Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Hello everyone! I want to grow some bananas for the first time and I'm looking for some recommendations from the experts! :nanadrink:

I'm not a total noob, I do have about 25 different varieties of citrus in my greenhouse so, I do somewhat understand the tropical fruit growing requirements but I am definitely new to bananas.

What I'm looking to do is grow them all in containers, grow dwarf or varieties under 10Ft (that's about as tall as my greenhouse is) and lastly but probably most importantly, I'm looking for great tasting varieties!

Also, what container size do you think would be required for getting them to fruit successfully?

I want to start with about 4 varieties and go from there. Please recommend me a few that you think would fit the bill. I've herd good thins about dwarf bazillion...

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

I don't think a D. Braz will fit in your GH.. :^)

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Dwarf Cavendish
Raja Puri
Dwarf Namwah
Dwarf Red

The leaves of all of those may hit your ceiling, but you should be able to fruit them.

I'd aim for short wide containers, maybe around 1' deep and 3' in diameter, to maximize the vertical growspace and give the roots room to spread out.

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

We agree with Greenfin, those may be successful in the GH. Here in zone 9 we also have those growing in the ground but also have a Dwarf Brazilian that is doing good and has fruit on it now. It may be close to finish before chills arrive but if so then it will get a tepee over it. Our Manazano would fit also and ours has 7 hands now that should ripen before chills and also will get a teepee if needed. Good luck, good growing and stay healthy, Pics and progress please.

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

How tall is your DB pstem?

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

9' for sure..

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Thank you all very much for the replies, I'm placing my order soon. :08:

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Do you have pics of the teepee

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

I like the taste of the Enano Gigante (Dwarf Giant) banana I got a few years ago. I'm new to the .org and have found out that just because the banana you are buying has a tag and name on it doesn't mean that you are really getting that banana. This banana fruited last year and it tasted great. I moved it to a better spot in my yard and took all the pups and put them in buckets. If this is a real Enano Gigante like the tag said it is doing great in the new backyard spot and the pups are doing great in the buckets. I cant wait to see if it will fruit in the bucket next year. :goteam: Susan

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Hello RyanL,

Dwarf Cavendish tops out at about 6 ft, and although more tempermental, the Super Dwarf Cavendish tops out at 3-4 ft. Both have nice fruit. Dwarf Namwah also is reputed to have great tasting fruit, but it's a pretty big plant at about 8-10 ft. Raja Puri 5 ft. and Dwarf Red 8 ft. are also good varieties. Hope this helps!

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Andy, thanks for the info. Have you or anyone herd of or had any experience with "pineapple" ,"texas star" , or "williams"? All are said to be 6 to 8 ft and are available from one of the common banana plant ordering sites. Thanks guys!

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Don't order Williams from plants delight. Mine I got from them is the only plant in my sig that doesn't grow. Have had it over a year and still tiny and weak.

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

No problem! I've not heard of "pineapple", but I have heard of "texas star" and "Williams." Texas star is supposed to be a extra cold tolerant variety, from what I've heard and read, it is a mutation of the Dwarf Orinoco variety. The original source plant has been difficult to trace, so some people have reported experiencing varying characteristics and cold tolerance likely due to plants sold as "texas star" but were actually something different. Several members on here have the real deal and either might be able to send you a pup or know of a reputable source. A lot of people seem to really like it, especially in colder areas. Williams is supposed to be a taller version of the Dwarf Cavendish and is one of the primary commercial varieties, I believe Chiquita. Hope this helps! Best wishes

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Pineapple is most likely just a raja puri (marketing technique) and Texas Star is a Dwarf Orinoco I do believe, I think Tony stated such a while ago.. just another way to create sales of the same plants.. or make people think they are getting something different, or special.. :^)

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Order came in about 3 weeks ago, They are all growing well. I got a Williams, Texas Star, Rajapuri and pineapple. Thanks for everyone's help and comments. Here they are-

Pineapple


Raja


Williams


Texas Star

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Texas Star is most likely a Goldfinger.. Raja Puri doesn't look right either.. :^)

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

Raja Puri could be right, they often have some wine splotches, but not a lot of them. It's a great plant that stays really short. Hope it's the real deal!

Re: Recomend me a few dwarf varities
 

There are some dwarf fruiting bananas that do not have "dwarf" in their names, and there are some bananas with dwarf in their name that grow 15' or more before fruiting!

There are also fruiting bananas that grow well in zone 10 (like citrus). Namwa is an excellent tasting high production cultivar in that category.

As for growing in containers, there is a blurb here:
Guide To Growing Fruiting Bananas In Temperate Climates