Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

Yeah this winter has been brutal! No in likes waiting for that ground to soften an air to heat up ill probably say this every winter but "I wanna move" lol.

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

Woo-Hoo! This is the Thread to be in. Greetings from Nebraska!

I'm looking forward to this spring to see if anything I left outside and buried will actually come up (I'm not holding my breath after this winter). I'm also looking forward to hauling the 8 foot monstrocities out of my basement and putting them in the ground. I hope I can get 10 or 12 feet out of them this year!

So far I have a bunch of Musa Basjoo, but I also have a smaller pot of pup-happy Zebrinas, and I have some sikkimensis that I hope will germinate soon. . .

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

I'm not from Michigan, but I too am trying to get fruit by overwintering.

I've have only Cavendish. I started with one back in 2010 (?) and got one to fruit last year at about 10 feet high (see pics on my prof.). Influorescence came in July, unfortunately this has been one of the earliest, longest and coldest winters I've seen in many years.

I remember Decembers in the 70's. Anyway, overwintered the fruiting tree and, of course it got down to single digits, so no fruit.

However, I do have several backups for this year.

With that being said, the key seems to be to get it to bloom as early in the spring as possible. If there is a non-scientific way to do this I have not figured it out yet. Maybe it you got a pup late in the fall...?

If any of you have had success doing it give me a shout. I saw where one guy got fruit on a Musa 'Orinoco' fairly quickly (Not sure if it was a dwarf or not.).
I think they are fast growers (I mean REALLY fast). I couldn't believe there was one faster than a Cavendish.

Musa 'Orinoco' (Orinoco Banana Tree) This amazing banana is one of the most cold hardy of the edible fruiting banana trees, commonly grown for fruit in the US Gulf Coast region. Musa ‘Orinoco’ amazes visitors with its nice fruit clusters in our Zone 7 garden. For us, a height of 10' is common, although Musa ‘Orinoco’ can reach 21' in more hospitable climates. Musa ‘Orinoco’ requires the pseudostem to remain growing for at least 9 months to produce fruit, so we recommend caging the plants in winter to preserve next year's fruiting stalks. (Hardiness Zone 8-10, colder with protection) - See more at: banana tree, banana plant, banana plants, musa banana, buy banana trees, banana plants for sale

Hope I added a little to the discussion.

Brian

Thanks for starting this thread. It's a great help for us poor plebs who don't live in the tropics.

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

I'm not from Michigan either.. but I think I'm scrapping the Cavendish for indoors in the Winter I have 2 in the ground so its all good.. I think Raja Puri is a much better specimen.. and lower maint for a pot.. I wish there was a short mysore.. They are awesome..

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

Anyone here in Michigan think some corms in the ground will freeze to death from this winter? I've coned all of mine I left in the ground and this is my first winter with anything in the ground and wondering what I'll find once everything melts.

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

Quote from web:

"The ‘Raja Puri’ grows to 10-12 ft. tall and is cold hardy and is wind resistant. The ‘Raja Puri’ has a stout trunk, has very sweet fruit and is an excellent choice for landscaping!
Grows in zones: 7 - 10."

Thanks Shrek. Looks like another possiblility. I was interested in the Orinoco because it supposedly blooms in only 9 months. For me that would give a better chance to get fruit started earlier in the spring.

Have you had success fruiting Rajas?


I can't speak for Michigan folks, but if the corm doesn't freeze it should make it okay. Sounds like you protected them. Banana's are pretty hard to kill. I should know. If it can be killed I usually can do it.

Brian

Re: Other Michigan Banana people?
 

Most likely you will find mush.
I have had readings to -25F, I don't expect anything coming up but my insurance plants. My only hope is that deep snow pack held the cold out. Guess we will find out in April when the snow finally melts.