Bananaman88

Yesterday I was on a panel of the Food & Sustainability Conference held here in Houston. I was there to answer questions about community gardening. The topic of growing tropical-type plants came up since global warming seems to be more and more prevalent. I, of course, took the opportunity to mention that growing your own edible bananas was a very viable option for the Houston area. Afterwards, I had several people approach me wanting to know what types they could grow here. I just e-mailed them some info a few minutes ago and made sure to invite them to join the IBS. So, hopefully we'll have a few new members from the Houston area soon!

damaclese

nice to hear that thanks for all your hard work on behalf of are Little green planet heheh Pauly

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Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

Bananaman88

I know that banana growing isn't ever going to be large-scale here in SE TX but there is no reason why the average backyard (or front yard for that matter) gardeners can't grow some of their own bananas. If everyone who had a yard would devote just a little space and grow something for themselves it would help out so much. My vegetable garden is just 9' W x 13' L and I grow more in it than my wife and I can eat. I just redid it so it would have more soil-depth and am looking forward to planting my lettuce, cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard, etc for the winter. We are very fortunate here in the Houston area to be able to garden year round. In mid-Feb I put in my tomatoes, quickly followed by peppers, squash, okra, eggplant, and other things. Of course, my bananas are a part of my landscape along with some citrus, a fig, and a potted papaya I'm trying for the first time this year. I'd like to add some other edibles to the landscape but I haven't figured out where yet....too many bananas for some reason!

marksbananas

I know what you mean I am in the UK and everyone who sees my garden is amazed that i am growing banana plants outside, as for producing edible fruit that can not be achieved yet without help, but the cliamte is changing that much that it is possable to grow many types of bananas ouside now and honest evryone who sees my garden wants to know all about them, thinking of doing a recording as i keep saying the same things lol, and most people leave with a pup or 2 lol. The word is spreading

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Just Bananas about Bananas

Bananaman88

We've seen a huge increase in interest in starting community gardens this year as fuel prices, and therefore the price of food and everything else increases. So-much-so that we now have a program where I work soley devoted to helping citizens start community gardens in the Houston area. I know that community/urban gardens have been popular in Europe for a long time now. Several U.S. cities such as Boston, Seattle, and St. Paul, and many others have had programs going for years. I think we will see this trend continue as people become more concerned about where their food comes from and how it is handled. My hope is to introduce as many people as possible as I can to the possibilities of growing bananas in some of these gardens here, especially some of the dwarf varieties.

MediaHound

Sounds like a good time and that you got a bit accomplished, kudos.
Thanks for spreading the word about IBS!! It's a great thing that we have this platform to share information and ideas, plants, and good times.

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

Chironex

Kudos!

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Scot