The Holy Grail of Bananas

austinl01 · 10-25-2009, 09:24 AM

I wanted to see your different speculations about this. Do you think that there is a cold hardy edible banana somewhere in the world that can die back each winter and reliably produce tasty, ripe fruit each year? If so, will anyone actually find it? I wonder how much is actually being done to discover new varieties of bananas. Thoughts?

conejov · 10-25-2009, 10:28 AM

I don't think there is such a Banana. Because Bananas are monocarpic which mean they fruit then start to die.

Richard · 10-25-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01

I wanted to see your different speculations about this. Do you think that there is a cold hardy edible banana somewhere in the world that can die back each winter and reliably produce tasty, ripe fruit each year? If so, will anyone actually find it? I wonder how much is actually being done to discover new varieties of bananas. Thoughts?

Why does it need to die back? Wouldn't you be satisfied with fruiting banana that sustained during the winter and actually put out a leaf or two a month?

austinl01 · 10-25-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Why does it need to die back? Wouldn't you be satisfied with fruiting banana that sustained during the winter and actually put out a leaf or two a month?

Of course I'd be happy with that!!! No die back required that's for sure. I'd be really thrilled either way but green leaves all year would be awesome!

bigdog · 10-26-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Why does it need to die back? Wouldn't you be satisfied with fruiting banana that sustained during the winter and actually put out a leaf or two a month?

Richard, if there was a banana that didn't die down to the ground in a zone 7 winter, that would be great! However, no such banana exists. Even Musa basjoo will die back to the ground in a typical zone 7 winter. Austin lives in zone 8a, so he doen't get quite as cold, but I think any edible cultivar would die back to the ground each and every winter. The idea is to find (or breed) a banana that, WHEN it dies back to the ground in the winter, would have enough time to grow and mature a bunch of bananas in a 6 month growing season. That would definitely be the holy grail of bananas for colder-zone growers, and could revolutionize banana growing in general.

Frank

damaclese · 10-26-2009, 06:09 PM

Even here in my Zone 9 the leafs die and my growing season is considerably longer then 6 months i don't have any that keep there leafs or have ever fruited so its hard to say on that but I'm sure there will be one some day probably threw a genetic gene splicing i would think at the rate it takes to breed new plants it would have to be a mutation of a manipulation if you want it in are life time perhaps on of the hymilain speacies yet to be discoverd
i would think Ingens would keep its leafs in a zone 8 garden but it could never talarat the heat of summers in the lowlands but it takes years to fruit and its not edible

john_ny · 10-26-2009, 06:27 PM

I would think that what Austin had in mind here was something like,"Wouldn't it be nice if we could find an edible banana that could produce fruit, and some pups, die down, and then have one of the pups produce fruit the next year, and repeat the cycle?"

austinl01 · 10-26-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_ny

I would think that what Austin had in mind here was something like,"Wouldn't it be nice if we could find an edible banana that could produce fruit, and some pups, die down, and then have one of the pups produce fruit the next year, and repeat the cycle?"

Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking.

austinl01 · 10-26-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

Richard, if there was a banana that didn't die down to the ground in a zone 7 winter, that would be great! However, no such banana exists. Even Musa basjoo will die back to the ground in a typical zone 7 winter. Austin lives in zone 8a, so he doen't get quite as cold, but I think any edible cultivar would die back to the ground each and every winter. The idea is to find (or breed) a banana that, WHEN it dies back to the ground in the winter, would have enough time to grow and mature a bunch of bananas in a 6 month growing season. That would definitely be the holy grail of bananas for colder-zone growers, and could revolutionize banana growing in general.

Frank

That's exactly what I had in mind, Frank. Now, that would be the holy grail for cold zone growers. I mean zone 8a isn't that cold, but it's cold enough to prohibit edible fruiting banana plants from producing fruit and maturing it on the plant each year.

Richard · 10-26-2009, 07:27 PM

How about the 'Illinois Banana' ?

austinl01 · 10-26-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

How about the 'Illinois Banana' ?

Tell me more about this new cultivar!

the flying dutchman · 10-26-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

How about the 'Illinois Banana' ?

Is that the one you have to peel with an axe?

CValentine · 10-26-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01

That's exactly what I had in mind, Frank. Now, that would be the holy grail for cold zone growers. I mean zone 8a isn't that cold, but it's cold enough to prohibit edible fruiting banana plants from producing fruit and maturing it on the plant each year.

Amen Brother...Being in Zone 8a with you!!
I am thrilled with a nicer climate than my old Zone 5 in Ohio, but would love to raise the bananas like in South Florida, California & Puerto Rico(and the Dominican Republic - just once I want a 1000 Fingers of my own(Luv ya IC!

).
Trying not to be envious - 'cause Fernie sees banana fruits from his plants & can eat them out of hand.
So I know if I can find a way to weather it over - I will be successful in my Zone.

So I'll be watching - all my plants are green, plump & beautiful despite the outside temps hitting 50 degrees & cold rain.
Except my AeAe - it's inside!

~Cheryl

Richard · 10-26-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01

Tell me more about this new cultivar!

"Illinois Banana" = North American Paw Paw, Asimina triloba.

10-25-2009, 09:24 AM	#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 : 168,416 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	The Holy Grail of Bananas I wanted to see your different speculations about this. Do you think that there is a cold hardy edible banana somewhere in the world that can die back each winter and reliably produce tasty, ripe fruit each year? If so, will anyone actually find it? I wonder how much is actually being done to discover new varieties of bananas. Thoughts? __________________ 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

10-25-2009, 10:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
conejov Rabid Nanner Location: Houston, Tx Zone: 9 Name: Alex Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 559 BananaBucks : 91,290 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 40 Times Was Thanked 374 Times in 218 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 107 Times	Re: The Holy Grail of Bananas I don't think there is such a Banana. Because Bananas are monocarpic which mean they fruit then start to die. __________________

10-26-2009, 06:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
damaclese Living in Exile damaclese's Photo Gallery Location: Henderson NV Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Mediterranean climate Name: Paulo Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,767 BananaBucks : 288,521 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,352 Times Was Thanked 1,620 Times in 706 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 101 Times	Re: The Holy Grail of Bananas Even here in my Zone 9 the leafs die and my growing season is considerably longer then 6 months i don't have any that keep there leafs or have ever fruited so its hard to say on that but I'm sure there will be one some day probably threw a genetic gene splicing i would think at the rate it takes to breed new plants it would have to be a mutation of a manipulation if you want it in are life time perhaps on of the hymilain speacies yet to be discoverd i would think Ingens would keep its leafs in a zone 8 garden but it could never talarat the heat of summers in the lowlands but it takes years to fruit and its not edible __________________ Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

10-26-2009, 06:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,014 BananaBucks : 621,972 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,057 Times Was Thanked 2,284 Times in 832 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: The Holy Grail of Bananas I would think that what Austin had in mind here was something like,"Wouldn't it be nice if we could find an edible banana that could produce fruit, and some pups, die down, and then have one of the pups produce fruit the next year, and repeat the cycle?" __________________ John

10-26-2009, 07:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 556,298 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: The Holy Grail of Bananas How about the 'Illinois Banana' ? __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

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