter for a pstem which is only maybe 12" tall.

Tropicalmania

I re-poted my Ice cream banana into a nice quality potting mix, added some citrus fertilized 5-3-6 and used a B1 starter for transplant shock

pjkfarm

Could the wal mart dwarf acuminata be a super dwarf cavendish? Tt sure looks like it- and if so, anyone have experience with it? Supposedly decent fruit (but smaller). IS THIS TRUE?
I got a couple to experiment with - will pot up in small (15 or so) pots. Currently in 1 gal! with HUGE plant for that pot (2" diam pstem!!

ferricyanide

I got my first banana last year and grow in a container. I have a dwarf namwah. I had a couple learning mistake last year, but it put up with beginner abuse and is still alive and well today.

A couple things, I was stubborn last year and put it in a huge pot so that I wouldn't have to repot it, Now I mildly regret it. I didnt drill enough holes at first and had to add more for better drainage. I also just put it on one of those little mover dollys to get it in and out of the garage for winter. Like the one at this website https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...3700/100057209
It survived just fine in the garage in its pot for like 4 months plus with almost no attention. It has 4 or 5 new leaves, this year so far.

So now I just need to try adding a couple more banana varieties to my patio. I've been a little disappointed that my dwarf namwah hasn't pupped yet.

beam2050

I do not know much about dwarf namwa but if they are like their cousin they wont pup until reaching a certain heighth or unless very stressed. my namwas do not pup until about 6 ft.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

Christine1950

A little late seeing your post,but here's my 2 cents, I've grown my nana in pots for years and the only thing that you must be extremely careful of is the watering, there are days when I have to water twice because of the heat, also dark pots aren't good since they really heat up the roots. Good Luck, I find growing them so rewarding.

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LAPlantDiva

Take the pups, plant in container, bring inside, place in front of sunny window, and have no problem growing them in California. Good Luck!!

Wcsixty7

Welcome to the most informative fourn on naners growing. In my opinion ! I live in the south eastern part of Va. Have had some good luck and bad on my growing. Started with 3 plants 4" pots last year surive most of winter indoors. Then I think I over watered them root got soggy. Well 1 surived planted out side in spring and it took off. Just dug it up and is 6+ ' tall put on pourch .have to small grand nains And they at 2' inside now hoping to survive until this spring. Try not to over water your plants and give the a good talking to each day mine like it,!! Have fun and good growing