BackyardBananaCA

Does anyone know how cold hard Zebrinas are? I picked up one for its beauty and dropped it in the ground back in April. It's done quite well in the CA valley heat (zone 9). Prior to winter, should I transplant it to a 20 gallon pot and protect it from frost & cold? I would hate to see it die to the ground like my Cavendish do.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showp...to=248&cat=500

JoeReal

These are as worst off as cavendishes go. I have mine potted, and will bring them into the garage when min temp starts to go down below 38 deg F. I keep an eye on the forecast. When stored in the garage, take off the leaves except for the top unfurled one, and then water sparingly only once a month until the min temperature outside starts to climb consistently above 38 deg F, bring them out.


But there are two types of red bananas, based on literature, and they differ a lot in terms of cold hardiness. The sellers are confusing the names of the two types so it is really hard to find the cold hardy one.

According to Graf Exotica Musa sumatrana (from Sumatra) is a smaller and more cold-tolerant plant than Musa zebrina (from Java). The regular zebrina, which looks like the sumatrana, is only hardy in Zones 9-11. There are also several names for this plant and nurseries could get confused as to which one is the real zebrina (less tolerant of cold) and the real sumatrana (cold tolerant). A number of horticultural 'forms' of some of the subspecies seem to be in cultivation. These tend to be given different names by different nurseries or different literature e.g. 'Sumatrana', 'Zebrina', 'Rubra' and 'Rojo'. The fruit is sweet, edible but seeded. Rated for zone 7-11.

BackyardBananaCA

JoeReal,

Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling I would need extra cold protection with this variety. When I bought the plant it said "Red Banana," but based on pictures I've seen, I'm assuming it's one of the varieties you mentioned. I new it was more of an indoor plant, but I couldn't resist planting this beautiful banana out in the garden. How big have yours gotten in Davis?

I planted a cavendish below one of my bedroom windows. I call it "self-pruning." Since it dies to the ground each year, it never gets tall enough to block the window, just grows fuller and super dwarf looking.