NeedForSeed

Hi all!
It seems to be a good time to sow new bananas for next summer. Just as the title reads I'm interested in different species which are fast growing despite lower temperatures (~15C, 60F).

My own experience:
Currently I'm growing Musa Basjoo, Velutina and Ensete Ventricosum and at the moment the Basjoo has outgrown everyone. The Velutina has actually been a huge disappointment as it hasn't grown much at all, neither has the ventricosum. Last year I had a Sikkimensis which grew A LOT and therefore is the undefeated champion in my "fast growing in low temps"-competition but sadly it didn't survive the winter (R.I.P).

Now I have been looking at some species that might be interesting:

• Musa 'Helen's Hybrid'
• Musa Itinerans
• Musa Sikkimensis 'Daj Giant'
• Ensete Glaucum

If you have any experiences with these species or have some suggestions of your own please share!
Thanks!

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¡Totalmente loco!

2woodensticks

even when it gets somewhat cold here my orinocos stand up well...never lost any over 5 ft. aprox 1 1/2 meters..

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got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

NeedForSeed

Now I've been looking at Musa Balbisiana, which is supposed to get really huge but I couldn't find any info on its tolerance of lower temps. Also it said to germinate more easily than others. The 'Mekong Giant' might be another candidate but seems difficult to get ones hands on.

How are the more ornamental bananas like Musa Ornata, Laterita and Mannii in terms of growing? They aren't as big as other species but they are said to be flowering within one year from pups which must mean that they are fast growers but maybe not in cooler temps. Might be worth trying anyways.

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¡Totalmente loco!

natej740

I would recommend Mekong Giant it went from a small tc plant to taller than me in 3.5 months. I'm in zone 6 and I plan on trying to overwinter it in the ground if it pups for me. If it doesn't pup I'm pulling it out of the ground and its staying inside for the winter.

pushak513

I have a couple mekong giants and they do well here in zone 6 with pretty rapid growth. my buddy has some 12 foot ones and they have stayed outside for years. they do create massive runners though so you have to be careful where you put them

austinl01

What are the differences between Mekong and Basjoo?

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

pushak513

there slight from what I have seen. obviouslt the groth rate is differant. my mekongs get big in a hurry. The mekong leaves seem a bit more wind tolerant for me also. the main thing I have noticed are the large running rhizomes on the mekong.. heres one I found today at my friend place when we were looking for a musa valentine that was lost in his jungle



other than that very slight differances

stevelau1911

How far does musa mekong giant typically run? My 6ft tall 1st year ones are making pups up to 1ft away which is a bit farther than the basjoo. Do they produce leptomorph rhizomes like bamboos?

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I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas.

my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/

http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

pushak513

mine have never made leptomorph rhizomes usually just a pup off the end but they can be as far as 6 feet away. that one in the picture was under ground hit somthing and surfaced then went back down. I think that plant is 8 or 9 years old which is why the rhizome is so thick but you can expect pups a good bit away from the mom.

stevelau1911

Wow, that sounds awesome. If they grow that far away, then they are more aggressive them my running bamboos.

Here's mine which are just breaking 6ft now, starting from little 2 inch plug plants 4 months ago.

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I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas.

my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/

http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

designshark

I'm going to have to get me a mekong next spring. I like tall plants, my basjoo finally looks good about now when our season is nearly over. Nice lookin nanners!

pushak513

they CAN go that far.. that is the furthest I have seen personally on my friends plant, the one pictured. Mine have only ran 4 feet at the furthest but they have potential. once they get past the second year they seem to really take off with the runners and they get very thick runners as well.