Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

HEY OVER HERE!!!:woohoonaner:

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

If you truly in zone 9a then every winter you have sustained temperatures between -4C and -7C. If this is the case then Dwarf Cavendish will not survive the winter.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I am in 9a and have had DC for many years but they never do much in the ground. They struggled even on the best years. Don't waste your time, I just dug them up and making room for other stuff.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

no most temperatures are above 2 Celsius sometimes it goes -3 -4 but its like 5 days a year.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

So it drops below 2C about 5 days per year. On one of those days, how many hours does it stay below 2C ?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

They will most likely survive but everything above ground will die every winter.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I'm 8b/9a. Mine made it. Wasn't pretty and lost all leaves, but it will survive. May lose the stem if it's a cold year, but you may be able to protect it with some effort.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

So you have a dozen or more days every year with temperatures of 18°-20°F that last 4 or more hours?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I'm in 9a and it usually is 1-3 nights of 24-30 F . With protection they will probably survive. Without protection and they will regrow frolm the corm. All bets are off if we get a once in thirty years ice storm.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Hardiness zones are an average of sustained (4+ hours) winter lows (winter solstice to spring equinox) over a ten year period. Given those temperatures, you are likely borderline 9b/10a.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

5 to 10 days actually less than 9 hours.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

That puts you in zone 10a.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Can i send you a photo? with recorded temperatures?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

To compute USDA cold hardiness zone at your location:
0. I recommend a spreadsheet.
1. For the past ten years between each winter solstice and spring equinox, find the lowest temperature each day that lasted for 4 or more hours. That's about 890 values.
2. Average them.
3. Look up your zone on the USDA cold hardiness chart.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

QUESTION IT NEEDS TO BE Fahrenheit right?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

If you just planted one in your yard - it would take a lot less time and you will know for sure .. most likely the pstems will die back in winter but the corm will survive and produce more pups - do you want to eat the fruit or just grow the plant?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Or you could look at the map and read the legend.
9b is average 25-30 lowest temps... I am squarely in 9b and we just had a hard winter for 9b... I lost all my banana leaves but the stems made it fine. We got down to about 26 two nights this last winter with several other nights of frost in the low 30's and at least one other freeze of 30 that didn't take the leaves. All my plants made it except one with other issues.. even Cavendish, GM and Veinte Cohol, all of which are supposed to be very cold sensitive.. The cold didn't help the one that died but it wasn't what killed it.
That said, the occasional really bad winter might even take the psudostems someday, but they will all grow back... Ask Ty Taylor... he's in 8b and grows and fruits over 80 kinds. He leaves them in the ground, too...

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I don't believe we were that low that much. I think only 4 or 5 nights around the 20 mark. One day it was below freezing for 6 it 7 hours, that's rare that it lasts that long here.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Interesting: I'm in 9a and it dropped to 19 F and 17 F last winter - lost all my pstems. Ty is zone 8b supposed to be colder - but he lives on a large lake. I recently compared our chill hours. In 9a I had fewer chill hours 32-45 than him however; I had 75 more hours below freezing. Lesson - Micro climates DO matter... Plant and see

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Maybe so, but a general idea is all we really need... Where do we even find those 890 values for our mathematical adventure, anyway? I don't have time for all that, and I have more time than most people, other than retired folks, I guess.
Where I live is 9b but my house is in a spot where the overnight lows are routinely 5-7 degrees cooler than other nearby areas, and I quickly figured that out and keep it in mind. So, when they say the low will be 43, I know 36 or so is much more accurate and act accordingly. There won't be frost at 43, but there will be at 36.(Assuming the dewpoint is at or above that and winds are calm)

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

d Cavendish are way to slow growing. namwa will grow 10 times faster.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Can i protect the pstem with row covers?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Thanks - I'm no math wiz - just use the website Get Chill
I think you made my point that each person's back yard is different so, advice about winter survival from a distance isn't really that helpful

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I tried that website. It only does the current winter's data apparently and I also find those wunderground data sites very unreliable. For example, one nearest me showed 204 hours below 45 and the one just 8 blocks away showed 98. No way.
Also, if I understand their info correctly, when I do the math on how many were between 45 and 32, what is left was below 32, correct? We showed 31 hours below 32 at the one closest my house ( KFLPALMB147 ) and the next closest showed none. ( KFLPALMB152 ) I saw 26 on my home thermometer as well as on the one closest to my home. No way just 8 blocks away it never dropped below 32.
I don't know what but something is off...

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

what do you think is the most reliable Forecast Site?

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Here is a second site that I bounce against the get chill site
https://webapps.msucares.com/chill_hours/
your PalmB stations 147 and 152 aren't on their list. I can't explain the discrepancy -the location of the weather station and adjacent buildings, pavement, bodies of water influence temps. I'm satisfied that the stations close to my home are reporting accurately. I also monitor freezes with a thermometer and local weather station forecasts. Even then low temps at my house are typically 2-3 degrees F lower than the local forecast and plants on south side of house stay warmer than others.
The chill hour thing is more about growing fruit other than bananas and citrus-that like heat and fry in freezes,
Most other fruit trees like freezes and actually require a period of cold in order to set fruit. The period between 32-45 are called Chill hours and low chill fruit trees are rated as to how many chill hours are needed to set fruit. You are correct that subtracting chill hrs from total under 45 should yield hours below 32.

Sorry if I explained stuff you already knew- but perhaps the info is useful to someone.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Forecasting? That is a different animal altogether... None are very accurate. I pick a site and learn how they run for my area.
For instance, I usually go to intellicast (Because it has a lot of things and I like the format.), but I also know if they say the low will be 42, it will actually be closer to 32-34 and I will prepare accordingly...At least they don't simply parrot the national weather service, I guess.
I also recommend Mike's weather page ( Mike's Weather Page... powered by Sparks Energy! ) which is mainly for hurricanes but he predicted the nor'easters days before the weather service did, accurately I might add. I like to look at the many pages of info and see some things for myself.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Yes, like black raspberries... They need a minimum of 400 chill hours, which means I can't have them here in Palm Bay... They are the one fruit I like better than bananas... Best cobblers and jelly ever.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

The weather is changing all the time." the most reliable Forecast Site " is yourself. Learn to know your plant growing limit and yes you can push that limit by under stand well your growing area climate . Are there any large trees , tall house,buildings , structures..etc around to block the cold wind and frost . If you understand it well ,then it would save you lot of time and $$ from not killing the plant you love to grow.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

The better question is why are you fixated on cavendish ? That is the the banana you find cheap in grocery stores.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

I got Blue java and musa x paradisiaca (plantains) too

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Then grow gros michel or one of the fast fruiting cultivars that I am blanking on the names of. Or if you are stuck on cavendish at least something interesting like mahoi.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

Come on guys... Let him grow what he wants... We all likely have D Cav in our gardens, I do.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

is musa goldfinger kinda cold hardy?:woohoonaner:

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

It came back from the corm after the 3 to 4 day freeze we had this year. You cannot bet on an edible banana without some cold protection.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

there much better choices for marginal temp,s dc is very cool intolerant they even do poorly in my green house that never drops below 45 f ice cream blue java or rajah puri are much more forgiving

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

The best overall banana in regards to toughness in the face of cold, disease and insects (And it tastes pretty good, too.) is Dwarf Brazilian. At least of the 12 varieties I have.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

My favorite Dwarf for overall satisfaction has been Dwarf Namwah, makes you look like a pro, ha ha.

Re: Is it possible for a dwarf cavendish to survive 9a zone?
 

The USDA cold hardiness chart is available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.

If you hit the 20-25F mark 4 or 5 nights in Florida, then each of those nights you were below freezing for at least 6 hours. Consult historical records of a nearby weather station for details.

First of all, USDA zones are 10 year averages of extreme lows. There are two methods to calculate it -- I've given the more conservative approach.

Second -- due to the definition, a one-year anomaly does not establish your zone.

Third -- (thank you Jose263), don't rely on a map. Obtain accurate local temperatures over at least a 10 year period.