There is a good, economical sources for your banana plants that I have used with good results called Florida Hills nursery. These plants are small but healthy and shipping is very reasonable. Actually I think you could buy from them and be cheaper than having someone ship you a pup. Here is the link Here is a link that might be useful: Flordia Hill nursery

That's a good question that I should probably try to narrow down. It was over a year. The growth slows down when I store them in the cellar during the winter though. So it would probably be faster in a tropical climate. I think it was about two feet tall when I bought it off of ebay. I have a pup that I separated last summer and brought in the house for the winter that is three feet tall now and another that I separated during the winter that is one foot tall now.

Funny story. Almost 30 years ago I moved from Wilmington, North Carolina to Tampa Bay. A friend told me, you are moving to Florida, take this banana plant. Up there, they keep them in containers and put them in their houses crawl space for the winter. This variety is not short; they run about 25 feet. But, they are not bothered too much by 27 degree nights. They get burned but come back and even give fruit the same year. The one in the photo had 29 degrees last winter. Others we have already harvested. I guess I could send a plant to someone really interested and willing to pay the expense or trade another fruit. I guess you could call this my North Carolina orinoco banana.

The bananas on my California Gold banana are progressing but next week the will be lows in the 50's so I'll have to bring this banana inside soon. Here is a link that might be useful: California Gold banana plant