wim

Hi,

I thought that the best place to grow bananas is in full sun. But now I read that it is more important to give them a sheltered place, protected from both the wind (I can understand that) and from midday sun.

Do I have to look for a shady place for my plants ? I was planning to plant them outside in the most sunny location of my garden, so they would warm up early and stay warm for the longest time possible.

I live in zone 8.

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With kind regards
Wim

momoese

Full sun, all day sun, no shade, south facing wall for heat in the cool fall evenings.

Zac in NC

It depends on the species. I know most of the itinerans varieties ( xishuangbannaensis, guangdongensis, itinerans) are shade plants. Basjoo can be planted in all conditions. Which species or Cultivars are you wondering about?

Zac

wim

At this moment I only have Musa Sikkimensis and Musella lasiocarpa. I'd sure like a Musa bashoo too.

I've read on this list that the California Gold might be more frost resitant than bashoo, so I'd like that one too. If only I can get one... Can one sow California Gold or is it a seedless banana?

Of course, I'd like to plant more species outside. But I'm not sure what other species would survive. I've found a lot of contradictory information on the net. Especialle (eBay) vendors tend to declare or suggest many bananas to be frost resistant (... a recently discovered and very rare species, found in the mountains of India/Nepal/Tibet. It appears to be even more frost resitant than Musa Bashoo ....)

__________________
With kind regards
Wim

muffen

I know everyone always says lots and lots of sun. However, I live in Tucson where the sun can get very intense in the summer. I planted mine on an eastern exposure so they would get morning and midday sun, but not the intense afternoon sun. They also have southern exposure for more warmth in the winter. I don't know what species I have. But (once if figured out how much to water them) they have been doing very very well. Even with this the leaves fold over as soon as the sun is over head and pop back up once they have partial shade again. A friend of mine has some of the same pups and planted one in partial shade and two in full sun and his partial shade is actually doing better than the full sun ones. I think sun vs. shade prob has a lot to do with a) how much can you water them and b) how much humidity you have. I would hazard a guess that if Tucson had more humidity the plants might do better in full sun.

PaulOdin

Belgium in September? Full sun, and consider how you will protect them in the Winter.
Once they are established full sun will never be a problem for you, but sometimes there is damage when they are moved to a sunny place after being in a location with more shade. I just moved a 3 foot Red Iholeni to full sun and it took a lot of leaf damage... but I am in Florida.

Paul

Gard

Plants might sometimes get burned leafs of the shock of the moving. I moved my avocado plant from shade to inside the greenhouse. It was in a pot. All the leafs died, and the two branches it had got brown. I cut the branches off and let the plant stay there, didn't care to move it yet. It got loads of new leafs and looks healthier then ever. That was just the shock, when it wasn't used to temperature and sun.
I don't know if it is the same with bananas though, but most plants likes the place they got from the beginning.

Gard

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wim

Thank you all for the great feedback !

__________________
With kind regards
Wim