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Fruit & Orchards

Question Re: Dwarf Banana Tree

tn_veggie_gardner

14 years ago

I received a Dwarf Banana Tree as part of a trade with a member on here. I have yet to send her back something, which I need to do asap! Anyways, I got it about 3 weeks ago. It was one big root with one tiny half green/half brown leaf on it. It did nothing for about the first week after I transplanted it. Then, it took off & has been growing like crazy for the past 2 weeks. The pic below is one taken of it 4 days ago. It has two more huge leaves now! =) My questions are follows: How big will it get? When will it start to produce fruit? Most inportantly, Do I need to take it indoors for the Middle TN Winter?? Our Winter isn't too bad. It might snow half an inch all season long, but the temps will get down into the 20's & 30's several days throughout it. Any & all help appreciated. Thanks! - Steve

{{gwi:122599}}

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Comments (7)

frozen_north
14 years ago
1. Dwarf Cavendish will mature at about 12' in tropical conditions. In typical indoor container culture, they rarely exceed 6'.

2. It is rare for bananas to fruit indoors. Otherwise, typically at 18-24 months.

3. Bananas are tropicals and will be killed by even a light frost, and cool weather around 40 degrees is enough to shock them.
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
14 years ago
Any other hints or tips for this drawf banana tree? I imagine i'll take it indoors sometime in September or October, when ever it starts to get cold. Should I pot it up into a bigger container next Spring?
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Do know the name of the banana? You're doing everything right at this point. Most bananas need 18 months or longer to produce fruit. You will probably get fruit this summer. You will get an indication that it's going to fruit by looking at the new leaves as they emerge. When a banana is ready to fruit, it begins putting out shorter leaves and the last leaf is a paddle shaped leaf. It's called the flag leaf and the bloom follows. Good luck. Steve
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frozen_north
14 years ago
To thrive, they have to have daytime temps in the mid 80s and nighttime temps above 70 or so. This is what makes them hard for the average grower.
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
14 years ago
frozen: Thanks! The thing is growing like mad. Of course, it's currently experiencing the TN Summer, which is quite close to what you describe as its ideal conditions. It's probably twice the size of the pic above right now. I haave to figure out where i'm going to put it in the Fall/Winter when it starts to get cold though. Maybe i'll get lucky & get a few bananas off it late next Summer. If I never get a single one off it, it's still a very beautiful plant. =)
gator_rider2
14 years ago
I grew banana tree in southeast georgia 4th year it was somewhat yellow in september. A vistor from KY came by one afternoon to get some wild grapes he said add 8 lbs 5-10-15 to tree next spring late feb. I cut truncks down to about 3 foot an add fertlizer that year there was no yellow look all green in oct. there was bunch banana that pop out. Every year after that I had 2 bunches banana's small but banana. Best time to look for banana bunch is day before Frost pick it if have bunch. Banana plant does like wet feet but don't grow in water incline that wet help mind there was sand and carpet grass in place I grew mind. People ho visited from cential fla. said mind tree look better theres. Potash more important as fertilizer than high nitegeon. If your truncks get 4 inches are larger cut them 4 foot up stalk if don't cut into green growth inside.
tn_veggie_gardner
Original Author
14 years ago
Here's an updated picture of it. Less than one week from the original one above. Amazing growth on these things! =)

{{gwi:122600}}
bajansun
14 years ago
Check the banana forum there is loads of information. Many people who live in cooler climates dig them up and bring them inside during the winter and then replant them in the ground in the spring/summer.

All your questions and more are on:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/banana/

Hope this helps!

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