GROWING BANANAS In COLD CLIMATES: My Secret Method!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Intro To How To Grow A Banana Plant 0:34 My Favorite Cold Hardy Banana Variety 1:31 The Banana Tree Is NOT A Tree! 2:24 Early Banana Harvest And Banana Taste Test 3:23 My New Banana Tree Bunch 4:05 Close Up Of The Banana Flower 4:53 Banana Growing Tips 7:18 Removing And Mulching A Banana Pseudostem 9:00 How To Protect Banana Trees From Cold: My Secret! 12:24 Adventures With Dale

[@khaledgorila]

why does your fig tree lost almost all of it leaves?

[@farmerdurrn]

I have some Raji puri bananas trying to fruit here in Baltimore md zone 7a…it’s not going so well lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@khaledgorila they are deciduous and the season is over. It is natural leaf drop. We will get a frost in 2-3 weeks and they’ll all be gone.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@farmerdurrn if you protect them over the winter, some may make it and you’ll get a huge head start. Bananas need a lot of fertilizer. I recommend 0-0-60 synthesized potash. Dump a 5 gallon bucket of water with 2 tablespoons of that on it once a month. I have some linked in my Amazon Storefront.

[@generalawareness101]

Are there any varieties for 7b?

[@rubyrichmond2700]

The leaves are edible too. Cut a leaf, remove the center stalk. Roll the leaf and cut across in strips much like doing collards. Can steam or cook in a bit of water, etc. Tastes a lot like green beans.

[@sashaarr7122]

Thank you so much

[@haramsaddam238]

Great for wrapping and cooking meat in too. Many cultures do it

[@joshuahoyer1279]

My wife just bought me a dwarf orinoco pup and a blue java pup for my birthday. Can't wait to try to baby these to maturity!

[@shondra6]

Thanks for sharing about the colder weather. I live in Aussie where I don’t have to worry too much where I am. The home grown bananas taste so much better. 🙏💜🇦🇺

[@edenespaldon6468]

Slice the tender portion of the banana blossom, starting from the bottom tip. In a bowl, mix it with salt, squeeze to remove sap and extra water. In a pan on medium heat, mix wit crushed garlic, ginger strips, hot pepper if preferred, a little salt, pour in a can of coconut milk, fresh or dried shrimps. Mix, cover and let it simmer until most of coconut milk has dried up.

[@thomasiadarola35]

Thanks for all your video's on all the different plants and trees. I'm in zone 6 so my season is very short. I just came across this video and had to laugh when you were talking about the banana Flower. I have had my Musa Basjoo for about 4 years and this year I had NO idea what was happening to it . I told my wife "I think my banana plant thinks it's a Coconut tree. I did not know it was a flower. I also got a bunch of little banana's about as big and long as my thumb. So again that for all your info. Also love your Fig video's.

[@ChadRizzardi]

Just wanted to say thanks for the quality and informative videos. I’m going to be starting a master gardeners program and am really excited. Thanks again 😊

[@AmandaP111]

I grow banana trees here in TN. I have a bunch that are East facing (morning sun only) and a bunch that’s south facing(sun from about 2pm til sunset), the ones facing East do the best, they also fruited 1st. In the fall after the 1st hard frost I cut the trees down to 2 or 3 foot stumps and 95% of them come back just fine in the spring, no protection what so ever. I just grow them cause I like the way they look in my landscape not really for the fruit but I’ll take it too. Lol.

[@missbttrsctch]

Was the fruit edible? Which variety?

[@AmandaP111]

@@missbttrsctch I’m not sure. I cut the trees down in the fall, after a couple hard frost, and both last fall and this past fall the fruits were small at the time I cut them down and I just threw them out. After studying up on how to do the fruit pods I’d guess I could ripen them, and eat them, if I wanted to try it. I’m not sure what variety I have, I was given a tree by a friend of a friend, no info about it or it’s care. That 1 has turned into hundreds over the years and they get huge, 12+ foot tall, if that helps narrow down what they might be. Lol.

[@missbttrsctch]

@@AmandaP111 thank you for responding, take care!

[@amessnger]

What part of TN? That's amazing! I'm in Chattanooga. I gotta try this now

[@AmandaP111]

@@amessnger Kingsport TN. It’s about 2 hours East of Knoxville, 40 minutes from Bristol Motor Speedway. Leaving then tall in the fall is what made the difference I think. I’ve grown them for 15 years here and always cut them flat to the ground come 1st heavy frost but couple years ago I chopped them but left them 2-3’ tall and the following summer I ended up w fruits.

[@ellenconforti5693]

I wrote you last year when your video on how to overwinter your banana plant came out. I followed your instructions and the banana plant came out great and it now has about 4 hands on it like yours. Fortunately our season lasts a little longer than yours so the bananas will be ready before the frosts come. We don't get many frosts but even one would not be good. But we now have one more banana plant that's come up from it that is bigger than the first one and it looks like it will fruit soon but I hope not till late February after all frosts are gone. So thank you for the info on the bananas. It really helped. These are dwarf Cavendish. I now have 4 total and I will cut the one with bananas down soon, leaving 3, one large, one medium and one baby that I might remove and pot up and keep it out of the cold weather. Ellen, Florida Gardener, Zone 9a

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! Glad to hear you are successful. A word of advice: Cavendish is what they sell in grocery stores, so getting a more unique variety will excite you more. Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian, Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain and Raja Puri are some popular, smaller bananas to try that’ll give you more variety if you’re interested. Namwah is considered one of the most tasty and is the real “ice cream” banana.

[@Cumulonimbus-san]

Hi! I live in zone 9 as well and want to grow bananas. I just found this video, which is awesome. Do you leave the pseudostem wrapped in the straw throughout the cold season or remove and rewrap prior to frosts? I was just worried since sometimes it gets hot during the winter months.

[@ellenconforti5693]

Sheldon Since it is not freezing all the time what I do is cut off all the leaves and usually just leave one in the center on. I then have a heavy blanket that I wrap around the tree starting from as close to the top as I can get and keep wrapping it around and clip it as I go either with clamps or clothes pins. Make sure the cover goes down to the ground. I do have a heavy pile of mulch(mostly old bananas leaves plus a few other things) at the very bottom of the plant. This also helps keep it warm. I make sure I water it well before I do all this. When the weather gets hot I just remove the blanket and save it for the next frost. Also my banana plant is in an area that is well protected from the wind It is not out in the open. All these things will help your banana plant survive. I only cover it if it will actuallt freeze. If no freeze is in the forecast it survives if I don't cover it. I guess in your case it depends where it is planted.

[@Cumulonimbus-san]

@@ellenconforti5693 Thank you for the info, it was very helpful. I am excited to try this all out.

[@HomesteadHarvest]

Great info brother!! I’ve watched a video that you cut the stem into disk and bury those and they’ll 🌱 sprout as a sort of propagation. I’m going to try it & I’ll let you know man. We’re in the NEW Zone 10A in SW Florida! #KeepSurThriving

[@JeannetteShoreland]

OK, I'm officially jealous! Although I cannot enjoy a homegrown banana as you may, in my travels I have tasted red bananas, very small and delicious bananas amongst others. I was surprised to learn how many banana varieties are out there, as well as the subtle differences in their flavor.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of banana varieties. They have a following similar to figs. People in warm climates can be obsessed with them. It is not easy to grow bananas in Zone 8, but it is doable. The dwarf varieties make easy indoor plants, though. They grow very, very well in containers.

[@izykwalker3203]

The redness is a disease in the banana from like nigeria idk but its not a health risk to humans🙃

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I'm in Georgia zone 7B and see banana plants sometimes in people's yard but never see any fruit. It's good to know it can be done!

[@ginaalwaysavip1177]

Thank you so much for sharing with us all. I moved to NC last year and looking forward to growing some new tropical trees.

[@ivanxyz1]

Very informative. Very well organized content. Thumbs up.

[@padfoo]

Comical watching you fight that banana tree leaf

[@cheryllaurence9847]

Great idea!!! Wonder if it would work in zone 7b? I have to cut mine down every Fall and heavy mulch. Sadly, they never seem to regrow taller than 5 feet by end of the next summer, which is a bummer.

[@DismantledChaos]

Hey, great video! I live one zone south of you and am growing bananas for the first time. I've watched your other banana growing videos and still have a couple of questions: Do you reduce the amount of pups growing from one corm before you insulate them, or do you just fence in all the stalks that are present? Also, do you continue to water them or even fertilize them? If so to either, how often? Lastly, do you remove a particular amount of leaves from each stalk before you insulate them? Again, thank you for the great videos and I eagerly await your reply so I can try and winterize the banana plants I have!

[@pn3940]

oh. I love that banana. I have one in my yard, supposedly that same kind, but hadn't bared fruit yet because of the freezing temp in my zone.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you have Dwarf Orinoco, it's a very good tasting banana. They are an excellent baking banana, because they are so firm and dense. When they are ripe, they are much sweeter than the Cavendish's they sell in the grocery store. They taste like a mix of a banana, an apple and an orange.

[@ritabeitz9598]

Thanks so much! Great video. I am going to now be moving to Florida very soon and will watch your video again when it is time for me to plant bananas! Thanks again!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding. Anywhere in Florida, even the coldest spots, will be easier to grow bananas than where I live, so you will definitely have an easier time. Best of luck!

[@watchdanbit3084]

I grow these as well up in Connecticut mine are about to flower now. Takes a lot to cover them up here as we get about 110 freezes a year here.

[@claygirl6133]

In Puerto Rico there are small bands as yours and they taste like banana and apple. Very sweet can be eaten off the tree or used in making different desserts. You did a great job! Where did you purchase them?

[@JustineDodd]

Thank you for the info - tonight is the first really cold night - 3 degrees celcius in the wee hours tomorrow, so today I made little fences around each one and filled them with mulch - 2 years and no bananas due to long, cold winters - hopefully my blue javas will be so happy they flower next summer!

[@jerriefisher792]

You're lucky to get any considering it takes 12-18 months for the fruit to fully develop. Good job!

[@garygraham9516]

We have flowers coming out now here in MD. Thanks for your advice

[@TheMillennialGardener]

WOW! That's great news! If they're an edible variety that's flowering already, there is a high % you'll be eating fresh bananas this year.

[@jjcousin1]

I love making banana flower curry. It's a ton of work but worth it in my opinion.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

A ton of work is an understatement. It's very tedious! But it was definitely worth it. The Mochar Ghonto was amazing. We were stunned by how good it was!

[@JudyPipkin]

Love your videos. I planted 2 banana plants last year which has multiplied into 16 plants. They are taking over my yard. Not sure what to do. They are very healthy and keep popping up new pups. Should I remove some, if so how? Should I remove the new growth as soon as they pop up? I'm not sure of the process and don't want to damage the main plants. On plant has bananas. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@tracywalker5431]

Thank you so much, neighbor! I live close to Jacksonville,NC & I just got a lady finger corm. I planted her in a container so I can take her inside when it gets too cold. At least until she gets older and I can no longer carry her. I think I’m going to have to buy a dwarf Orinoco now! Can you tell me where to buy one, please? Thank you so much for the video!

[@1cleandude]

Great video brother thanks again! I had banana trees in past but never heard about cutting the pseudo after fruiting!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yessir, the pseudostem will not fruit again after it flowers, so cutting it down and mulching it is the best course of action. Thanks for watching!

[@jenniemartin3268]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!! My husband eats bananas everyday soI would to offset that cost. My question...do you grow north or south facing? Thanks in advance!

[@youshowmeyours]

You could run underground copper tubing around the area of the plant to warn the soil running hot water through the coil when the temps get too low.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think that would cost a lot of money to set up something like that. I protect my bananas with straw, because it costs about $8-10 per plant to do so, and when it comes time to disassemble the protection, I get to repurpose it all as mulch. I have my method documented here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqGceq15eZ5jbpo

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

gonna buy a couple of these in a few paychecks. Were in middle tennessee sequatchie valley. awesome video!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I don't know if they will survive in-ground in Tennessee and still fruit. They will likely die back, but the corms will still survive. If you want fruit, they will do very well in containers if you buy a dwarf variety. I've seen people in Tennessee and Kentucky dig up their bananas at the end of the season, wrap them and stick them under their house's crawlspace, then re-plant them in the spring 😅

[@Apollo_Blaze]

Great video!...Along the gulf coast the Orinico has always been the prevalent banana most people have in their yards...For many years we had these in the back yard but we had the standard size Orinico which got 16-20 feet high....and they are very reliable as far as fruiting goes as you said...it was not too easy to cut those big bunches down at that height, but we did it lol....We used to slice and fry the fruit which they are delicious bananas...You should have your own show on TV : )

[@scottL9111]

Question: Do you water them duringthewinter, and if so how often?

[@HomesteadHarvest]

Great info brother!! I’ve watched a video that you cut the stem into disk and bury those and they’ll 🌱 sprout as a sort of propagation. I’m going to try it & I’ll let you know man. We’re growing our FoodForest in the NEW Zone 10A in SW Florida! #KeepSurThriving 🌴 Thinking of starting a YT channel for our zone but I could use the advice on how to get started. Appreciate your willingness to spread such great content.

[@renata3559]

About 2 weeks ago i got a banana seedling from someone i know. I asked at my work if they were interested in having a bananatree in the veggie garden. I live in the netherlands so i think it was zone 7 or so for me. Lets see if we can get some fruits with the help of your methods

[@roxannemoskal]

It has been my life long wish to have a banana right from the plant! I've been growing bananas in containers in my greenhouse and have never had a flower I'm going to plant them I. The ground and hope that someday I'll get a fresh banana. I'm in SW PA zone 6A. Wish me luck!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

What varieties are you growing? You're going to need dwarfing varieties. I would recommend Dwarf Orinoco. It is a small plant and it's the only variety that consistently flowers and fruits here. It may not be known as the best tasting banana, but I think it's pretty good. It sort of tastes like apple+banana+citrus. It's much denser and more flavorful than grocery store bananas. Way better. They bake up like a dessert.

[@montybrack7223]

one year in the uk i grew one , cows enjoyed the stem afterwards

[@austinj3881]

I hear the inner core of the pseudo stem is also edible and apparently tastes good. I have never tried it personally

[@jillellis62]

I THINK the leaves are also used in other cultures as well- used like a wrap to cook items inside of them. Would have to double check, but I’m pretty sure you can. MANY LEAVES of garden items are edible. The leaves of potato plants & more are great to use in salads or cooking, if you can season it just right. I think Vietnamese cooking is who does this the most, but also some can be “chipped” by cooking in the oven if you want a crispy snack like you would with kalw

[@Emkay6]

Yes! I remember a friend’s mom cooking her Guatemalan tamales in banana leaves!🫔

[@johnwilliams2711]

Great video. You're spot-on with your information. It's nice to see a KZbinr who's done their homework. 😀👍👍

[@SG-yk4jy]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, very Impressive banana trees! I mean pseudostems😁👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching 😂

[@cescalis1]

I love banana flowers in Cambodian recipe. It’s so delicious eaten with Cambodian noodle.

[@kaydeed2615]

I wish I lived further south so I could try to grow bananas that would fruit! but here in New England I think it just gets too cold.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outdoors in-ground wouldn't be a possibility in New England. However, dwarf bananas do very well in containers. You could get yourself a 15-20 gallon container, grow a dwarf variety with good fruit (like Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Brazilian, Dwarf Puerto Rican Plantain if you like plantains more, etc.) and simply bring it inside near a window for the winter. As long as you keep the frost and freeze away, you can then bring it back outdoors in the spring. Bananas are very tolerant of indoor overwintering, because they go into dormancy when temps are in the 50's.

[@jeffreydustin5303]

@@TheMillennialGardener As we near hard frost in South Carolina, I wonder what other plants and trees this indoor containering would help? It's a shame to lose my indeterminate tomato vines and my beloved fig trees.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@jeffreydustin5303 small fruited peppers like cherry and jalapeño do well overwintered indoors. Large tomatoes don’t. You may be able to overwinter a small determinate cherry tomato...maybe. Citrus do well indoors. Coffee plants do well indoors. Bananas overwinter well indoors.

[@kennethnewton9132]

Get dwarf Cavendish it is 5 feet or less you can grow it indoors In winter then outside in summer the plant will stay small in winter harvest every 14 months ish you have to cut down after fruiting usually it will be under 3 feet before going outside bring in every winter

[@pn3940]

I think you need to remove that red portion of the banana bunch. Just look at the size of older banana hands (large already). you're not gonna get anymore forming....that red flower bud, you can remove and make salad.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I recommend leaving the flower until the hands stop setting. Once you witness 2-3 hands die off and drop, the pseudostem won't set any more. You can remove it at that point if you wish.

[@ahlamns]

you seem to always posting what I'm thinking about. thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad to hear it’s timely. I try to film what I’m doing. That way, it aligns with the seasons.

[@moonchildgarcia8999]

Thank you for this very informative video. Zone 7b here, SC. I'm going to try growing bananas too. Thank you for the information 😊😊😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're very welcome!

[@moonchildgarcia8999]

@TheMillennialGardener I am excited for the next growing season. I'm looking forward to more of your videos. I also want to grow avocados, I'll keep you posted on how that goes ☺️

[@olsonlr]

Congrats. I've failed at dwarf and regular orinoco here in the ATL area 8a.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The standard size would be almost impossible to protect. A dwarf, you can do it if you protect it the way I do. Your climate is nearly as mild as mine.

[@susan3156]

Fascinating. I just bought a cool weather banana and am excited 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding! They are a lot of fun.

[@lindag9975]

Thanks! I'll have to look for that variety. I currently have a Blue Java growing here in the desert. It's too young to fruit or have pups yet.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Keep an eye on Blue Java. Most Blue Java sold on the internet are fakes. That is because somebody coined "Blue Java" as "Ice Cream Banana" many years ago. The problem is, Blue Java tastes nothing like ice cream. The actual banana that tastes like ice cream is Namwah, which are very common and very cheap and taste better than Blue Java. So, most people that buy Blue Java are actually getting a Namwah. It's a big mess. Real Blue Java sell for very high prices, and you won't know if it's true until it fruits and you get the blue bananas.

[@lindag9975]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the information! I bought it on the internet so it could be a fake. But if it's really a Namwah, that might be better as I hear that they are much easier to grow and that blue javas can be real divas.

[@swayback7375]

@@lindag9975 99% chance it’s dwarf nnamwah, but your right, for average people it’s better than Java. Nnamwah is a stout grower!

[@BrandyScott6055]

@@swayback7375 dwarf nam wa is an excellent plant! I've left mine outside until right before frost, they've responded to 39° F temps by pushing out a new leaf! They dont stop growing below 60° like more sensitive varieties. But freezing temps will still damage the plant, so they're inside now ofc. They'd be excellent for a pop-up greenhouse up north with some water barrels and compost IMO. Not tall nam wa, although it is marginally more cold tolerant. I have a friend on FB who has real blue java and he says they're very creamy but not super flavorful and if anything kinda tart, more of an ornamental plant to them, so you're not missing out on much! Nam wa on the other hand are multipurpose not only sweetest when bruised but can be fried like plantains when green/unripe! It's a multi purpose banana! Super useful if you can only grow one variety to have both!

[@panisihwaridjo3506]

Hope one day I can try to plant it

[@nicholasnapier2684]

I have right in Florida. I was hoping I could grow them up here in the mountains if you see in Colombia South America. That would be a worthwhile investment to get plantain and banana trees from Colombia they grow so good over there. I have seen them in the mountains so I think we can get them to grow anywhere pretty cold there and Bogata on the outskirts, you’ll see a lot of plantain farms and banana Farms

[@carolmacivergan2134]

Liked your videos. Question can I use orange peels cur or pules in blender on the base of my banana trees. I hear the orange or citrus peels can change your compose pile balances. Making the compose a problem! I’m in Zone 8 near the Surf City water way. Thanks for your help!

[@TheEmbrio]

Citrus peels are fine in a compost pile if they don’t represent more than 10 %. If more than a tenth, then it will just slow down the compost pile but it will decay eventually. You can also put them on the ground directly for sure

[@johndavenport9945]

Thanks dude , I want to try this now. .

[@stoptheinsanity]

Have you tried building a box around the plant and covering with plastic at night and putting in a heat source to get more bananas?

[@jvp714]

3:15 he's so happy 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's oddly satisfying to grow a banana in North Carolina.

[@BrandyScott6055]

Excellent video! Unfortunately I'm in zone 6, where it's too cold to do more than mulch a big corm. So I'm growing in pots indoors until my nanners are big enough to go in ground. I have dwarf nam wa which as of the 12 month mark are 3 feet tall and pushed out 25 leaves so far and fruit fills faster than dwarf Orinoco! Banana plants produce 44 leaves, bloom/fruit 3-4 months later then cut back. It's not quite as hardy as Orinoco but much more hardy than Cavendish and grows faster. I am hoping by spring I will have a 4 foot plant since it grows slower indoors. Will that give a good enough start for next year? Hopefully I can get fruit in about 10 months or so before the next frost? We will see!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I haven't had my namwah's fruit yet. They didn't handle last year's winter as well as the Orinoco's, but the Orinoco's are also 2 years older, so that probably has something to do with it. A Dwarf Namwah only gets to be about 5-6 feet tall, so if it begins the season at 4 feet tall, that's going to be very helpful. I recommend you get some potash crystals, because bananas love that. I have some 0-0-60 potash linked in my Amazon Storefront if you're interested. It's very effective on bananas. You don't need much. A little goes a long way, and a single bag lasts many years.

[@Skashoon]

Nope, they might fruit, but your growing season in zone 6 is too short to ripen them. Also, most banana plants sold these days are tissue cultured and will have almost no corm. You’ll need to grow it for a few years before the corm gets some size to it. Without a good corm, they struggle to survive. You’ll need to protect the corm from freezing. I’ve seen many creative ways to protect the lower pseudostem and corm, from straw packed fences to Christmas tree lights. I kept mine in a mini greenhouse with a space heater. The larger ones, I kept in a garage.

[@briancook7696]

​@@Skashoon What brand of heater?

[@astatine0085]

fantastic. thank you for this

[@gitatit4046]

Interesting stuff! Never tried to grow bananas but I might have to give them a shot now. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Even if they can't be grown in-ground for climate related reasons, dwarf varieties make great container plants. They even do well indoors since they can go into dormancy during the winter if protected indoors.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

I’m way too far North here in the Toronto area but I would sure follow your banana methods if I could! Great informative video, I learned a lot, thank you! Klaus

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Bananas do exceptionally well in containers. Little known fact: bananas go to “sleep” at 55°F or lower. Get yourself a dwarf variety, bring it indoors in the winter in a low light area in a cool place, and it’ll go into dormancy indoors. Then, carry it outside in April! They’re actually REALLY easy to overwinter as long as they don’t flower. If they flower in the fall, you’ll lose the flower since the flower will rot if they aren’t kept hot and humid.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

@@TheMillennialGardener Hmmm, you have got me thinking! I’m not interested in ornamental, it’s bananas 🍌 or nothing!

[@everetteallen3156]

Great content! Thank you for sharing.

[@johnatkinson9530]

I cut off the Bloom earlier, And I don't let more than 3 banana trees per clump It puts more energy into the fruit.

[@fitztastico]

I did a lot of research on growing bananas a while back and found a video from one of the popular growers on KZbin who said he no longer cuts the stem down because he found the plant is stronger if he lets it wilt before removing it. I'm wondering if there's a similarity to how leaves on deciduous trees turn color in the fall before dropping - I read one scientific theory for this is that the tree pulls nutrients out of the leaf and back into the main plant as it stores up its reserves for the winter. Perhaps the banana plant has the same ability once it recognizes that a stem has finished its fruiting duties

[@TheMillennialGardener]

This is what palm trees do. You are not supposed to prune the old fronds off until they turn 100% brown, because the palm feeds off the old, dying fronds. If you cut them off before they’re exhausted, you actually starve the palm and it can go into decline when done too much. Perhaps the corm siphons off the old pseudostems. I don’t know if that’s true, but it makes sense to me. In my case, my bananas will be frozen in a few weeks, so I have to remove the old pseudostems to wrap them. If you live in a frost free place, your logic seems reasonable.

[@dl8619]

Im in zone 8b Georgia and I got a banana tree, you don't have to cut it down, it will send off pups and grow more trees from the base. Think about it ,in the wild is anyone cutting off the old trees....no .you'll be fine.

[@litocarandang4514]

Mr. Gardener.........nice to see ur banana made it before the frost. did u keep the heart shape/purple below the fruits? we cook it like artichoke in Manila.....or with other vegetable, or pickle it ....it is nutritious. the first 3-4 layers are removed/throuwn (bitter) the inside color will be yellowish/white.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I cooked the flower. I made Mochar Ghonto with it, which is a Bengali dry curry dish. It is excellent.

[@lostnthsauze1440]

Great information as always!

[@lisatran4361]

Omg, I’ll take that banana flower. Lol. U could eat it like a salad. Slice it like a onion then soak it in water before eating it. That flower is more precious than the banana. After watching this video, I want a banana tree now.

[@meeratony9078]

The banana stems core is super yummy and good fiberous food if you cook it… you could also choose to sell these to an Indian grocery store near you instead of chopping it and wasting it to rought

[@donnaburnside7887]

Hey, awesome video. Would the same method work with the dwf Cavendish banana? We're zone 8 , Washington state

[@MANNY100123]

So, I live in Oregon Zone 8 Do you recommend I let my orinoco grow for another year it pot before I plant it outside? It's got about 1 year in it's pot so far... Thanks in advance!

[@jameschartier3625]

Looking Into growing around Bridgewater Massachusetts

[@mariammajohn6131]

just came across your video recently, and saw you are growing avocado and lemons. I have a mayor lemon and an avocado plants in container. I live in near canton, Ga. Is it safe to plant these fruit trees in the ground where I am? I really your presentation. Thank you

[@BuzzingBees24]

Omg...I just saw your video. I'm envy you, I want that banana flower so bad 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you live in Zone 8 or warmer, it's definitely possible in-ground, at least on milder winters. If you live in colder areas, dwarf bananas grow excellent in containers. Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Orinoco, Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol and Raja Puri are some good smaller-stature bananas that will do well in a pot. You can bring them indoors, and if you have a cool but not freezing basement or garage, you can storm them there. Bananas go dormant under around 55F, so if you have a room that's in the 40's all winter, they'll go to sleep. If not, they'll do fine by a window.

[@DATINGSURVIVALGUIDE]

Wow! growing bananas outside in North Carolina! I was considering growing bananas but don't want to use up valuable hoophouse space. I may have to try your technique for growing them outside.

[@geoffryallan7261]

Hi - I discovered your channel - your videos have been so helpful, I live in las cruces in zone 8 but a or b I don’t know love your knowledge - I’m gonna try satsumas and bananas here in the desert - have any advice - by the way I heard ice cream bananas are very cold hardy

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you discovered the channel! Your soil is notoriously alkaline and salty in your area, so I suggest planting them on a compost mound if possible. Make sure you plant them up against a south wall or a wind break that blocks the northern wind. You'll want to check out my many cold protection videos for ideas on how to protect them when temps drop below 24 degrees. Satsuma's are tender when they're young, so the first year or two, you may need to protect them at 27F or warmer. All bananas are frost tender, so your best chance for growing bananas is to get a short cycle banana: Veinte Cohol and Kokopo are two of the shortest cycle bananas, but Dwarf Orinoco and Raja Puri may work. Blue Java (sometimes called ice cream) is a tall banana and needs more time to fruit and would be pretty much impossible to protect in our zone since they grow 15 feet tall. This video will help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqGceq15eZ5jbpo

[@panisihwaridjo3506]

First time watching your video and it’s exciting

[@edwinreyes3998]

Oh my God please keep us updated 💞💞

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I post videos on my bananas several times a year. This method has been very successful at fruiting in my cold climate.

[@farmerdurrn]

Awesome video! What kinda of fig is. That behind you?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is a Celeste fig.

[@newbie_nugs]

The stem you cut at the ground, will that grow back next year?

[@74alyse]

Nice video. I live in Colorado this is interesting.

[@bobg5362]

Do you cover the caged mulch with plastic to keep precipitation out and avoid creating a frozen strawcicle?

[@LomthunziJere]

Well done! I think you'll have bigger bunches if you reduce the number of plants to no more than three so that there is no wastage of nutrients on non-fruiting plants

[@johnsonrobbins]

After reviewing all of your videos I’m still a little hazy on one winterizing detail. After you insulate your plants for the cool months do you also cut back everything above what’s insulated or just leave all the leaves and let them die on their own?

[@maalat]

Wow, you can cook they center.

[@BlackJesus8463]

I got no shot of ever growing bananas without a greenhouse. lol I've seen a few videos of people making banana wine and I can't find it for sale anywhere. Good for you though! I'm super jelly!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Bananas overwinter very, very easily in containers. You can put a dwarf variety in a 15 or 20 gallon pot, bring it in in front of a window all winter and it'll go mostly to sleep. Then, carry it outside again in spring. Bananas go into dormancy once temps drop below 55, so indoor temps make them sleepy. They also survive in low light and shade, although they won't fruit well or at all.

[@BlackJesus8463]

@@TheMillennialGardener That's cool! I didn't know they go dormant. I could probably make that work then.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@BlackJesus8463 they get “sleepy.” They won’t grow much.

[@josecruz021]

That's crazy, I'm from NC and want to start planting fruiting trees and plants in my yard. The issue is always finding something cold tolerant

[@TheMillennialGardener]

North Carolina, at least here on the coast, is a difficult climate, because the winters are so cold relative to how incredibly hot it is in the summer. We're always 2-3 nights away from being able to grow awesome things, but those 2-3 nights a year just ruin it 😅

[@josecruz021]

@@TheMillennialGardener yeah, I'm more center NC. I live in the uniuon county are

[@ThePoehladian]

I'm in NC too. I just have the ornamental purple/green variegated one. Can't remember the name.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Usually they call it Blood Banana (Musa acuminata). Home Depot and Lowe's sells them as ornamental varieties. I have one of them in my front yard, too, but they do not produce edible fruit. Dwarf Orinoco is hardier and will fruit for you if you protect it.

[@ThePoehladian]

@@TheMillennialGardener I just remembered it, ZABRINA. I'm just into its killer leaf pattern but I do grow all the usual, year round. Brassicas in winter. 😀

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@ThePoehladian they have a nice pattern. It literally looks like blood spatter 😆

[@nalinakshis149]

Central core in the pseudo stem is edible, and is also medicinal. Those with kidney stone problem eat them frequently to keep well

[@butterflyj685]

I'm in zone 8a in Georgia. I have the "Carolina King" and the "Texas Star". I used to prep my bananas that way but just stopped out of laziness. I don't even have them planted up against the house. Just on the north and east side of the backyard. I've had them both for 3 years now. Last year was the 1st year our Carolina King started to fruit. We're still waiting on the "Texas Star" to fruit. Hopefully by next year! I will give your "Dwarf Orinoco" variety a try. Do you have a link?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Believe it or not, I bought mine off eBay. They're cheap and easy to find. You can also look for Banana Man Larry, or check out Bananas.org for some places to buy. Since you get plenty of freezes like I do, I don't think your bananas will do well if they have to come back from dieback each year. I know it's a pain, but you can wrap them in probably about 30 mins with a few stakes, some chicken wire and a bale of straw. I have to cover 7 plants this year. It's annoying, but nothing worth doing is easy, it seems.

[@sylvia10101]

That’s really cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@tristancarter7917]

awesome video, quick question, if a psuedostem has flowered and you cut that same psuedostemp back down to the ground, is that same psuedostemp capable of fruiting again since its been cut down and starting over?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. Once it flowers, it is finished. I just had another pseudostem flower for me 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, that one is lost.

[@richarddawson4800]

Is there a way to protect young fruit before a freeze? Does it even help? First time ice cream banana grower in zone 9 California and I got a late flower. Produced 8 hands before it started getting cold at night. Also, can you get fruit from more than one pseudo stem? I have seen varying opinions about chopping all stems except one to get fruit. Thanks!

[@BenB199]

Can you please tell which other variaties do grow , besides the dwars orinoco?

[@katrinalikethehurricane1]

Hello!👋 NE NC here. I found this video last year, and protected my dwarf banana last year before the first frost. I don't want to assume, so do you remove the deep mulch ring once risk of all frost had passed?

[@maalat]

We cook the flowers and use them as vegetables.

[@johnsonrobbins]

Anthony, before you over winter and stuff your pseudo stems with hay do you cut all the stems and leaves back so the entire stem is insulated or just leave the large stems exposed above the insulation? I just picked up one of these varieties after watching your channel and I thought I’d give it a go in Texas. Nevermind.. I watched all your other videos on the subject and they are detailed on all these matters.

[@IMakeWhateverVideos235]

Hello nice video, so I have a question. When I transplant a larger banana plant I notice it’ll usually die and then shoot out a newbie from the root. When I transplant a very small one they don’t seem to die back all the way and almost make a full recovery. What should I do when digging up a wild banana tree I like? Should I cut it back and keep the root system? Any info will help thx.

[@rexmonarch2]

Thanks for including how long from planting to fruiting for bananas. A neighbor here in Florida coastal Zone 10 gave me two banana pups in September. Looks like I have quite awhile until I get fruit. Anyway, what's good fertilizer for bananas?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you plant the banana now in Zone 10, you should get fruit within 2 years, and then every year after that - maybe even 2 bunches a year depending on the variety. Bananas have a very extreme need for fertilizing. They are heavy, heavy feeders. Bananas love potash crystals. I have 0-0-60 crystals linked in my Amazon Storefront. I strongly recommend them. To boost them, you can simply give them MiracleGro AP 24-8-16, then add a sprinkle of 0-0-60 crystals to that after they get established and start growing. In the beginning, just use half-strength MiracleGro 24-8-16. Don't burn them up until they get established.

[@rexmonarch2]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks. I actually have potash but not 0-0-60, more like 0-0-45. I have liquid 12-6-6 but I'll look into something more potent like you recommend. How about fertilizing papayas? I have about 20 going from seed. I expect I'll be waiting a year or so for them to fruit. I'm a first tme sub-tropical gardener. I moved here from Colorado in August. Tearing out the backyard lawn and composting it while converting over to gardens and fruit trees. Learning about sandy soil, humidity and fungus -- for sure.

[@johnatkinson9530]

I'm back in NC, but I lived in the tropics for many years. I grow papaya from seed to fruit in only 10 months.

[@rexmonarch2]

@@johnatkinson9530 I dumped all my papaya seed scoopings in a compost pile. Several months later I spread the compost around my yard-garden. Now I have something like 40+ papaya trees growing. Homegrown papaya is soooooo delicious.

[@johnatkinson9530]

@@rexmonarch2 that's happen to me many times with melons, tomatoes etc. Best part was I didn't weed or feed them just harvest them. 🙂

[@shaunnichols8170]

I wonder if a small greenhouse would work to keep them alive zone 8b SC.

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

Can you dig up the banana with roots and store them in the garage over the winter and then plant them back in spring to resume growing? Or will that not work?

[@BlackJesus8463]

They sell dwarf bananas in 20 gallon pots. Some of the pictures I see of banana fruit are only 4ft tall.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes. Hardcore banana growers do this. They dig up the corm, wrap the entire plant in burlap and stick them under a crawlspace or in a cold basement. If you wrap a banana and store it in 40-degree temperatures, it'll sleep all winter and won't need any light. Then, you can just re-plant it in spring once the frosts pass. The challenge is keeping it cold enough long enough. You need to keep them in that 40-degree range.

[@JakobHofer]

Great

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@christines2787]

Have you heard of the Carolina King 🍌? Looking to start growing a few bananas in 8a too

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have, but I'm not sure about the size. I highly recommend *only* growing dwarf varieties in NC or you'll never be able to protect them. Full size bananas get enormous.

[@christines2787]

@@TheMillennialGardener - that's a good point I hadn't thought of. As usual, I value your opinion. Patches sends her best to Dale.

[@agpawpaw5912]

Can I use leaves for banana protection?