When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

I hate this time of year, for one reason, I'm impatient. Day temps are in the 60-70's, nights are anywhere from 45-58. I'm so desperate to bring my bananas outside. The faster I bring them out to adjust, the faster I can get them in the ground. I have read for hours, literally, what everyone else does, but I still keep going back and forth. I don't want to jump the gun, but I don't want to be wasting valuable growing time either. Right now, they're in a spare bedroom with lights. Half of them are half dead, or dead, and trying to nurse them back, and the other half are new tc babies. I have a carport with good shade, but of course, it's cooler in the shade also.

When do YOU decide that it's time to bring them out? Does it vary depending on age, size, health? What's your minimum temp where you feel it's safe to start hardening them outside? Does me having lights on them now, make it easier for them to adjust? UGH so many questions!

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Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

I have the same questions...obviously there are many factors...I wonder if nighttime temps are more important than average temps, and things like that.

Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

I live in zone 6 missouri and I just set mine out this weekend. Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s aren't bad in my opinion ,plus take in to consideration the micro climate that they may or may not be in as well. I think it's better to acclimate them to outside before it gets to hot.

Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

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Kevin2685 is your man. He is a banana wizard! :ha:

Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

I moved mine all outside couple days ago.
I watch the night time temps. Had 2 nights in the mid to high 40's but most nights are now going to be in the 50's or higher.
Was cloudy today and will be next couple days which are good for letting them adjust to the light.
Mine got some sun burn but nothing major yet. The new leaves that emerge will be adjusted to the light so no worries here.
mine arent used to the outdoor conditions yet so the wind wasn't to kind to a couple. They damaged couple leaves on different ones. some just folded down due to a spot of the midrib being damaged. I left it alone cause as long as it is still connected and green it is still giving the plant energy just doesn't look pretty. Once they lose the green I will trim them off.
When the temps are low at night they won't grow as fast as normal but as it warms up their growth will too.
I would say put them out and just watch the night time temps.

Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

When I was in central Illinois, I put them out in buckets when the nights were out of the 30's. (Had to bring them back in from time to time, temporarily.) and in the ground about now, mid May.Cold won't hurt them,(Below 32 will.) just slows their growth until it warms.

Re: When is the right time to bring bananas outside in zone 6? I'm SO torn!
 

Thank you all so much! I'm going to hold out one more week, only because the forecasted low for Saturday is only going to be 39 and Sunday 41. It's uphill from there, so after those two days, I'm going to go for it.

On an extra good note, I finally got around to checking my ph and it's around 6.0-6.5 nearly every spot I checked, and I checked about 30 spots. LOL