Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

So far all of my nanas and palms have been in my fenced-in backyard. I'm eager to plant bananas and a specimen T. fortunei or wagnerius palm in my front beds this coming spring (see- thinking ahead to drive away the approaching winter blues :ha: ). I do live in an area with a hungry and large population of white tails. I can't find any info. Anybody here can help? Thanks.
Howard

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

Hi SaltyDad,

I live in central Florida in a housing area that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of wetland forest. We have so much white tail deer that they just camp out in the yards! :-). I have NamWa, Praying Hands and Jamaican Red in my beds, without a fence. The deer have not touched them.

I hope that helps. I'm glad I can finally post some information for a change. Usually all do is come to this board to glean info. :-)

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

:02:That's good news banantech. Gives me hope for next year. Now I need to hear about palms.

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

Like Bananatech our deer who sleep in our back yard have never touched my nanas...................They know better!!!!!!!!:2719:

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

deer jerkey....yummy!

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Almost that time of year!!

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

Just don't plant basjoo. The deer here have kept mine pruned to two feet tall all summer. I will relocate them closer to the house next year or surround them with cactus (I have plenty of them!) and see what happens. Red

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

I've had deer eat the melon plant that was hidden in between my bananas, but not touch the bananas(basjoo also).
I gave my neighbor(6 miles away) a nice sized basjoo, and the deer ate his down to the corm, as well as the newly emerging leafs on his 6 Washingtonia robustas. I guess it depends on the deer, or the amount of food in the area.

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

I agree completely with Kyle. Having lived in a rural area before, it all depends on the amount of food available and the individual tastes of the deer. I don't think there is anything about the basjoo they wouldn't like...they just probably haven't sampled it yet! When I lived near St. Louis, I had an awesome vegetable garden one year and the deer never bothered a thing. The next year they discovered it and they would sample almost everything. We never did get any beans from that point on and they really seemed to like the tomato plants.

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

Salty, Up here in Jersey we tend to use abow and arrow(silent and neighbors usually don't mind). I have had a trachycarpus in a pot outside for a couple of years now and they haven't touched it but,if they're starving they'll definately eat ANYTHING. I've heard bloodmeal (good nitrogen )might help but you never know.

Stumpy, you must be jealous , it's early bow here already and I've got 2 in the freezer.

Re: Deer-Resistant Bananas and Palms?
 

Auuuuuuugggggggghhhhh. Its just to darn hot for me to hunt. Its still in the mid 80's and I cant stand the bugs in the woods until we have a good frost...But I'll make up for lost time then.