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servatusprime · 02-24-2013, 05:42 PM

I know I am bumping a really old thread but I thought I had something to contribute. I planted a Gros Michel this past July. I live in zone 10A in southwest Florida and we have had a few occasions when the temperature diped below 40 degrees for a few hours. The lowest thus far has been 37-38 F with a wind-chill of 34 (if that matters).

I am by no means an expert however I am finding that the Gros Michel seems to be more cold tolerant than the double mahoi I planted last spring. I tried giving it protection with a make shift plastic tent and Christmas lights, but I think setting up the tent did more damage than the cold. (too windy to put up a tent) The next time around I decided to leave it unprotected and it faired better than the double mahoi. The GM has certainly has slowed down considerably during the cooler weather but in that time it has sent up another pup so its growing. In comparison to all my bananas I would say its growth is the slowest during this cooler period.

I don’t know why my double mahoi seems to be so intolerant compared to the others, but I am questioning the rating of 8.5 on the cold hardy list.

I’ll keep monitoring it as time goes on. Thanks.

02-24-2013, 05:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
servatusprime Find me on the map! Zone: 10A Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 476 BananaBucks : 100,453 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 446 Times Was Thanked 912 Times in 262 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: Gros Michel Cold Tolerance? I know I am bumping a really old thread but I thought I had something to contribute. I planted a Gros Michel this past July. I live in zone 10A in southwest Florida and we have had a few occasions when the temperature diped below 40 degrees for a few hours. The lowest thus far has been 37-38 F with a wind-chill of 34 (if that matters). I am by no means an expert however I am finding that the Gros Michel seems to be more cold tolerant than the double mahoi I planted last spring. I tried giving it protection with a make shift plastic tent and Christmas lights, but I think setting up the tent did more damage than the cold. (too windy to put up a tent) The next time around I decided to leave it unprotected and it faired better than the double mahoi. The GM has certainly has slowed down considerably during the cooler weather but in that time it has sent up another pup so its growing. In comparison to all my bananas I would say its growth is the slowest during this cooler period. I don’t know why my double mahoi seems to be so intolerant compared to the others, but I am questioning the rating of 8.5 on the cold hardy list. I’ll keep monitoring it as time goes on. Thanks.