Need One more Banana Plant

RandyGHO · 04-29-2012, 01:49 PM

You thoughts on a new banana plant for here in zone 8b.

I have room for one more banana plant to go with my newly planted Ice Cream and Manzano. It is my intent to winterize these plants in-ground.

After digging around here my list is narrowed down to three for taste and cool hardiness. Desert banana is more to my liking. Goldfinger is number one unless some suggest this is not a good way to go. The two places in the Southeast I have found to buy these are Stokes and Going Bananas.

Goldfinger
Mysore
Williams(added)
Dwarf Namwah(added)

Any opinions would be welcome.

Randy

caliboy1994 · 04-29-2012, 02:58 PM

Maybe Dwarf Namwah or Orinoco?

TommyMacLuckie · 04-29-2012, 03:10 PM

Grand Nain will give you fits - too cold. Another one to consider is 1870. Saba is good. Williams Hybrid will work too.

RandyGHO · 04-29-2012, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the replies. I have been doing more digging looking for those that y'all suggested.

Tommy I could not find information the 1870 you posted. The Williams is making it to the list for further study. Tommy are you growing the Williams hybrid now?

The Dwarf Namwah looks good as well.

Looks like I need to find more space.

Randy

caliboy1994 · 04-29-2012, 04:17 PM

I think he means 1780.

Musa '1780' - Bananas Wiki

pitangadiego · 04-29-2012, 05:40 PM

Goldfinger looks like the more cold tolerant on your list. Anything in the Cavendish family will not take the cold. Mysore isn't real happy, even in the 40s.

venturabananas · 04-29-2012, 05:42 PM

Dwarf Namwah is the most cold hardy of those you mentioned, by a long shot. It makes nice fruit, too. And it is short and handles high winds well. Mysore is by far the most tasty of those you mentioned, to me. No point growing Williams when you can buy those at the grocery store. Goldfinger is nice, but doesn't handle the cold the way Dwarf Namwah does.

RandyGHO · 04-29-2012, 09:50 PM

Dwarf Namwah offers something I have not thought of and that is a lady finger like banana so that would give me a nice variety. The Goldfinger is still interesting.

More good opinions and advice which is exactly what I was look for in replies.

I really appreciate the posts.

Randy

venturabananas · 04-30-2012, 09:42 AM

Mysore fruits are also "ladyfinger" in size. Three of the 4 you have listed are definite winners. IMHO, Williams is not.

RandyGHO · 04-30-2012, 01:20 PM

In my digging on Mysore a guy not far me on the coast has good luck with Mysores and also said it was the best taster.

Tough call now.

Thanks everyone.

Randy

venturabananas · 04-30-2012, 01:42 PM

To my taste, Mysore is the best banana I've had, no question. It just doesn't handle the cold quite as well as the more bulletproof Namwah.

sunfish · 04-30-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas

To my taste, Mysore is the best banana I've had, no question. It just doesn't handle the cold quite as well as the more bulletproof Namwah.

Nothing like waiting 3 to 4 years for one to bloom and then loose the fruit to cold weather

RandyGHO · 04-30-2012, 05:45 PM

Katie at Going Bananas suggested the Goldfinger if I could protect enough during the winter. Her thoughts were that Goldfinger is easy to grow disregarding the cold tolorance. I tried to balance all the good advice. I'm going with the Goldfinger but figuring on the Dwarf Namwah to replace the icecream or the apple or the goldfinger if they fail for some reason.

I really appreciate y'all sharing your expertise. I look forward to my day when I can post of my experiences.

Randy

sunfish · 04-30-2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyGHO

Katie at Going Bananas suggested the Goldfinger if I could protect enough during the winter. Her thoughts were that Goldfinger is easy to grow disregarding the cold tolorance. I tried to balance all the good advice. I'm going with the Goldfinger but figuring on the Dwarf Namwah to replace the icecream or the apple or the goldfinger if they fail for some reason.

I really appreciate y'all sharing your expertise. I look forward to my day when I can post of my experiences.

Randy

Goldfinger has been a strong grower for me. I like the fruit.

venturabananas · 04-30-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Goldfinger has been a strong grower for me. I like the fruit.

Me, too. Especially when Tony gives me the fruit off his! He must have had good parenting -- he's a good sharer!

RandyGHO · 04-30-2012, 07:06 PM

That is good to know on the taste and being a good producer.

I am gambling on my ability to protect the stem from cold and wet during the winter. I have a good recorded on my citrus but I only have to protect it when it drops below 27F albeit, they are much larger.

Dreaminofthetropics · 05-21-2012, 10:42 AM

Did you decide which one you're doing? I push my luck here in North FL and didn't lose anything and have quite a few varieties and I'm hoping for some fruit this summer!

RandyGHO · 05-21-2012, 12:45 PM

I went with Goldfinger but If I were starting my banana grove over it would have went with all dwarfs so in ground winter protection would be easier and the length of the growing year would fit better shorter fruiting height banana varieties.

As many have suggested I should have included a Dwarf Namwah. If I have a winter failure the Namwah will get the first available spot.

I have learned a lot in the last month. I don't think I made bad choices with the Ice Cream, Apple( if it is that) and Goldfinger. It is just maximizing the chance for a plant that fruits and that taste really good.

Randy

Dreaminofthetropics · 05-21-2012, 01:14 PM

I see you're in 8b, but where exactly are you? I started really babying mine over the winter we even got down to 18 three consecutive nights I finally just quit and the only ones that died to the ground were Monkey Fingers and Pisang Raja and African Rhinohorn the rest all kept their Pseudostems so I'm hoping for fruit!

Abnshrek · 05-21-2012, 02:49 PM

Everyone wants another Nanner.. but need that's a lil far fetched now.. :^)

04-29-2012, 01:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Need One more Banana Plant You thoughts on a new banana plant for here in zone 8b. I have room for one more banana plant to go with my newly planted Ice Cream and Manzano. It is my intent to winterize these plants in-ground. After digging around here my list is narrowed down to three for taste and cool hardiness. Desert banana is more to my liking. Goldfinger is number one unless some suggest this is not a good way to go. The two places in the Southeast I have found to buy these are Stokes and Going Bananas. Goldfinger Mysore Williams(added) Dwarf Namwah(added) Any opinions would be welcome. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always. Last edited by RandyGHO : 04-29-2012 at 04:17 PM. Reason: Change in the list

04-29-2012, 02:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 322,843 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,197 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Maybe Dwarf Namwah or Orinoco? __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

04-29-2012, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
TommyMacLuckie Howboutcha! TommyMacLuckie's Photo Gallery Location: Mandeville, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 8B Name: Tommy Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 427 BananaBucks : 253,561 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 375 Times in 202 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Grand Nain will give you fits - too cold. Another one to consider is 1870. Saba is good. Williams Hybrid will work too.

04-29-2012, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Thanks for the replies. I have been doing more digging looking for those that y'all suggested. Tommy I could not find information the 1870 you posted. The Williams is making it to the list for further study. Tommy are you growing the Williams hybrid now? The Dwarf Namwah looks good as well. Looks like I need to find more space. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

04-29-2012, 04:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 322,843 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,197 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant I think he means 1780. Musa '1780' - Bananas Wiki __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

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04-29-2012, 05:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 197,704 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,732 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Goldfinger looks like the more cold tolerant on your list. Anything in the Cavendish family will not take the cold. Mysore isn't real happy, even in the 40s. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

04-29-2012, 05:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 286,635 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Dwarf Namwah is the most cold hardy of those you mentioned, by a long shot. It makes nice fruit, too. And it is short and handles high winds well. Mysore is by far the most tasty of those you mentioned, to me. No point growing Williams when you can buy those at the grocery store. Goldfinger is nice, but doesn't handle the cold the way Dwarf Namwah does. __________________

04-29-2012, 09:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Dwarf Namwah offers something I have not thought of and that is a lady finger like banana so that would give me a nice variety. The Goldfinger is still interesting. More good opinions and advice which is exactly what I was look for in replies. I really appreciate the posts. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

04-30-2012, 09:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 286,635 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Mysore fruits are also "ladyfinger" in size. Three of the 4 you have listed are definite winners. IMHO, Williams is not. __________________

04-30-2012, 01:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant In my digging on Mysore a guy not far me on the coast has good luck with Mysores and also said it was the best taster. Tough call now. Thanks everyone. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

04-30-2012, 01:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 286,635 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant To my taste, Mysore is the best banana I've had, no question. It just doesn't handle the cold quite as well as the more bulletproof Namwah. __________________

04-30-2012, 05:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Katie at Going Bananas suggested the Goldfinger if I could protect enough during the winter. Her thoughts were that Goldfinger is easy to grow disregarding the cold tolorance. I tried to balance all the good advice. I'm going with the Goldfinger but figuring on the Dwarf Namwah to replace the icecream or the apple or the goldfinger if they fail for some reason. I really appreciate y'all sharing your expertise. I look forward to my day when I can post of my experiences. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

04-30-2012, 07:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant That is good to know on the taste and being a good producer. I am gambling on my ability to protect the stem from cold and wet during the winter. I have a good recorded on my citrus but I only have to protect it when it drops below 27F albeit, they are much larger. __________________ Thinking outside the peel always.

05-21-2012, 10:42 AM	#17 (permalink)
Dreaminofthetropics Dreaminofthetropics's Photo Gallery Location: Bronson, FL Zone: 8-9 Name: Kat Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 424 BananaBucks : 132,811 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 549 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Did you decide which one you're doing? I push my luck here in North FL and didn't lose anything and have quite a few varieties and I'm hoping for some fruit this summer!

05-21-2012, 12:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
RandyGHO Find me on the map! Zone: Georgia 8b Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 404 BananaBucks : 175,322 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 380 Times in 198 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 51 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant I went with Goldfinger but If I were starting my banana grove over it would have went with all dwarfs so in ground winter protection would be easier and the length of the growing year would fit better shorter fruiting height banana varieties. As many have suggested I should have included a Dwarf Namwah. If I have a winter failure the Namwah will get the first available spot. I have learned a lot in the last month. I don't think I made bad choices with the Ice Cream, Apple( if it is that) and Goldfinger. It is just maximizing the chance for a plant that fruits and that taste really good. Randy __________________ Thinking outside the peel always. Last edited by RandyGHO : 05-21-2012 at 12:52 PM.

05-21-2012, 01:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
Dreaminofthetropics Dreaminofthetropics's Photo Gallery Location: Bronson, FL Zone: 8-9 Name: Kat Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 424 BananaBucks : 132,811 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 549 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant I see you're in 8b, but where exactly are you? I started really babying mine over the winter we even got down to 18 three consecutive nights I finally just quit and the only ones that died to the ground were Monkey Fingers and Pisang Raja and African Rhinohorn the rest all kept their Pseudostems so I'm hoping for fruit!

05-21-2012, 02:49 PM	#20 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 349,039 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Need One more Banana Plant Everyone wants another Nanner.. but need that's a lil far fetched now.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

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