Mathis

Hello there, I'm a new member to the site and I have a few questions for all you expert banana growers out there. I've become interested in growing a single banana plant and would like your advice on the best type of corm or seeds to get, where/how to get them, and general advice on growing a banana plant in zone 6-7.

First of all, I really would like to grow a plantain plant. However, after doing some internet sleuthing, I'm more confused than ever. There seem to be a large variety of cultivars, and I'm not sure which one to get. Also, some sellers sell a small plant (which I would prefer to buy) and some sell seeds (does this even work?). I like plantains that get nice and ripe, fry them up maduro style, and eat them as a tasty snack. Anything that most closely resembles what I get in the grocery store and/or at Cuban restaurants is what I would hopefully like to grow.

Second of all, because I'll be bringing the plant indoors in the winter, I need a plant that is not too enormous. So, the ideal plant would be a dwarf sweet plantain.

Finally, what are some general tips for keeping a plantain plant alive and healthy in central Pennsylvania? I love the idea of growing a plantain plant that will eventually give me a couple of viable fruits a year, but I also just like the idea of proving that I can grow a banana plant in Pennsylvania!!

Any advice on where/how to purchase a corm, plant, or seeds is appreciated. Also, what variety? Musa acuminata (french horn), musa paradisiaca, dwarf varieties, etc.

Thanks so much for any advice you have for me!

lorax

If you want ones like they use in Cuba, you'll need to look for a pup (juvenile plant) of 'Dwarf French' or 'FHIA-21.' If you favour the flavour of the South American plantains (as I do) you need 'Giant Plantain' or 'Dwarf Orinoco.' The latter is a good banana for what you're looking to do, and keeps and fruits in containers. Look for a Tissue Culture (TC) pup to ensure that it's disease-free, or ask around to our membership for a corm or pup trade/sale. I, unfortunately, cannot help you there; Ecuador won't let me ship corms yet.

You DO NOT want a variety you can grow from seed - these produce seeded fruits.

IMHO, since you're doing fried maduros, 'Dwarf Orinoco' or 'Dwarf French' would probably be your best bets.

I can't help with overwintering (I have no winter), but if you check the other forums here or do a forum search on it, you'll turn up a wealth of good information.

Mathis

lorax: Thanks so much for your advice. I'm hoping that I can find a Dwarf Orinoco on the Going Bananas website. Any other places I should look online? I'll also definitely root around on the site here to see if anyone has any available.

lorax

Many people should - try posting a classified ad "Dwarf Orinoco Wanted" or something; that will draw the members that have pups or corms for sale. I'm in the unique situation of living in South America, and thus internet resources are pretty much useless to me; I buy pups directly from farmers and plantations. However, others here will have reccomendations.

yopedrosoy

Can't you get pups/corms from Puerto Rico which is a US territory and a main consumer of plantains, there are many varieties here. I have over 20 trees in my back yard.

Eric

Welcome aboard, Mathis !
Lorax Definitely has the great Taste to select the best plantain - I'm impressed & guided by her advice. As for over-wintering, I've been over-wintering 4 Blue Java banana plants successfully for 3 years now, here in zone-7, which are now 16-20' tall & very healthy. There are others here, as well, quite adept at over-wintering.
If you have any questions about using the forum, always feel free to ask away!

Richard

Good luck ... but you can't have just one!

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CValentine

I agree with Richard!!

Welcome Mathis! Time to GO BANANAS!!! ~Cheryl

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alexizhere19

go bananas

alex

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LilRaverBoi

LOL...yeah, Richard is TOTALLY correct. You might start with one, but that will evolve into 10+ LOL. Hope you enjoy the site. There are tons of great resources here in both the members and the information in the wiki/forums. Hope you learn a lot here. As for your endeavors, Dwarf Orinoco are very easy/cheap to find as they are quite common. The Going Bananas website is a good one, ebay has some (but you have to be careful about mis-identifications and random craziness but I've had good luck with it) and as Lorax said, you can post a classified ad here on the site. I know a ton of members here have D.O. and I'm sure you could find a nice one for very cheap. Enjoy the site!

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r3tic

Welcome to the org....I'm new to the Philly area and I might be able to help you out. Check your PM.

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