Bob

Here in the northeast where we can't in theory grow artichokes as they generally won't bear until the second year. Since they're not hardy here ,the only option is to"fool" them. We germinate the seed and grow it indoors in very warm temperatures for at least six weeks. They then go into a cold frame during the winter for at least another 6 and are subject to cold temperatures which simulates their first year and are then planted out in May with the rest of the warm season crops and they"think" they're in their second year and will reliably bear smallish chokes that season. Are bananas effected by the same temperature changes or is it as I've read elswhere depending more on leaf count and true age ? I figure that because of the steady temps in the tropics the answer would be no but, still I wonder if I was able to provide these conditions for bananas would I be able to get a variety such as Dwarf Namwah or D. Orinoco for example to produce edible fruit here in this climate earlier than would be normal. What do you think?

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