r3tic

I'm looking to grow some bananas that have edible fruit and that don't grow very large. I will have to bring the plants indoors every year as I live in z5b. I do have access to overwintering under a 250w Halide grow light but the ceiling limits me to about 6' of height under the light.

I have recently picked up some muse velutina seeds that will hopefully germinate for me.

Thanks for any suggestions.

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Bob

Hi r3tic. I'm not an expert and you'll probably get some other advice but I would start out with Dwarf cavendish, D. Namwah and D.orinoco. You may want to check out some of the posts in the cold hardy banana section as well. I reccomend you check out"time to put the bananas to sleep for the winter" in the cold hardy section, this post has been running for years and you may find it changes your opinion of what you can succesfully grow. If you thoroughly explore this site you'll find lots of good info to get you going.Good Luck,Bob

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Chironex

There are some edibles that may be suitable. I don't know if you realize it, but velutina (M. dasycarpa) is a seeded, non-edible banana.
The second issue is that I wonder whether you can ripen the fruit with your halide set-up?
Plant suggestions are: Super Dwarf Cavendish, Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Nino and Dwarf Lady Finger. With the limited ceiling height of 6 ft, perhaps the SDC would be your best option.

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Scot

Richard

Super Dwarf Cavendish (SDC) if you must keep it under 6 feet. Also, you'll want a 20-gallon tub that is more wide than tall. If it fruits in the fall and you want it to mature on the plant, you'll need a total of 750W in Halide lamps -- ideally from multiple lamps around the plant. I think the cost in electricity would not be worth it.

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harveyc

I have a Logee's Dwarf Ladyfinger in a bay window seat in my house. I've only had it for a few weeks and it is growing well, putting out its second new leaf. Greenie had it fruit at 3' tall a year or two ago so I thought I'd try growing this one banana in my house and put it outside next spring. Logee's had sent me an e-mail coupon so I decided to give it a try.

I've got other taller bananas in a greenhouse (and others over-wintering in the ground), but I'd like to see how well the Logee Dwarf Landyfinger can handle a home environment for part of the year.

Harvey

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r3tic

So it looks like the Super Dwarf Cavendish is going to be my best option. I am also interested in the Dwarf Nino and Dwarf Lady Finger from what I've read on them. I also intend to pick up a Basjoo for outdoor planting.

Two more questions....

1: Can anyone recommend a good tasting dwarf red banana?

2: What is the best source to get the above mentioned species at a good price?(willing to accept donations to help me get started )

Thanks for the replies so far.

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stumpy4700

If you can wait til spring I can send you a 1 to 2 ft Basjoo.. Just cost you the price of shipping.

r3tic

That would be greatly appreciated!

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CookieCows

Well no matter what.... don't give up hope!! I still have a teeny, weeny glimmer of hope that someday I'll get fruit but I stopped thinking about it a whole lot recently when my ornamental nanas (bronze lateritas) shrivled and died in the house. Not the plants.. the fruit. I thought it would be a good test of what would happen with edible fruit.

My next attempt is going to be to leave a couple of my Dwarf Orinocos in pots outside during the summer this year and not go through the stress of digging them up to bring in for the winter and see if that helps. Boy they get really big though but don't know if they will get as tall in a pot? What I plan to do next is to order some fruit at some point from mediahound. RareBananas.com - Rare banana plants shipped live to your door. I noticed that he sometimes has fruit he'll ship.

The cold hardy section of the forum is loaded with good info.

Deb

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r3tic

CookieCows...Thanks for the info...I'm not one to give up very easily when it comes to anything. I am trying to get a vanilla orchid to bloom so I can make some vanilla at home. Problem is I don't have a green house and it needs to be around 50' to bloom and the stupid squirels keep biting chunks off...grrrr....anyway, off to the cold hardy section.

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damaclese

i have a vary nice article writing by Carol Segal the president of my orchid society for orchid digest on the vanilla orchid its history and culture if you would like a copy

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Chironex

Are you looking for edible bananas, or ornamental bananas? I would suggest a Dwarf Jamaican red. In a container, they probably will get to 6 feet tall at the tip of the pstem, so it might be a tight squeeze for you. It's the smallest, edible, red banana that I can remember.

It is nice of Stumpy to offer a basjoo to you. Basjoo is a non-edible, seeded variety, but will grow in your climate. You will want to put it in the ground outside and provide some protection for the winter.

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Scot

r3tic

damaclese: I would be very interested in that article thank you.

Chironex: As far as the red banana, yes I am looking for a small edible variety. Thanks for the suggestion I'll do some looking up on it. As far as the basjoo goes, I do intend to plant it outside. I've been looking for something to help shade my deck which recieves full sun, and I'd prefer to not have something everyone else in the neighborhood already has. I think a banana will fit the bill quite nicely.

Thanks again to all, still looking for sources.

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