Matt..I don't have any varieties except musa basjoo..I'm afraid of the red ones..aren't they less hardy?..my husband would complain if I bring any more plants in the house..my bananas are outside which is convenient..

The dwarf red produces edible bananas and is not hardy under zone 9. It's a nice change from straight green. All the bananas will be planted in the greenhouse. I know how addicting in can be! At least you can have the basjoo to watch spread.

my neighbor has one red banana in a pot (don't know the name) that she overwinters in her sunroom..she told me that she killed one..after hearing that I was afraid to try a red one..

Planted the first banana yesterday

It looks nice!..post pics as it grows..

The Apple banana has put out a new leaf. They might be getting slightly shorter, i'll have to measure.

YEP 3 inches shorter :) that's a good sign

Dwarf Red

Pisang Ceylon

Gorgeous!..I uncovered mine (they're inground)..one is starting to grow..pics when there's more to see..

I just re-read this post. Why is it a good thing for banana leaves to get shorter? Running out of space?

The leaves get slightly shorter as it get closer to flowering.

These were planted last week of April. There was zero transplant shock!! It's getting into the 90's F now w/low humidity. Citrus and bananas love it!

The dwarf cavendish that was planted in March is recovering and putting out a new leaf, I'll generate a photo of it when it looks a bit better.

Dwarf Red

The one that survived is quite healthy

This huge Raja Puri corm just came in the mail. It'll be planted today!

WAS doing great..but something chewed on it..bent the stem and I had to cut it..there's a pic in another post..it's growing again..will post a pic when I get a leaf..

Dwarf Red new leaf

Raja Puri starting to take off!

Raja Puri update

First pic- middle of Oct 2017 second pic July 2018

Here's a picture of my Dwarf Cavendish....

I love how the leaves keep getting bigger and bigger and they grow so fast.... One leaf opens and it already has another one all curled up inside. Very quick grower. I also can't keep up with all the "pups" I swear I've removed about 8 by now... and I actually got 1 to take and it's now a healthy small banana plant.... with it's own pups lol.... and the main "big plant" in the photo above where I already removed 8 pups has about 6 more pups all around the trunk.... I don't know if I should leave them or remove them... I feel the more I remove, the more that grow back.

I remember someone telling me why the Banana leaves have these red/purple marks but I thought it was only temporarily. All of the leaves have these marks and they never disappear.... It looks pretty cool I guess. The small pups and the main small pup in it's own container has pure green leaves.

Manzano leaves seem to be getting smaller..

pics from today..the bananas are growing (I'm thankful) but compared to my elephant ears they're pretty underwhelming..

They seem to really grow slow...? is your area shaded.. I see the row of hostas there.

I think they're slow too..it's not full sun but it's my sunniest spot..and east facing - good shelter from our winters..maybe once they get a good root system they'll speed up..they took a step backwards this year between record cold in early spring and an animal gnawing on one of them..

Pic from a few days ago

You make me sick..yours is so BIG!!

This has been growing year around for 2 years. Otherwise it would be smaller.

Are yours getting at least 8 hours of direct sun?

No..not even close..my lot is shady..the bananas are planted in the best growing spot in the entire half acre..I don't have great expectations..I would be happy with 4 feet of height..I just can't deprive myself of growing them even though my conditions aren't ideal..I think they're still cute!..I've been out of fertilizer but I got some (ecoscraps organic 5-5-5)..sprinkled it this morning..rain on the way..

Ahhh that's why they aren't getting that stiff one foot a week growth.. Well keep feeding and hopefully you'll get another foot by the end of the year:)

I noticed a flag leaf on my manzano this morning. Bananas o the way!!

I hope next year will be better..if I can avoid record cold in the spring and animal damage it will make a difference..

Update on the flower

First hand is showing

Matt..that's awesome..is this new for you?..or have you had these before?..

Yes first flower ever. I have tasted these bananas before and they are very good.

Wow, good job. What will happen now that fall is upon us?

that's quite an accomplishment in your climate!..my neighbor that grows musas (I've posted pics of them) told me a few days ago they're moving next year..I hate to see them go..wonderful people and great gardeners..can't help but wonder what will happen to the garden sigh..it's on her mind too..

Thanks, it must be a horrible feeling leaving all you've created behind, Although maybe she has a plan for the new place. If it's an apartment usually people are just done with gardening.

This banana will come inside and continue to grow.

they've started looking for a smaller one level house..I bet she'll get the new place first and move some plants before she sells..that's what another neighbor did..

10/04/18

Pisang Ceylon taking off again after being cut back in Sept

Dwarf Cavendish

Another Pisang Ceylon in a container

Here's an update of my dwarf Cavendish. I'm probably going to bring it in permanently on Friday.

I started reading articles over wintering bananas... I'm not sure if I'm going to approach the "cut off everything and put it in a cool dark room" or I should let it be.

Since it's so small I would brig it inside and let it grow over winter in a sunny location with good heat.

Dwarf Red pushing out a new leaf

Raja Puri

Pisang Ceylon