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  • From: Geoffrey Tolle <Gtolle0709@wowway.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Winter Hardy Tropicals
  • Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:53:34 -0500

Folks,

I've been researching zone 5 hardy tropicals with an eye towards trying to grow some within the next couple of years. I still have a lot to research but I have a few questions that some of you pioneers may be able to answer.

1) Bamboo - Does anyone know if the physical characteristics of the Canebrake Bamboo (Arundinaria gigantiea) compare with those of, say Phyllostachys nuda? In particular, I am thinking about both use as structural rods and the edibility of the shoots.

2) Banana - The winter-hardy banana from Japan (Musa basjoo) is listed everywhere as producing inedible fruit. Is this inedible inedible or is this banana inedible but maybe plantain edible. Also, does the fruit (even if inedible) mature in zone 5-6? I wonder in terms of possible cross-pollination with a more edible species and selecting from seedlings (not that I know anything about breeding bananas).

3) Oranges - Ponicirus trifoliata is listed as having fruit that is inedible (bitter, I assume) or lemon-like. What are people's experiences out there? Is it worth growing as a lemon substitute? Does the fruit mature in sone 5? Does anyone have experience with any of the other winter-hardy hybrids out there?

4) Palms - A number of palm species appear to be moderately winter-hardy. Does anyone have any experience with the fruit? The descriptions that I've read suggest that the flesh is thin but potentially edible.

I'm sure that many other questions will occur to me over the next year or two but these are important for deciding where I want to direct my attention. Thanks.


Geoffrey Tolle




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