Dear Banana Folks,

I started with bananas last year at this time when I bought two small 3’ banana rojo at a local conservatory. I found a couple of local banana growers who gave me encouragement and an entire tree! In Ohio, the only way bananas survive is to be dug up in the fall before freezing and move them into a reasonably warm area - like a basement or garage. Some folks cut off all the leaves and stack them up like logs. Around the beginning of May, they’re brought back out and planted outside. It takes 3-4 years to see fruit. During last summer, my rojos grew well - and I stopped by to talk with a local grower, Banana Jim, whose banana trees on Henderson Rd in Columbus have been know to stop traffic. I offered to help him move his trees into his garage last fall and he gave me one [see photo strapped to top of car!]. I took it to my office at Ohio State where we have loft offices and 25’ tall windows. I first had to find someone to help carry it up to the 4th floor of our building [yes, they are heavy]. I planted it in a big pot and, despite the original leaves dying [dragging on the ground behind the car will do that], it started growing new ones - like 1 every 2 weeks. The tree’s now up to 15’ and we’re expecting to have a banana split ice cream social in our office this summer. It’s got 2 ’pups’ - one’s even bigger than my rojo’s. I’m going to try some basjoo’s this year to see how hardy they are, but really want to try more edible bananas. I know of 4 other folks growing bananas in central Ohio - maybe an Ohio Banana Grower’s Cooperative is in order! And yes, all the growers I’ve met have gone out of their way to help get me started [or hooked is more like it]. Can’t wait for the snow to melt!

Donn

That's great to hear! Bananas make any environment better!
Do you know what type it is? What zone do you live in? There is begining to be more and more hardy(seeded) bananas available, so you might be able to plant a few different types outside.
That picture is a keeper!
Thanks

Sorry - I have no idea of what variety it is. Perhaps when it fruits, I'll get a better idea. I think it's 3-4 years old; leaves, ribs, and veins are all green; it's probably 15' tall now with the base of the pseudostem about 10" or so in diameter.

I live in Columbus, OH, which is in zone 5. Winters can be as cold as -15F to -20F [down to -29C] although this winter's been mild at -5F [-21C]. It's starting to look like spring, but a winter storm with much snow is forecast for Tuesday. I think the hardy varieties might be in for a struggle even if well-mulched. We'll see.

Donn

I'm Growing bananas ( basjoo, sikkimensis,ensete glucum,musa itinerans, and musa ensete ventricosum) and I live east of cleveland in the snow belt area, (Thompson) I know of a friend in Mayfield that has basjoo on the side of his house that has been there for 5-6 years now, taller then his gutters. I'm not bringing them inside in winter. I know that the basjoo and sikkimensis can overwinter outside here also mucella lasiocarpa ( banana family) can be mulched in, the others- itinerans I will find out next year, the ensetes don't look like they can from what I told but I am hard headed (per parents) and will try this winter.
the lake gives us a zone 6 the snow really helps out to.

Wow, best of luck! I would stick with the Basjoo, to be safe, but it sounds like you are doing fine on your own.

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Tom

There are really very many bananas that are being introduced from the Himilayas that should prove to be as hardy as M.sikkeminsis(or more hardy). The list is growing and growing.
I'm trying(from seed) as many types as I can find; M.cheesmanni, M.initerans, M.yunnanensis, M.paradisica seminifera(from Bhutan), M.nagesium, M.thompsonii, M.balbisiana, M.sikkeminsis, M.s.red flash, M.yellow forest banana, Musella lasiocarpa, M.rubrea. Most of them should prove to be hardy to zone 7 or lower.
Here is a link to some info www.rarepalmseeds.com

From what I have read there are some of the types of bananas that are the same , the difference is the elevation. The itinerans and yunnanensis cheesmanni,ensete= wilson are some of the bananas that I have read that have different names but are the same plant..(They think) like you said a growing list. China and it's closed society for many years have had tropical plant material thats grows in the Xishuangbanna Yunnan province and the conditions in that area (the cold elevation + the lower tropical vegetation for the spread of seeds) provide a enviroment for tropical plant material to migrate up to colder elevations and become hardy (er) it's thought. The more you read the more abstract it becomes. That is why I just find the seeds grow'em and look for myself.

Pureenergy- The only confusion with those plants was when collecters thought they had found Ensete wilsoni(not a confirmed species), and they had really found M.initerans and M.yunnanensis. The plants themselves show varing floral, fruiting, and growth, leaf, and seed characteristics. Take a look at these links and there is no mistaking the differences(some of the most informative links I have found). rare palm seeds- http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/archive.shtml (good pics, and some info)
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/navigation%20problems.htm (great info, and images)
Here is a pic I took of the different seed sizes of some hardy Musa- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Tropicallvr/020_17.jpg
I agree that it can be really abstract, but most seeds sold are documented if not fully studied. The ones that are a real bugger are those labeled M.paradisica(but the ones sold here are really nice even if they have an generic name).

Good pages for info. I've seen some but globalnet.uk is a good one.....thanks

Have you ever thought of building a simple green house in your backyard?

with some light weight pcv pipe you can form the structure.
Wrap it neatly in heavy weight plastic. Maybe two layers.
Then overwrap the structer with chicken wire to keep the plastic from blowing off during high winds.

Wala...a simple and inexpensive green house in which you can grow as many year round banana trees as you want.

I live in Texas and my problem is cutting back the darn things because they spread like wildfire!

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A...Provazek

I would be hip to building the green house if it weren't for the costs of heating such a poorly insulated structure during Ohio winters. As far as your multiplying problems in Texas, I'll take them off your hands if you want!

Hey Donn Young!

I am Banana Jim's (guy on Henderson Rd) son. I just moved to Clintonville over the winter. And guess what? I have some small pups in the basement and looks like Dad will be giving me some trees to take over this year. Let's see if I can grow bigger/better trees than him.

Banana Chris

Hi Banana Chris!

Since your dad doesn't fertilize much, I think you can do it! To see how the tree strapped to the top of my car has done, check out the 'growing dwarf cavendish in containers' thread - I've included a couple of recent pictures. I've got two new bananas to drop off at your dad's this weekend; a basjoo - noted for it's cold tolerance - and a saba - the sequoia of bananas. We'll see how they do on Henderson! Your dad has a lot of fun with his bananas - and other plants too. He's been super helpful and encouraging! Perhaps we need to get the Central Ohio Banana Growers' Cooperative going?

Donn

Hey, don't exclude Toledo from your Ohio Banana Growers' Cooperative. I''ve got a little basjoo and sikkimensis in the window, just itching to go outside and play. I plan on talking to the grounds dept. at the Toledo Zoo (where I work) this summer because I know that they grow some bananas there, from what I remember last year, I think they are growing basjoos and some dwarf species, some of which have reddish leaves. I'll have to ask them which species they're growing and how they are overwintering them. Of course they have a nice conservatory with plenty of greenhouse space off exibit, so they can do a lot of things that many of us home growers can do. I'll keep the post updated.

By all means include HOLY TOLEDO! (East Sider here) I am beginning my "Banana Split" this summer. I have already started my other tropicals in my basement under lights and waiting to add a basjoo in a week or two. Then hope to take my entire Jungle to Saugatuck Michigan for the summer. I do this with my other tropicals and they look beautiful all summer long. I will have to stop by the zoo and see the Red dwarfs. sounds interesting.