Banana tree - what sort of climate?

[eucalyptus]

I saw a banana tree being sold today and it was at least a metre tall and the leaves were huge. I was wondering though, what sort of climate do these plants need? I'm sure here in England it's nowhere near warm enough so maybe it'd be a greenhouse job? Fascinating really Does anyone keep them?

 

[dickiebird]

I've had them in the past.

They love warm and humid. I would leave them potted and place them outside in the summer and move them inside for our winters.

They will grow pups from their roots that can be removed and planted on their own.

The gal that gave us our first one would dig holes and plant hers outside, then dig them up at the end of summer, wrap the root ball in burlap and move into her basement until warm weather. Tooooo much work for me!!!!

They were easy keepers.

THANX RICH

 

[hoodat]

It's doubtful the tree will produce the type of bananas you buy in the store. You need a truly tropical climate for that. They probably produce those little finger sized bananas which have a sort of citrussy taste; not the taste you would expect from bananas but still quite tasty. They are sold in some Asian food markets.

 

[Greenthumb18]

I just planted a nice banana plant in a pot this past weekend. Its a dwarf variety that doesn't grow more than 3 ft. and will produce bananas within 1 year. Take a look at my post:

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31933

 

[CrimsonRose]

I bought a dwarf banana tree it is a musa I think... it can grow upto 8 ft but mine stays about 4-5 ft tall... it's in a large pot and very pretty! but I have had mine now for 4 years and have not seen even the slightest desire to fruit from it... not sure why... I bought it from a mail order company and it stated they should fruit the 2nd year... it has made lots of pups though... but still no fruit...

they are easy to care for though... don't require huge amounts of sun in winter either... I put mine by a window... but I gave my mom a start of one and she kept hers in a room with the blinds closed... it made it through winter fine... wasn't as bushy as mine (I think at times hers was down to only one green leaf... LOL) but they do love extra compost and loads of water if you give it to them... but they can also get pretty dry (like when you forget to water them for over a week) before they start drooping... I bring mine in the house when it starts getting in the 40's at night... then put it back out in the spring...

 

[beavis]

I currently have one growing outside, it stands about 5 feet tall and have survived our mild winters.

When I lived in San Diego proper, I had one that grew into a monster tree, producing hundreds of 4-5 inch delicious bananas, unlike anything in the store. The variety was "Ice Cream" and they tasted like banana with vanilla ice cream.

YUM!

 

[Gnome_Czech]

I've had 1 that is now 6'-8' tall, has 2 pups at thebase and have had it planted for6 or more years. No fruit in a way I'm glad though because I did not know they die after fruiting/

I also have 2 dwarf reds that are about 5 years old and same-same, no fruit.