[pbs] Bananas
James Waddick
jwaddick at kc.rr.com
Wed Feb 11 09:12:37 EST 2009
Dear Christine,
I hesitate to answer here.
As you are in a cooler climate (Philadelphia area) your
ability to grow bananas as a reliable addition to your pantry is a
task of frustration and starvation. As easy as bananas can be in warm
tropics, obtaining fruit in colder climate is generally a rarity
worthy of local interest newspaper coverage.
As an ornamental container plant, there are many excellent
choices and they are fairly easy. It sounds like you have tried and
failed. I consider this a bad sign as undemanding as they are. All
species can be grown in large pots for years with success. They need
copious water in the growing season, full (or nearly full with few
exceptions) and a vigorous fertilization program.
Let me make a couple of suggestions:
1 For an array of taste banana treats go to any large
oriental market of all persuasions (Chinese, Thai etc) and try all
available, although usually few, you may be able to find finger
bananas, red skinned bananas, 'burros' etc. Allow them to ripen
fully. I know there are some on the Philidelphia metro area
2. Give up any attempt to grow bananas for fruit.
3. Try again with an ornamental plant using the guidelines
suggest above. Among the easiest are the Dwarf Cavendish, Sumatrana
or Zebra (although there are various sorts here) and the increasingly
available Japanese Fiber Banana or Hardy Banana, Musa basjoo. The
latter can be grown outdoors there and with minimal winter care reach
ample size and provide a fantastic tropical air to even an small
urban garden. Buy a potted plant and move it to a large pot after
the last frost.
4 With some humility read a basic book such as 'Bananas You
Can Grow' -described as "the best book ever written on bananas" when
it was published. This is by the noted world authorities Waddick and
Stokes (ahem).
Good luck. Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +
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