nostodm

what can anyone tell me about which varieties of dwarf banana will grow and fruit outside in the Willamette Valley of Oregon ? I am zone 8 acording to Burgess, and zone 9 according to Arbor Day. I have starts of pitaya and edible hibiscus, angels trumpet, snowball bush, maples, curly willow, birch ( the trees are in the 5' + size), and other stuff to trade for starts. I have been growing everything in pots for years and am working on moving to inground plantings, so the extras need new homes

pniksch

What Sunset zone are you?

nostodm

ZONE 6: The Willamette and Columbia River Valleys

Warmer summers and cooler winters distinguish Zone 6 from coastal Zone 5. Tucked between the Coast Range and the Cascades, Zone 6 includes the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Columbia River Valley between Vancouver and Longview, and the Cowlitz drainage from Longview to Toledo.

The Coast Range buffers the impact of Pacific storms, but Zone 6 is still a maritime climate,with a long growing season (from 155 days at Cottage Grove to 280 days in Portland neighborhoods) and 40 to 55 inches of annual precipitation most places. The continental influence is felt two to four times each winter when chilly interior air flows west through the Columbia Gorge and produces wind and freezing rain clear to the Portland airport. In spite of this, Portland is among the mildest parts of Zone 6—a great place to experiment with borderline plants like eucalyptus, acacias, and oleanders. Summer temperatures in Zone 6 average 10 to 15°F (5 to 8°C) higher than those along the coast, while winters are cold enough to trigger good fruit set. Ten-year extremes average 0 to 10°F (–18 to –12°C). Warm summers and chilly winters make the Willamette Valley one of the West’s best-known growing areas for berries, hazelnuts, roses, flowering fruit trees, and broadleafed evergreens.

The Willamette Valley’s hills and small mountain ranges create many microclimates. South- and west-facing slopes are warm enough to produce world-class Pinot Noir grapes, while northand east-facing slopes are perfect for shade tolerant plants like rhododendrons, fatsias, and camellias. These hills have perfect air drainage, so winters get less frost than the valley floor.

I am located in the upper quarter of Willamette Valley, 45 miles south of Portland, in the middle of lots of winerys.

pniksch

I'm referring to the Sunset Western Garden Book climate zones. They break down the areas of western states in more detail than the USDA zones (although growers outside of the western states don't generally use them). Sunset's zones factor in elevation, proximity to the ocean, micro-climates, heat, fog, etc., things the USDA map just doesn't factor in. Check them out online- use their zone map just like the USDA zone finder, by putting in your zip code. It's a great resource for growing everything else too- not just bananas.
Paul

alemily

Sunset zone 6 is correct for nostodm's location.

Truth be told, the cool wet winters there will be a death sentence for in-ground fruiting bananas. If you want bananas that fruit, you'll have to look at varieties that do well in pots and can be hauled indoors for winter (i.e. dwarf cavendish, dwarf namawah for example)....or you can do what many other northern growers do. Dig up your pseudostem and corm in the fall and store it over the winter.

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Fruting: Pisang Awak, Rajapuri, Dwarf Brazilian, Gros Michel, Dwarf Red, FHIA-1 'Goldfinger', Veinte Cohol, FHIA-3 'Sweetheart'
Ornamental/Species: M. bauensis, M. velutina, M. "Milky Way", M. "African Red"

caliboy1994

Try Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Namwah, California Gold, or possibly Raja Puri.

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pniksch

I agree with alemily that pots are probably the best way for you to go.
Not to put too fine of a point on my admiration for the Sunset Climate Zones for the west, but you and I are in the same USDA zone (8), but I think everyone agrees that the growing conditions and 'climate' of the Portland area vs. Dallas TX are nothing alike. Good luck!

sunfish

Does not matter what zone.If it gets 32f you better protect the plants

pniksch

Very true Sunfish. My point was to offer some additional resources, beyond and including Bananas, to assist a fellow grower. Freezing is freezing.

Abnshrek

Frost doesn't hold any prisoners either. :^)

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nostodm

thank you all for your info, I was leaning toward dwarf only in a protected area, western exposure, below a hill, next to where the green house will be. I think I will have to expand the greenhouse so there is room for a few larger occupants like bananas