In 2004 I bought/planted 4 Musa/Variegated Blood Banana trees. They really grew nicely, had several additions to the main tree. Really was an outstanding display. We live in Dallas, TX. Right now there doesn't appear to be any activity with the bulb. It was all soft and squishy on top, which I removed with a shovel. It did turn hard and tan as I dug into the bulb, it also appeared to have some kind of 'root shoots?' going in and out of the bulb. I haven't done anything more for over a week.

1) By the way things sound, does anyone think these trees are coming back?
2) Am I too far north for a banana tree to return annually?
3) Is there anything more I can do to facilitate the growth rate for return?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much!
Dan & Cheri

I'm not sure whether your plants will be growing this year or not, as I have no experience with outdoor bananas (I'm in zone 2 ). Nor do I have experience with knowing how much damage a bulb can take and still grow. However, I do have some experience with helping outdoor plants in general through winter. Here, we usually put a layer of mulch (straw) overtop/around plants that need a little extra protection from cold weather. It helps plants that aren't quite hardy if unprotected in this zone to make it through the winter. I suspect that something similar may help your plants, assuming that they are almost but not quite making it. Of course, they do have to be *almost* able to survive to start with.

Hi folks, I have a good bit of experience in this area. My wife and I have been moving descendents of the same mama plant from one yard to another for 10 years or so. We have cut, hacked, dug up, pulled out and otherwise assaulted these things for a long time and they keep coming back.

We bought our current place (4.5 acres) last year and when we first saw the place in July, there were banana trees in several places, including some scraggly ones behind the potting shed growing up through a pile of branches and yard debris. We dug up and moved them to where most of the others were growing in December.

Last month, I was out picking up some of the considerable new debris and moving it to the burn pile (we were ground zero for Hurricane Ivan) and saw several 2 ft. pups peeking out from that location, so I started digging and found they were coming from a grapefruit-sized chunk of the original rhizome that I had left when I dug up the others in December.

Mulching is the answer for protection. They may come back, or they may not. If the rhizome is firm, I would bury it in some really nice composted warm soil and water it like a normal one.

As to the damage they CAN take, we had some huge caterpillar tractors and other heavy equipment drive right over some of my banana trees to remove a few downed trees right after the storm. While the trees themselves were knocked down and smushed pretty good, the 20 or 30 that were there last year are now 48 strong and counting!

When they get big enough to photograph, I will post some pix to see if someone here can tell me what variety they are.
Edited by Casa Del Gatos on Apr 18, 2005 at 07:17 AM

Hi, it's my first time growing bananas and I'm a bit nervous. I was wondering if you guys have any favourite positions that bananas enjoy growing in. Do you use any sort of protection for your bananas. On the subject of watering bananas, how often do you do it? Thank you. I will tell you how it goes. Keep having fun.

upright is probably not the answer you're looking for.... The good news is that it was my first time last year also, and it went very well. I kept them watered well and also VERY well fertalized. They grew so fast it was crazy. I would suspect a lot of other factors such as variety, where you live, and the sun they get would pose important factors. I grew the bananas for their tropical look, not for the fruit. They also did well in hiding a less than interesting wood fence. I'm sure they'll do well by you just giving them attention. All the best.

Dan