Growing edible bananas.

[KsLouisiana]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with growing edible bananas in a frost prone area? Last year I planted some dwarf cavendish by the house and they froze to the ground last winter (low of 25). This year I planted a small kokopo that is supposed to be "short cycle". Im guessing the dwarf cavendish will freeze to the ground every year here in Zone 9A but does anyone know what to expect from a kokopo in 9A? I also have a giant unknown variety that grew 12 foot this year so far.  If anyone would have an idea what kind it is I would appreciate some help.  I will post pics in order that I mentioned.  Thank y'all for the help! 

[Dartolution]

Short cycles should fruit for you within the year, and as the mat grows you should be able to get a rack each season unless its a terrible winter. 

Any cavendish variety that I am aware of will likely freeze unless its a more than mild winter. 

Other cold hardy varieties are Orinoco, Namwah, and I THINK goldfinger are supposed to be. 

I have a namwah I am growing here in 8a this year, but cant report on its tolerance to frost quite yet. 

 

[KsLouisiana]

3 hours ago, Dartolution said:

Short cycles should fruit for you within the year, and as the mat grows you should be able to get a rack each season unless its a terrible winter. 

Any cavendish variety that I am aware of will likely freeze unless its a more than mild winter. 

Other cold hardy varieties are Orinoco, Namwah, and I THINK goldfinger are supposed to be. 

I have a namwah I am growing here in 8a this year, but cant report on its tolerance to frost quite yet. 

 

Thanks man! I'm hoping they're a little more cold hardy than a dwarf cavendish.  I mean they were big last year and then froze all the way from one night of 25 or 26 degrees. So they're not super cold hardy from what I can tell.  But I will definitely try some of those other varieties you mentioned.  Do you think the more "cold hardy" bananas freeze down less? Does that make sense what I'm trying to say? Lol

[D. Morrowii]

I don’t know much about cold hardy bananas but I think your mystery species is a “blue java” or Ice cream banana. 

[KsLouisiana]

24 minutes ago, D. Morrowii said:

I don’t know much about cold hardy bananas but I think your mystery species is a “blue java” or Ice cream banana. 

Thanks! Yeah it does definitely look like one. I sure hope so! Those things looks great 

[Dartolution]

3 hours ago, KsLouisiana said:

Thanks man! I'm hoping they're a little more cold hardy than a dwarf cavendish.  I mean they were big last year and then froze all the way from one night of 25 or 26 degrees. So they're not super cold hardy from what I can tell.  But I will definitely try some of those other varieties you mentioned.  Do you think the more "cold hardy" bananas freeze down less? Does that make sense what I'm trying to say? Lol

Yes, makes sense. 

Those that I listed above are better at recovering from freezes, and yes, they lose less pseudostem in winter. 

Orinoco are good cooking bananas but I am not entirely sold on the flavor - just very different than cavendish. 

Namwah are also VERY different than store bought bananas and are one of the best backyard bananas for cooler climate growers. They have a very silky smooth texture that is sweet with hints of vanilla but not caky like cavendish. 

 

My all time favorite is Pisang raja. Its an orange flesh banana that has an awesome texture and flavor... very difficult to describe. By all means, its a banana, just different. I have no idea of their tolerance to frost or freezes, but I do know they are difficult to find in cultivation here. 

 

Dig around, try some different varieties and play with them. 

Blue Java as mentioned above is also decent with cool hardiness but can sometimes need to be staked and is notorious for leaning over or falling. 

 

 

[KsLouisiana]

2 hours ago, Dartolution said:

Yes, makes sense. 

Those that I listed above are better at recovering from freezes, and yes, they lose less pseudostem in winter. 

Orinoco are good cooking bananas but I am not entirely sold on the flavor - just very different than cavendish. 

Namwah are also VERY different than store bought bananas and are one of the best backyard bananas for cooler climate growers. They have a very silky smooth texture that is sweet with hints of vanilla but not caky like cavendish. 

 

My all time favorite is Pisang raja. Its an orange flesh banana that has an awesome texture and flavor... very difficult to describe. By all means, its a banana, just different. I have no idea of their tolerance to frost or freezes, but I do know they are difficult to find in cultivation here. 

 

Dig around, try some different varieties and play with them. 

Blue Java as mentioned above is also decent with cool hardiness but can sometimes need to be staked and is notorious for leaning over or falling. 

 

 

Awesome man! Thanks so much for taking the time to help and give me all this information.  I will definitely be using it to find what variety is best for me. There's so many bananas around here but I never know what I'm looking at and I'm starting to get a little obsessed so I'm pumped to have more knowledge on them! Please keep in touch and give me any more tips on growing them and let me know how yours are doing.  Thanks again!

Kurt

[Xenon]

Orinoco reliably produces fruit in the Houston Area without any care (often neglected) almost every year. Most of the pseudostem will survive down to 24-25F (dependent on duration), though you may end up needing to chop off a few feet from the top in spring.  

I think Orinoco is delicious. The flesh is firm, sweet, with a sub-acid berry-like component. You have to wait until the peel completely blackens for it be "ripe" (don't worry, it's nothing like a mushy overripe Cavendish). It's also very popular as a cooking banana in the Caribbean and Latin America. 

[bubba]

Bananas are good and Should be planted more for their fruit and beauty. Great news to hear that varieties exist that can survive mid 20s F.

[Hillizard]

Finally ordered a small Gros Michel banana plant from a San Diego grower. It was on my 'potted list' (like a bucket list but for plant people)! 

As their website stated, this was the: "main cultivar of the international banana trade during the first part of the 20th century and was the main export to the USA. In the late 1950’s it was replaced by the Cavendish type banana ‘Grand Nain’ also known as the Chiquita Brand Banana. This was due to Fusarium Wilt which nearly destroyed the banana industry. The cavendish banana was resistant to Fusarium Wilt or what is called Panama Disease. Gros Michel never completely disappeared. It is still grown by small farms, in backyard gardens and other mixed cropping systems throughout the world. Our Gros Michel plants are Tissue Cultured or Cloned from USDA specimens that are housed in plant banks designed to save certain species of plants."

Don't expect to ever get much of a crop but will be fun to try. I'll document any progress I make.🍌

[Hillizard]

Here's my Musa 'Gros Michel'  banana today.  It was little more than a 'test tube baby' when I first got it in the mail. I moved it outdoors into a shaded area once it'd put on a few new leaves. Grows like a weed, but I'm not sure it'll ever be able to handle direct summer sun here! Will be years before I get any fruit, if ever. 

[Victor likes palms]

On 8/4/2022 at 10:30 AM, Xenon said:

Orinoco reliably produces fruit in the Houston Area without any care (often neglected) almost every year. Most of the pseudostem will survive down to 24-25F (dependent on duration), though you may end up needing to chop off a few feet from the top in spring.  

I think Orinoco is delicious. The flesh is firm, sweet, with a sub-acid berry-like component. You have to wait until the peel completely blackens for it be "ripe" (don't worry, it's nothing like a mushy overripe Cavendish). It's also very popular as a cooking banana in the Caribbean and Latin America. 

Would you happen to know where i could get ahold of a banana plant of that variety?

[Xenon]

59 minutes ago, Victor valadez said:

Would you happen to know where i could get ahold of a banana plant of that variety?

You shouldn't have any problem finding one for nearly free on FB Marketplace. If any of your neighbors has a random clump of bananas, they are likely to be Orinoco as well. All you need is an offset ("pup") or two. It's also called "burro" banana. 

[Victor likes palms]

Ohhh, i am familar with the burro banana. We are a salvadoran family so thats the banana my moms family eats over there. We also make it into caldo. Maybe next time i go to houston i could find some theres alot of us over there lmao. 

[Victor likes palms]

1 hour ago, Xenon said:

You shouldn't have any problem finding one for nearly free on FB Marketplace. If any of your neighbors has a random clump of bananas, they are likely to be Orinoco as well. All you need is an offset ("pup") or two. It's also called "burro" banana. 

Do you know what the scientific name of the cooking plantain they sell in hebs are?