Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

I'm in CT zone 6, and would like to find a good, really dwarf edible banana plant. I was considering musa pink velutina, however, while edible, they're packed with large seeds that can break a tooth if you're not careful. Can a dwarf variety be intentionally underpotted and still be somewhat happy and bear fruit? I've heard that even dwarf plants can be overwhelming, and in colder zones like mine are an exercise in futility without a greenhouse?

Any insights or suggestions? I don't have bananas, but I do have some great species begonias, hippeastrums and aroids available to swap. Feel free to contact me!

Thanks,
Rick/New London, CT

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Welcome aboard,
pull up a chair and have some fun learning.:waving:

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

super dwarf Cavendish stays really small

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Fruiting bananas will need greenhouse conditions during your Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Thanks guys!
So, how small is 'small'? If I use a heat mat and 2 or 3 of the screw-in LED's w/reflectors, would that get a banana through the winter in my kitchen?

--Rr

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Some characteristics of Super-dwarf Cavendish grown to produce fruit:
15 gallon pot
4+ ft high at maturity
30+ inch leaves
Very small fruit size
For indoor lighting, I'd recommend an 8-bulb x 4 ft. SunBlaze VHO fixture.

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Pr that's a sweet looking banana, were do you get all these cool varieties from?

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Wow...that's a fabulously expensive fixture for a single plant. I guess I'm in touch with my inner Cheap Old Yankee...lol. Are LED bulbs too impractical for this?
--Rr

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

It takes energy to grow fruit, and that energy needs to be in a particular spectrum. An LED system with the equivalent spectrum and wattage output has a higher price tag than the SunBlaze VHO 8 bulb x 4 ft. system. Further, the spectrum is not available from HPS and metal halide bulbs.

Edible bananas will take approximately 18 months from pup-size to mature and produce fruit in subtropical zone 10. You have that for weather for 5-6 months. You do have the option of bringing your plant inside and letting it be dormant or under low light conditions -- however, these periods will not contribute to the overall time leading to plant maturity.

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

I'm going to try Musa Veinte Cohol Banana this year - i'm in CT too and have overwintered bananas in pots and/or dug up and stored and had them produce bananas the next year.

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

Welcome to our Aroid Jungle............:08:

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

thanks PR, Ill have to see if I can get TC's sent here

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

I'll have to put my feelers out for some of these awesome varieties. Thanks again.

Re: Newbie, seeks info/plants of dwarf/edible varieties
 

THANK YOU, I WILL PULL UP A CHAIR SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO OUR LEARNED MEMBER.
WITH REGARD FROM WONG