Does anyone have any tips for growing banana trees? I’m in zone 8a due to the “cold” winters, but from April to November the temps are around 70-100 degrees with high humidity. I’ve heard that banana trees can withstand being frozen back in the winter, but come back the next year. Is it realistic to get bananas from them or will they not have enough time to produce? The only time temperatures drop below freezing is from late December to early February.
It will depend on the banana, they are NOT all cold hardy... most are good down to 50°F though a small % are cold hadry to a bit zero. But keep in mind that cold hardiness is often tested on in-ground plants, so if you get freezing and below you would need to insulate. You could also keep them indoors in winter and out in growing season while they are smaller. Youll also want to look at ones that have a faster harvest time. Like my Veinte Cohol (specifically bought fir cold hardiness and fruiting ability in my zone)has about a 2 month harvest time from flowering. Where as my red siam, dwarf cavendish and blue Java can be much longer.
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I’m in zone 8 and have about 30 banana trees. They are HUGE! Some as tall as my house. I literally don’t do anything. They love it here. Will fall after the 1st freeze and I cut them to the ground and then in March they come back bigger and better with about triple the amount each year. I have them all over, front, back and lining the driveway
0 likes I do get bananas about every three years, but they are not edible. They stay pretty green because we do not have long enough hot enough summers, but they do grow in big bunches and I use the peels for my watering and throw the bananas away.
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