SSP

Some information I came across:

The optimum temperature for growth is 87 to 89 degrees F (31 or 32°C).
Temperature also influences the arrangement of the leaves.
On plants growing under cool conditions the leaves are more upright, but under warmer conditions they are more horizontal.
While the rate of plant development (for any given variety) is slower in the subtropics than in the tropics, bunch size can be larger and yields are comparable.

FRUIT GROWTH
A bunch emerging in April takes six months or more to mature, while one emerging in November takes only three months. So temperature has a big influence on the rate of fruit growth, hence the use of bunch covers, which are thought to warm the fruit, thereby increasing growth rate.

[This seems counterintuitive? How would November temps be warmer than April?]

In hot weather and in bright sunshine the two halves of the lamina (leaf blade) fold downwards (figure 2). This can reduce the temperature of the leaf by 7 or 8° C in the middle of the day. It also reduces, by more than half, the amount of water used by the leaf for cooling. Under still conditions, leaves torn by the wind are cooler than those that remain entire.
November bunch. During November, or in some years early December, a bunch emerges on which the fruit is uneven and often deformed. The fruit is tapered, being thin at the stalk end, and the flower end may have a conical, green protuberance. Fruit on the same hand is variable in length. Being short and thick when mature they are often called November dumps.
The quality of the fruit is good and has a reputation for being the best tasting of all bananas. However, sometimes very few fruit develop to marketable size.
November bunch has been observed in all subtropical countries where bananas are grown.

venturabananas

That information is from Australia, hence the reversed seasons.

I think saying that guy got fruit in his cellar is probably not accurate. He got a bloom. I don't think they matured, if this is the video I saw a follow up on.

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SSP

Ah you are right, its Australia. So would be reversed here.
I didn't see a follow-up, but didn't go through every one of his videos.
The thing is, we are fairly able to replicate the conditions that bananas grow and fruit in where they are grown. So what is not being done right?

If you want to see bananas growing in cool climates in the north, here is an extreme...
Here are bananas grown in... Iceland!

One Hundred Banana Trees in Iceland | Iceland Review

37.667910

Grown in Iceland - correct. However they are growing in a green house.

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SSP

Well yes, but look at the temperatures in the greenhouse. About the same as it is indoors in an average home. 77 degrees F or so.
The only difference is humidity, (which is self made), which could be replicated by simply tenting the plants with clear plastic. (So is humidity the magic factor?) If they can grow bananas like that as far north as Iceland, in temps that are equivalent to room temperature, then why can't anyone in Midwest or northern USA?

cincinnana

Actually we can, however one has to have the means to do it
and generally the casual backyard gardner does not want to put forth the resources for something they can get a the corner grocery.

I think that was covered that in my first few posts with the possible costs associated with fruiting the plant and the quality of fruit in the subsequent posts that other forum members added.

Your grow season is ticking away. Less than 170 days ......go to the big box store and pick up a cavendish and get started, the plants are less than ten bucks and get that first season under your belt to understand the plants needs. At ten bucks you have nothing to lose.
.Plants for sale at Lowes by Hostafarian, on Flickr.
.Check this out.
Currently some of the the BEST info to grow your plant indoors in the winter will be found in the Cannibis forums.
Requirements and conditions are similiar.
And to do it right the costs are similiar.
And R.O.I is significantly higher.

This is one big reason in the north that these plants are not in everyones living room and are sold as an annual.
R.O.I> Return on investment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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