I'm planning to keep my banana tree in a container indoors, currently the container is too small so I'm forced to transplant the tree. I don't know if it's recommended to separate the "mother stalk" from the smaller stalks if I only have 2 others. I also want to know what soil mixture I should use in the pot I will be transplanting the tree into, what minimum temp.I should keep the tree at, and what organic fertilizers are recommended by other gardeners to use on this plant.

Pineapples will not be worth your time. You can keep then as potted plants and they will bloom and fruit eventually, but the fruit wont taste very good They are really interesting plants though so I would give them a try just because of that. Bananas are a great choice for your area. It will take a few years to get fruit, but once your plants are mature, you will be getting fruit (or at least blooms) every year. Again, its not really a plant that you can grow for fruit in your area, but they are really beautiful and you will get fruit eventually if you give them lots of care (and sun, water, plant food, and heat). Here are some varieties with a short description Musa Basjoo- They will survive your winters and they are the most cold hardy banana currently known. I would mulch them during the winter just to make sure they come back, but if you get them from a good nursery they should be fine. They are not evergreen and they will not make edible fruit. However, they look beautiful and they will make bananas (just ones with lots of seeds). They can grow 20 feet tall or more when older and they grow at least 5-10 feet in height a year! Musa Velutina- They might survive your winters. You can easily dig it up if you dont want to risk it. They are small plants as far as bananas are concerned. The fruit is very interesting because its a pink color. Its edible, but you have to work around the large seeds. Apparently they taste pretty decent, but I never tried them. They look beautiful in bloom anyway. Musa Saba- They could also be hardy, but I would dig it up and store it in a garage or your home just to be safe. Bananas are actually very easy to store. You just dig them up around the time of first frost (probably best to dig them up right before first frost) and you can pot them up and bring them in. They wont grow much indoors, but you cant take them back out in the spring and they will grow again. Musa Saba is one of the largest bananas in the world. They can grow up to 40 feet! They make edible bananas but I think you can only eat them if you cook them. These bananas taste pretty good! Musa "Ice cream"- A very popular banana because it taste very good. They are especially popular in Hawaii. I have seen people get these to fruit in pretty cold climates. They dig them up and bring them in for the year and you should do the same. They can reach 20-30 feet tall according to conditions. The bananas are kind of bluish so some people call them "Java Blue Bananas". They are not cold hardy to your area so definitely dig them up. There are tons of other banana species (1000's) and you can try to grow them. They all grow the same way and to be honest, the plants themselves look pretty similar to each other unless you really know a bit about banana plants. Good luck! Banana plants are really fun plants to watch grow. You should at least grow them for the tropical look and if you get them to fruit, you will instantly feel like you have been transported to the tropics! -Alex

Understand that a lot of the information out there concerns commercial growing - so there are plenty of people saying "you can't grow apples here" when what they really mean to say is "apples take some extra effort to get a decent harvest". The southeast is full of pests and diseases that affect fruit trees. You can manage most of them but you'll only win the battle and not the war. New pests pop up every now and then - things our grandparents never had to deal with. In my zone 7b Raleigh NC garden I get good crops with no spraying on mulberries, muscadines, table grapes, serviceberries, strawberries, goumis, jujube, elderberries, raspberries, blackberries, wineberries, aronia, kiwi (fuzzy and hardy), cranberries, figs, pawpaw and blueberries. I get good crops with low spraying on quince, cherries, bush cherries, 'Arkansas Black' apples. I get good crops with lots of spraying on Asian Pears, Asian Plums, European Plums, 'Orient' Pear, 'William's Pride', 'Gold Rush', 'Horse' apples. Note that most of the named cultivars are "disease resistant" and I still have to spray them because they still catch diseases, they just don't get overwhelmed with disease like most of the more common cultivars. Regardless of what the books say, if you snoop around you will find gardeners growing things that aren't supposed to do well in your area. Sometimes that means you have to do a lot of extra work. Some people might not think it is worth it.

LOL......probably not the place to post this. Aplogies to Kristy for partial hijack of this thread. Here is a quick cut and paste from an Excel list I keep of what I am growing. It is missing some new additions and it needs to be further updated....but you can kind of get the idea. ananas comosus pineapple Borneo ananas comosus pineapple Royal Hawaiian ananas comosus pineapple Smooth Cayenne ananas comosus pineapple unknown pink a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya Petch Pakchong a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya Petch Pakchong Annona diversifolia ilama Fairchild Annona diversifolia Ilama genova red annona mucosa rollinia seedling annona muricata soursop fiberless graft annona muricata soursop Wilson seedless annona squamosa sugar apple Green annona squamosa sugar apple Red annona squamosa sugar apple Lessard seedling annona squamosa sugar apple Kampong Mauve artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Red morning artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Bangkok Lemon artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Black Gold artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Borneo Red artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Borneo Red artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Dang Rasimi artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 1 grafted artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 2 graft artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 1 seedling artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 3 seedling artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Rien Baht artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Orange Crisp sdlg artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Bk Gldx Tabouey artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Tabouey x J30 artocarpus lingnanensis kwai muk seedling averrhoa carambola starfruit Arkin averrhoa carambola starfruit Bell averrhoa carambola starfruit Karri averrhoa carambola starfruit Thai Night averrhoa carambola starfruit Sri Kembangan averrhoa carambola starfruit Fwang Tung averrhoa carambola starfruit Hart averrhoa carambola starfruit PossomTrot averrhoa carambola starfruit sdlg of Kari bouea macrophylla maprang/gandaria Kai butia capitata pindo palm jelly palm carica papaya papaya seedling carica papaya papaya seedling casimiroa edulis white sapote Redland casimiroa edulis white sapote Sue Belle casimiroa edulis white sapote Younghan's gold cereus peruvianus Pitaya Puerto Rican cereus peruvianus Pitaya ? chrysophylium cainito starapple color? citrus aurantium orange BLOOD citrus aurantium orange BLOOD citrus aurantium orange Florida Navel citrus aurantium orange Florida Navel citrus aurantium orange Red Navel citrus grandis pummelo hirado buntan citrus grandis pummelo chinese white citrus limon lemon Meyers citrus paradisi grapefruit Marsh Pink citrus paradisi grapefruit Rita's Pink citrus reticulata Satsuma Mandarin Owari Owari c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo x mandar. Page c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo Ugli c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo Ugli coffea arabica coffee seedling diospyros digyna black sapote grafted durio zibethinus durian seedling erybotria japonica loquat Bradenton erybotria japonica loquat Christmas diospyros digyna black sapote Joyner's everbear. eugenia braziliensis grumichama seedling eugenia braziliensis grumichama seedling eugemia cassioides monos plum seedling eugenia uniflora surinam cherry Zill Black euphoria longana longan Biew Kiew euphoria longana longan Kohala euphoria longana longan See Champoo euphoria longana longan E Daw euphoria longana longan Daigleman euphoria longana longan Tommy Wong euphoria longana longan rolling leaf euphoria longana longan seedling feijoa sellowiana feijoa or pineapple guava seedling guava Cooliidge ficus carica fig Celeste garcinia livingstonei Imbe seedling female garcinia mangostana mangosteen Grafted hylocereus ? Dragon Fruit Giant Vietnamese hylocereus ? Dragon Fruit Thai Red hylocereus guatamalensis Dragon Fruit American Beauty hylocereus polyrhizus Dragon Fruit Zamorano h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Delight h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Hailey's Comet h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Physical Graffiti hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit Dark Star hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit David Bowie hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit Purple Haze litchi chinensis lychee Bengal litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth 3 litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth 3 litchi chinensis lychee Brewster litchi chinensis lychee Brewster litchi chinensis lychee Emperor litchi chinensis lychee Emperor sdlg litchi chinensis lychee Farwell Farms litchi chinensis lychee Garnet litchi chinensis lychee Groff litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Kaimana litchi chinensis lychee Kaimana litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Large Early Red litchi chinensis lychee Mauritius litchi chinensis lychee Mauritius litchi chinensis lychee Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Red Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Peerless litchi chinensis lychee Pink Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Seymour litchi chinensis lychee Sweetheart litchi chinensis lychee Sweetheart macadamia integrifolia macadamia nut Dana White malus spiecies apple Fuji mammea americana mamey apple Kay Sweeny mangifera indica mango Angie mangifera indica mango AllampurBaneshanFairchild Gardens mangifera indica mango Alphonso mangifera indica mango Bailey's Marvel mangifera indica mango Beverly mangifera indica mango Bombay mangifera indica mango Brahm Kai Mea mangifera indica mango Brahm Kai Mea mangifera indica mango Carabao seedling mangifera indica mango Carabao seedling mangifera indica mango Carrie mangifera indica mango Carrie, seedling mangifera indica mango Chou Anon mangifera indica mango Coconut Cream mangifera indica mango Cogshall mango mangifera indica mango Cogshall mango mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Dian guaw mangifera indica mango Dot mangifera indica mango Dot mangifera indica mango Duncan mangifera indica mango East Indian mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Emerald mangifera indica mango Eweis mangifera indica mango Excalibur mangifera indica mango Extrema mangifera indica mango Fairchild mangifera indica mango Falang mangifera indica mango Florigon mangifera indica mango Gary mangifera indica mango Glenn mangifera indica mango Golden Lippens mangifera indica mango Graham mangifera indica mango Golden Nugget mangifera indica mango Haden mangifera indica mango Hatcher mangifera indica mango Ice cream mango mangifera indica mango Imam Pasand mangifera indica mango Irwin mandifera indica mango Ivory mangifera indica mango Jakarta mangifera indica mango Jean Ellen mangifera indica mango Jamaican Black mangifera indica mango Julie mangifera indica mango Kau Dwarf mangifera indica mango Keitt mangifera indica mango Kensington Pride mangifera indica mango Keow Savoy mangifera indica mango Kent mangifera indica mango Lancetilla mangifera indica mango Langra Benarsi mangifera indica mango Lemon Zest mangifera indica mango Madame Blanc mangifera indica mango Madame Francis mangifera indica mangi Malindi mangifera indica mango Mallika mangifera indica mango Mallika seedling mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Martinez (Wolf) mangifera indica mango Martinez (Wolf) mangifera indica mango Mystery mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai See Tong..Bruce Livingston mangifera indica mango Neelum mangifera indica mango Nong Sang mangifera indica mango Okrong mangifera indica mango Okrong Pi Kun Tong Bruce Livingston mangifera indica mango Palmer mangifera indica mango Pettigrew mangifera indica mango Phillippine mangifera indica mango Pickering mangifera indica mango Pim Sen Mung mangifera indica mango Pim Sen Mung mangifera indica mango Piniero mangifera indica mango Po Pyo Kalay mangifera indica mango Rapoza mangifera indica mango Rataul mangifera indica mango Rhett Tong mangifera indica mango Rosigold mangifera indica mango San Felipe mangifera indica mango Sia Tong mangifera indica mango Springfels mangifera indica mango Southern Blush mangifera indica mango Spirit of 76 mangifera indica mango ST. Maui mangifera indica mango Tebow (ed x kent) mangifera indica mango Ta Rob Nok mangifera indica mango Tommy Atkins mangifera indica mango Tog Bi Con mangifera indica mango Tong Dam mangifera indica mango Thai Everbearing mangifera indica mango Thai Everbearing x Cushman (my seed) mangifera indica mango Valencia Pride mangifera indica mango Unknown seedling mangifera indica mango Vallanato mangifera indica mango Van Dyke mangifera indica mango Zill mangifera indica mango Zebda manilkara zapota sapodilla Alano manilkara zapota sapodilla Hasya manilkara zapota sapodilla Hasya manilkara zapota sapodilla Molix manilkara zapota sapodilla Oxcutzcab Melicoccus bijugatus mamoncillo PuertoRican melicoccus bijugatus mamoncillo PuertoRican monstera deliciosa monstera corm morus nigra mullberry Pakistani musa hybrids banana apple musa hybrids banana Goldfinger musa hybrids banana Brazilian musa hybrids banana ice cream musa hybrids banana Jamaican Red myciaria glomerata yellow jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myristica fragrans nutmeg seedling pachira aquatica malibar chestnut seedling passiflora quadrangularis granadilla cutting persea americana avocado Brogdan persea americana avocado Choquette persea americana avocado Doni persea americana avocado Miguel persea americana avocado Oasis persea americana avocado October persea americana avocado Russell persea americana avocado Pollack persea americana avocado sdlg flood resist. phoenix dactylifera date seedling phoenix dactylifera date seedling pouteria caimito abiu seedling pouteria caimito abiu seedling pouteria campechiana canistel Bruce pouteria Ross Sapote pouteria sapota mamey sapote Magana pouteria viridis green sapote grafted pyrus communis pear Hood pyrus communis pear Hood rheedia aristata same seedling rubus hybrid blackberry arapaho selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit orange sk/pink fsh selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit yellow selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit yellow spondias dulcis ambarella seedling spondias dulcis dwarf ambarella seedling synsepalum dulcificum miracle fruit seedling syzygium javanica wax jambu Kun Klao syzygium javanica wax jambu Pink syzygium malaccensis Malay Apple seedling Tamerindus indica Tamarind seedling Tamerindus indica Tamrind Sweet (not) theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Red theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Green theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Yellow theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate unknown pink vitus hybrid grape Tari's Burgundy Bunch Tari, Naples FL zyzyphus mauritiana Indian jujubee rootstock-thorny zyzyphus mauritiana Indian jujubee large sweet Other than these, I am not growing too much. Harry