okay

For the first time in many years growing ornamental bananas I have 2 different edible bananas blooming. I'll need to let them ripen indoors this winter. The Super Dwarf Cavendish is easy to bring in. The Orinoco is probably pushing 10-12 feet (total with pot) , and I'm not sure whether to bring it into the family room where it spent last winter (and lost all but one leaf) or the garage which is really not tall enough. I've read that in a pinch you can put the green bananas in a bucket of water in a garage or basement to ripen, but since it is in a pot (although huge) I'd rather try to bring it into the house in the pot. In the picture of the Orinoco you can see the Cavendish underneath it.

Any tips for eating bananas this winter? I live in zone 7b - Virginia - so outside is definitely not an option.

Len

Abnshrek

Indoors sounds better if you can't collect you bounty from it before your 1st frost.. :^)

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okay

How long from first emergence of the fruit does it take to be able to harvest green bananas and expect them to ripen? I read a post here that says 6 months. The SD Cavendish bananas are pretty small.

I'm debating whether to bring the Orinoco in now - before it has bananas that can be damaged in the move - or give it the month of September on the deck - as I would normally do. Moving it will be a 2-person job, leaning it over almost horizontal, one person supporting the crown, and dragging it through a door with a rug under the pot. Will the baby bananas that will be present a month from now survive this?

Indoors is fairly dry, light is lower despite skylights, and I usually get almost complete leaf loss by the end of the winter. Last winter it survived this process and was putting out a new leaf (finally) by spring.

okay

I moved the Dwarf Orinoco against the wall for support. Here is the bloom beginning to open.

Lemmysports

I have read that placing bowls of water in or around the pot (when it is indoors) is a good way to raise the humidity around said plant, and might help keep your bananas happier during the winter months.

okay

I should try that. Thanks!

andy17

Wow Len this is awesome! Congratulations on getting not one, but two flowers! It's good to know that it's possible for those of us who are growing bananas in containers north of the tropics to successfully get fruit as well. How long have you had your Orinoco and SDC? Also, what size pots are they in? Thanks!

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okay

The SD Cavendish has made it through a bunch of winters and had pups and pups and pups - probably 5 years old. I'll have to measure the pots - I am out of town right now. The Orinoco went through 1 winter in a cool greenhouse (upper 30s minimum) and then a second winter indoors - so it is 2 1/2 years old. The trick, I think, was to finally feed them well this summer. We also had a very wet summer. They got a lot of nitrogen and potassium instead of the usual Osmocote. I think that helped a lot.

okay

Both spent most of their life in pots 17" wide and 15" tall. I re-potted the Orinoco into a larger 22" x 20" pot this spring before starting the intensive feeding program.

Abnshrek

What's that? Banana Fuel? Azomite? or 0-0-50? Kelp? Fish Emulsion?

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okay

Miracle Grow, Humboldt Nutrients DeuceDeuce, and some fast acting balanced organic fertilizers in addition to the Osmocote.

Pallen

Bloomin' Awesome! (Sorry resistance was futile)

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