Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a

austinl01 · 03-07-2009, 08:39 PM

If you could recommend just one banana of the dessert variety that may give growers in zones 7b or 8a a decent chance to fruit and the fruit to ripen, what variety would you suggest? Take into account cold hardiness, ease of storage during the winter, and even taste. I'm going to order some different kinds of bananas this year to test them out. Thanks in advance for the responses!

Randy4ut · 03-07-2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the post, Austin... I will be watching this post closely to see what is recommended...

chong · 03-07-2009, 09:55 PM

My best bet is the Dwarf Orinoco. I think that in our area, if I can just keep it from too much rain, it will thrive. Since your area has more sunshine and less rain than the Seattle area, I would surmise that they can thrive there with less protection than here.

Lagniappe · 03-08-2009, 02:45 AM

I suggest that you check out the stand that I told you about last year. There were several bunches hanging,two of which were plump and ripening, that I belive were Dwarf Orinoco.
These were in Little Rock. I left a note for the homeowner but never got a reply.

austinl01 · 03-08-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

I suggest that you check out the stand that I told you about last year. There were several bunches hanging,two of which were plump and ripening, that I belive were Dwarf Orinoco.
These were in Little Rock. I left a note for the homeowner but never got a reply.

Pete, was that on Pine St and 3rd St? Was it in Little Rock or North Little Rock? I'm sorry - I can't remember!

Lagniappe · 03-08-2009, 02:13 PM

It was North Pine, between E/F and E/D avenues in North Little Rock. The house appears to be a duplex and it's across from a narrow parking lot.
If you're able to get some pups, I would be interested in trading for one.

Lagniappe · 03-08-2009, 02:19 PM

OMG!!!! I just went there with Google maps and am looking right at the plants!!! Technology is awesome!!!
If one of you could explain it to me, I would link it up.

Lagniappe · 03-08-2009, 02:22 PM

View Larger Map

Lagniappe · 03-08-2009, 02:22 PM

I figured it out :P

Kylie2x · 03-08-2009, 04:28 PM

LOL!!! Good Job Pete!
Yep.. If you can come up with an extra or 2 I would love to trade as well.If they fruit there they should fruit here...If they are DC's I lost the 2 I had...Would love to replace them

Kylie

austinl01 · 03-08-2009, 09:21 PM

Pete, that is so cool. Google maps can be a great tool to locate plants! Great work!!! I will stop by the house in late spring as the location isn't too far away from where I work. I will offer the owner maybe another banana for a trade or just offer to purchase a couple pups for both of us. I'll for sure keep my eye on the grove as it progresses this year. Having the exact location is awesome. You da man, Pete!

austinl01 · 03-09-2009, 10:17 PM

Pete, I found a house near Jacksonville on Hwy 67/167 last summer that had huge groves of bananas. I decided to search for it on Google Maps, and I found it! I didn't have a chance to talk to the owner last year, but it would be cool to get some more information this spring. He has more bananas now than what's showing on the map. Check it out!

View Larger Map

austinl01 · 03-09-2009, 10:18 PM

Deleted double post. Sorry.

LilRaverBoi · 03-10-2009, 10:30 AM

Well, the only two I can find are Dwarf Orinoco and Dwarf Cavendish. If you're leaving them outdoors all winter, consider planting them in a sheltered area and maybe some mulching around the base starting in the fall. The Basjoo should definitely be hardy to your climate, but it's an ornamental type only.

Also, just cause a variety isn't tolerant to your climate doesn't mean you can't grow it there. You always have the option of digging them up/bringing them inside during the winter months. And if you don't have space for that, you can remove the tops and overwinter the corms dormant in a cool/dark basement or garage (provided it doesn't get too cold). Just a thought. I know there are plenty of banana people on the site who live in much colder zones that still are able to grow bananas. They will grow outdoors quite well in almost any zone during the summer months.

Kylie2x · 03-10-2009, 03:55 PM

IMHO..LOL

If you are growing them just for the landscape letting them die back is great.. BUT If you are looking for fruit .. starting over each year is starting over each yr.. There are alot of ways to keep them protected and save the P-stem to achieve fruit .. NO EXPERT HERE!!! LOL I have only had 1 ornamental bloom...BUT I have started over a few times..LOL
This place is loaded with info and if you don't want to look it up "JUST ASK"...
I have high hopes this yr most every thing stored under the house came out looking good.. FRUIT May be in my future...LOL
Kylie

austinl01 · 03-13-2009, 04:29 PM

I just wish more bananas stored well bareroot without the chance of the pseudostem rotting. My raja puri was stored bareroot in the garage. It looks very promising since it still has a green leaf, but it's too early to tell of course. I have a very small dwarf orinoco that I hope survived the winter bareroot. The stem is still firm on it. I have had orinocos pseudostems rot before in the garage so they aren't totally foolproof.

I wonder if I could buy some small plants from the homeowner/renter Lagniappe's photo. You can bet I'll certainly try to do just that in early spring! Will I be successful???

austinl01 · 03-17-2009, 10:17 PM

Hey Pete! Today, I drove past the house you found on North Pine Street in North Little Rock and found the bananas that you saw last summer! The stalks are huge and are still standing after a winter low of 12 degrees. They are, of course, brown stalks, and the smaller ones have fallen over, but the larger ones are still standing tall. Evidently, the duplex owners leave them to overwinter without protection other than the old fallen banana leaves that perished after the first freeze. I will certainly keep my eyes on these babies as the growth in one summer is pretty remarkable if the plant started from the ground level last year. It looked like no one was home at the time, and I question if anyone is living there at the moment (but probably so). When the bananas start sprouting, I will be determined to ask for a pup for us. It's close to work and the interstate. Just an update, buddy.

austinl01 · 03-17-2009, 10:22 PM

Here is another house that grows bananas every year. I have yet to see them flower as I drive by occasionally to check on them. I believe these are regular orinocos.

View Larger Map

austinl01 · 03-17-2009, 10:35 PM

Another house with a tall nanner tree!

View Larger Map

Can you tell I'm having fun with Google maps?

austinl01 · 03-17-2009, 10:47 PM

What are these peeking over the fence???

View Larger Map

03-07-2009, 08:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a If you could recommend just one banana of the dessert variety that may give growers in zones 7b or 8a a decent chance to fruit and the fruit to ripen, what variety would you suggest? Take into account cold hardiness, ease of storage during the winter, and even taste. I'm going to order some different kinds of bananas this year to test them out. Thanks in advance for the responses! __________________ 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

03-07-2009, 08:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 276,999 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Thanks for the post, Austin... I will be watching this post closely to see what is recommended... __________________

03-07-2009, 09:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 121,417 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a My best bet is the Dwarf Orinoco. I think that in our area, if I can just keep it from too much rain, it will thrive. Since your area has more sunshine and less rain than the Seattle area, I would surmise that they can thrive there with less protection than here.

03-08-2009, 02:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 312,600 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a I suggest that you check out the stand that I told you about last year. There were several bunches hanging,two of which were plump and ripening, that I belive were Dwarf Orinoco. These were in Little Rock. I left a note for the homeowner but never got a reply.

03-08-2009, 02:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 312,600 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a It was North Pine, between E/F and E/D avenues in North Little Rock. The house appears to be a duplex and it's across from a narrow parking lot. If you're able to get some pups, I would be interested in trading for one.

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03-08-2009, 02:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 312,600 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a OMG!!!! I just went there with Google maps and am looking right at the plants!!! Technology is awesome!!! If one of you could explain it to me, I would link it up.

03-08-2009, 02:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 312,600 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a View Larger Map

03-08-2009, 02:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 312,600 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a I figured it out :P

03-08-2009, 04:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 175,830 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 269 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 160 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a LOL!!! Good Job Pete! Yep.. If you can come up with an extra or 2 I would love to trade as well.If they fruit there they should fruit here...If they are DC's I lost the 2 I had...Would love to replace them Kylie

03-08-2009, 09:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Pete, that is so cool. Google maps can be a great tool to locate plants! Great work!!! I will stop by the house in late spring as the location isn't too far away from where I work. I will offer the owner maybe another banana for a trade or just offer to purchase a couple pups for both of us. I'll for sure keep my eye on the grove as it progresses this year. Having the exact location is awesome. You da man, Pete! __________________ 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

03-09-2009, 10:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Pete, I found a house near Jacksonville on Hwy 67/167 last summer that had huge groves of bananas. I decided to search for it on Google Maps, and I found it! I didn't have a chance to talk to the owner last year, but it would be cool to get some more information this spring. He has more bananas now than what's showing on the map. Check it out! View Larger Map __________________ 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

03-09-2009, 10:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Deleted double post. Sorry. __________________ 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 Last edited by austinl01 : 03-10-2009 at 05:34 PM.

03-10-2009, 10:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 155,188 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Well, the only two I can find are Dwarf Orinoco and Dwarf Cavendish. If you're leaving them outdoors all winter, consider planting them in a sheltered area and maybe some mulching around the base starting in the fall. The Basjoo should definitely be hardy to your climate, but it's an ornamental type only. Also, just cause a variety isn't tolerant to your climate doesn't mean you can't grow it there. You always have the option of digging them up/bringing them inside during the winter months. And if you don't have space for that, you can remove the tops and overwinter the corms dormant in a cool/dark basement or garage (provided it doesn't get too cold). Just a thought. I know there are plenty of banana people on the site who live in much colder zones that still are able to grow bananas. They will grow outdoors quite well in almost any zone during the summer months. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

03-10-2009, 03:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 175,830 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 269 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 160 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a IMHO..LOL If you are growing them just for the landscape letting them die back is great.. BUT If you are looking for fruit .. starting over each year is starting over each yr.. There are alot of ways to keep them protected and save the P-stem to achieve fruit .. NO EXPERT HERE!!! LOL I have only had 1 ornamental bloom...BUT I have started over a few times..LOL This place is loaded with info and if you don't want to look it up "JUST ASK"... I have high hopes this yr most every thing stored under the house came out looking good.. FRUIT May be in my future...LOL Kylie

03-13-2009, 04:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a I just wish more bananas stored well bareroot without the chance of the pseudostem rotting. My raja puri was stored bareroot in the garage. It looks very promising since it still has a green leaf, but it's too early to tell of course. I have a very small dwarf orinoco that I hope survived the winter bareroot. The stem is still firm on it. I have had orinocos pseudostems rot before in the garage so they aren't totally foolproof. I wonder if I could buy some small plants from the homeowner/renter Lagniappe's photo. You can bet I'll certainly try to do just that in early spring! Will I be successful??? __________________ 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

03-17-2009, 10:17 PM	#17 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Hey Pete! Today, I drove past the house you found on North Pine Street in North Little Rock and found the bananas that you saw last summer! The stalks are huge and are still standing after a winter low of 12 degrees. They are, of course, brown stalks, and the smaller ones have fallen over, but the larger ones are still standing tall. Evidently, the duplex owners leave them to overwinter without protection other than the old fallen banana leaves that perished after the first freeze. I will certainly keep my eyes on these babies as the growth in one summer is pretty remarkable if the plant started from the ground level last year. It looked like no one was home at the time, and I question if anyone is living there at the moment (but probably so). When the bananas start sprouting, I will be determined to ask for a pup for us. It's close to work and the interstate. Just an update, buddy. __________________ 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

03-17-2009, 10:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Here is another house that grows bananas every year. I have yet to see them flower as I drive by occasionally to check on them. I believe these are regular orinocos. View Larger Map __________________ 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

03-17-2009, 10:35 PM	#19 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a Another house with a tall nanner tree! View Larger Map Can you tell I'm having fun with Google maps? __________________ 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 Last edited by austinl01 : 03-17-2009 at 10:45 PM.

03-17-2009, 10:47 PM	#20 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 270,849 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Banana Choices for Zones 7b/8a What are these peeking over the fence??? View Larger Map __________________ 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

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