Newbie

bananajim · 05-28-2017, 03:18 PM

Hi, this is my first post, I live in Tucson and am new to the banana growing world. My wife just bought me two red maurelii plants and she was told by the lowes plant "expert" that these were fruit producing plants you can eat. I checked and it seems that the fruit is not edible and the natives eat the roots. I am going to return them and get some that actually produce edible bananas. Any suggestions as to what plants would do well in Tucson? thanks!

scottu · 05-28-2017, 08:20 PM

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' - Bananas Wiki
Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' - Plant Finder

Mudturkle · 05-28-2017, 11:39 PM

You must be in plant zone 8B or 9A. I would say that you can grow Dwarf Orinoco bananas with very little worries and they will fruit if there is a mild winter. If you are 8B (like where our house is) then you may want a winter protection strategy in which you take pups inside for winter as insurance against a colder than normal winter. Also you may need to make a mini-greenhouse out of plastic to protect bananas trying to fruit just as winter is about to start. As for as other bananas, check published banana cold hardiness lists for bananas rated similar to Orinoco. Then get brave and try to grow them all, like some of us.

HMelendez · 05-29-2017, 05:36 AM

Welcome to the banana gang!......

edwmax · 05-29-2017, 09:42 AM

Welcome to the Bunch. ... Your in USDA grow zone 9B. Many banana cultivars should grow well in your area. I would look for plants hardy to zone 8 to grow as first plants.

sputinc7 · 05-29-2017, 09:58 AM

Brazilian, Namwah, sh-3640 should do well there in all but the coldest winters. Orinoco, too but it is more of a cooking banana so I usually don't count it. I like the sweet ones.

bananajim · 05-29-2017, 05:22 PM

Hello to all of you, I never expected such a warm welcome! I also really appreciate all the great information, I now know something about what I want to do. Thanks!

edwmax · 05-29-2017, 08:25 PM

I believe the problems you will encounter growing bananas are low humidity, high heat, and lack of rain. ... Bananas like and need lots of water, high humidity and temperatures in the mid 80's F. There are some forum members in Arizona growing bananas, so it is doable.

This pdf guide will give you an idea of the needs for growing bananas. HS10/MG040: Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape

Snarkie · 06-14-2017, 11:00 AM

Hi Jim-

Welcome aboard the Banana Express!

Snarkie · 06-26-2017, 11:57 AM

Love Tucson! Pima and Maricopa Counties are some of the most scenic in the world. Pistol Hill Rd. is amazing to ride on a motorcycle.

05-28-2017, 03:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
bananajim bananajim Location: Tucson NW Zone: 85704 Name: bananajim Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 3,169 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Newbie Hi, this is my first post, I live in Tucson and am new to the banana growing world. My wife just bought me two red maurelii plants and she was told by the lowes plant "expert" that these were fruit producing plants you can eat. I checked and it seems that the fruit is not edible and the natives eat the roots. I am going to return them and get some that actually produce edible bananas. Any suggestions as to what plants would do well in Tucson? thanks!

05-28-2017, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
scottu <div style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="font-weight: bold;">&lt;div style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&amp;lt;di v style=&amp;quot;font-weight: bold;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&a mp;amp;lt;di v sty scottu 's Photo Gallery Location: Bethlehem,Pa. Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: scott Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,192 BananaBucks : 8,923 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,595 Times Was Thanked 857 Times in 368 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,323 Times	Re: Newbie Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' - Bananas Wiki Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' - Plant Finder __________________ Viva La Banana Last edited by scottu : 05-28-2017 at 08:26 PM.

05-28-2017, 11:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mudturkle Location: Central Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, and also 9b Name: Mudturkle Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 183 BananaBucks : 31,380 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 328 Times Was Thanked 320 Times in 120 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Newbie You must be in plant zone 8B or 9A. I would say that you can grow Dwarf Orinoco bananas with very little worries and they will fruit if there is a mild winter. If you are 8B (like where our house is) then you may want a winter protection strategy in which you take pups inside for winter as insurance against a colder than normal winter. Also you may need to make a mini-greenhouse out of plastic to protect bananas trying to fruit just as winter is about to start. As for as other bananas, check published banana cold hardiness lists for bananas rated similar to Orinoco. Then get brave and try to grow them all, like some of us. __________________ Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.

05-29-2017, 05:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
HMelendez The Banana Gang Enforcer Zone: 10B-11 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2,750 BananaBucks : 200,471 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 11,104 Times Was Thanked 5,279 Times in 1,618 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 737 Times	Re: Newbie Welcome to the banana gang!...... __________________ HMelendez Photo Gallery

05-29-2017, 09:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 91,986 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Newbie Welcome to the Bunch. ... Your in USDA grow zone 9B. Many banana cultivars should grow well in your area. I would look for plants hardy to zone 8 to grow as first plants. __________________

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05-29-2017, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 108,604 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Newbie Brazilian, Namwah, sh-3640 should do well there in all but the coldest winters. Orinoco, too but it is more of a cooking banana so I usually don't count it. I like the sweet ones. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

05-29-2017, 05:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
bananajim bananajim Location: Tucson NW Zone: 85704 Name: bananajim Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 3,169 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Newbie Hello to all of you, I never expected such a warm welcome! I also really appreciate all the great information, I now know something about what I want to do. Thanks!

05-29-2017, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 91,986 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Newbie I believe the problems you will encounter growing bananas are low humidity, high heat, and lack of rain. ... Bananas like and need lots of water, high humidity and temperatures in the mid 80's F. There are some forum members in Arizona growing bananas, so it is doable. This pdf guide will give you an idea of the needs for growing bananas. HS10/MG040: Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape __________________

06-14-2017, 11:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 162,108 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: Newbie Hi Jim- Welcome aboard the Banana Express! __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

06-26-2017, 11:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 162,108 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: Newbie Love Tucson! Pima and Maricopa Counties are some of the most scenic in the world. Pistol Hill Rd. is amazing to ride on a motorcycle. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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