How to Protect Your Banana Tree from a Freeze! Works in zone 8!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

This worked really well for me! Let me know if you have tried this or other techniques to protect your bananas from freeze and it succeeded!

[@lmgorbea1]

Hi Doc! Just found your channel and subscribed. I'm in Corpus Christi Texas and planted two banana pups last summer and my bananas survived 2022 freeze. I have their truck caged with wire because javalinas ate the other two. During winter I filled the cages with leaves and plant material and the rhysomes survived and sprouted back to life. Now each plant have about 6 pups. They are suffering a lot with the relentless heat and drought that we have this year. My question is did you get your banana plants to produce any fruit? I wonder how long I need to wait for them to flower and if there's going to be enough time for the fruit to set and grow enough to harvest before the next winter? Last year my papayas hd tiny fruit and green pigeon peas were flowering when the freeze came and killed the plants. I'm starting all over again this year to see if I can have any fruit.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Thank you so much, and I’m glad to have you here! Corpus is a great place to grow bananas, but as you mentioned, the heat is the biggest problem. I struggle with the heat as well, however, being a little bit further north, the winter is the hardest part. It sounds like you’re doing everything just right, I don’t know how difficult it would be, but you might try putting some shade cloth over your bananas during the hottest part of the summer. That could help a lot! I did have fruits at two years ago, and last year as well. Two years ago, I didn’t realize that it had separate because I didn’t see them and I cut the truck down! I was severely disappointed! Last year we had a very early freeze, and I cut the most mature fruit from the tree, but I did not protect it. Well enough through the hard freeze to allow it to finish ripening. So unfortunately, I lost those as well. Truth be told it takes between 12 and 18 months for the fruit to sit and ripen. If you can successfully overwinter the plant, it should produce fruit the second year. Whether it goes completely right is really hard to say it depends on a lot of different things, but it is possible to get fruit from them! I hope that helps you out and thank you again for subscribing. I really appreciate it and love having you here. If you have any other questions, just let me know!

[@briancook7696]

@TexasGardenDoc Can you tell me what variety of banana this one is? Helps determine how well it can handle the cold. I've got blue java. The mother is currently 6 1/2 ft at the stem, surrounded by 10 pups. It's September and I'm getting ready. Zone 8a.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

@briancook7696 hi there! This is a dwarf cavendish, which is not exceptionally cold hardy. I’ve got about 4 pups myself this year but the severe heat and drought did a number on them! I’d love to hear how your turn out using this method, and if you make any changes that you find helpful as well!

[@melaniecollins8632]

Ive been growing bananas for three years in central Texas. I wrapped them in blankets, put a tarp on them and then my husband built a shelter around them, they made it through our last two bad winters but they loose a little of their height each year and I feel like I am constantly starting over. Hoping for bananas fall of 2023, if we make it through the winter. Thanks for the tip about hay, but hay now is very expensive and we have to give it to the horses. Will try it!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Oh you are right about hay! I’m trying to get it from people who bale it around me now it’s gone up so much! Are you getting any new suckers coming up around your banana? They need about 18 months of growing season (warm time) to make bananas. Sounds like you’re getting close depending on how long your winters are.

[@annak1371]

I live in Southern AZ. I got my pups in fall. I knew they were going to stay indoors until spring. I just yesterday let them sleep outside overnight. They look perky this morning. They are 2 feet tall now. I plan to dig 2 holes and plant them this week in a permanent location. My problem is not enough shade for the coming summer. I appreciate your video, because we too, have been having strange weather, and it's been colder than normal here, and rainier, and we even got snow. It was only a flurry, and at one point, we got hail. nothing stuck. We got a lot of high winds, and those little dusty d's; like mini tornados, just not nearly as destructive as a normal tornado. I've heard them called micro bursts. But, I was concerned for them after I give them their permanent home. Almost forgot to mention. We bought the icecream banana.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

It has been quite a weird few years when it comes to weather! And I deal with the same issue with heat as well during the summer. Mine are partially shaded during the hottest part of the day, as I have them planted, fairly close to trees that branch slightly overhead. That has helped a lot! even with the shade they still look pretty sad when the temperature gets up really high. The cold can certainly be an issue as well, but as long as you can keep the root ball from freezing and dying, you’re in pretty good shape! I can imagine those microburst can rip the leaves to shreds! We’ve had it happen here with some hurricane type weather. Although they don’t look very good, they seemed to do OK even after they were ripped. I think I’m actually going to be getting the ice cream variety as well. I toured with the idea of trying to build some type of greenhouse structure. I could keep them in over the winter, but even these dwarf Cavendish get way too tall to make that practical for me. Best wishes on your bananas, I hope they do really well. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!

[@lindag9975]

Thanks! I'm in Zone 9B, a low desert where we can get a handful of light freezes each winter. This year I raked the leaves that fell off my fig tree and used them as mulch around my 2 banana trees. So far, the corms have been protected.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s great! And 9B should really only have to worry about a few light frost like you said, or like freezes. You probably shouldn’t need much mulch to protect the corms, if you can do a little extra effort to protect the leaves as well, at least from too much getting frozen, it will make sure you get bananas into the next year, that’s if you haven’t got them already! If you have already gotten bananas, then you don’t need my help! Lol you’re doing great! I’d love to hear what kind of bananas you’re growing and if you’ve actually already gotten fruit, I think that would be very cool!

[@lindag9975]

@@TexasGardenDoc Thanks. I am growing Blue Java and Grand Nains. Neither are ready to bear fruit. Unfortunately a couple of years ago, a previous banana plant got a flower when I was out of town for a few weeks, and the flower died during a several day freeze. The freeze killed the pup too. Lesson learned. I wasn't yet expecting a flower. So from now on, I will watch very carefully for flowers during the winter.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I FEEL YOUR PAIN! My second year I Willy nilly cut the pseudo stem of one…when it hit the ground it had several hands of about 5” long fruit! Now, I use layers and many viewing angles before I do anything. Lol. I’m hoping this season is the year for me!

[@sabrenar1675]

So glad to find someone in my same hardiness zone.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’m glad you found me as well! It can definitely be difficult trying to navigate what to plant win, especially through all the different hardiness zones and all the videos here online. If you have any questions at all about planting in the zone, feel free to ask I’d love to help!

[@EddieMunozep]

I live in zone 9a in California (I thought I had moved to 9b) it got down many many nights to 32° and below. Late February it got down to 25° for several hours. My stems didn't freeze but all the leaves were burnt. My Fhia-1 is actually fruiting.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I know that in my lifetime living here, I’ve gone from 9a to 8b so it’s interesting how the zones have changed slightly over the years. But I’m finding what you find I have all the problems of zone below me and all the problems of the zone I’m in! That’s fantastic that you’re actually getting fruit this year too. So far, I’ve gotten mine, the fruit, the last three years, but I messed it up twice by not recognizing or seeing that the fruit was there in the first time, and the second time, cutting the fruit off before our big freeze came in, not realizing that I had left it where it would still freeze during the event! Congrats on getting fruit and here’s to many more in the future!

[@tomasgonzalez4693]

I'm wondering how those bananas are looking now? And what are you doing about this storm right now

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hey Tomas! At the moment the bananas are still doing fine. Unusually this is the first year I haven’t had at least some fruit form on them. In fact, I actually didn’t even get a flowerhead this year. The weather was very good as far as the bananas go, but I think some growth and some nearby trees have shaded them out enough that they just didn’t get quite enough sunlight or it could’ve been the 2 1/2 months of hundred plus temperature and no rain, even though I watered them well. I’ll be doing basically the same thing I always do which will be wrapping the trunk in hay. I won’t be cutting the top off this year just to see how that works out and how they grow out once the spring comes around. However, I’ll be moving the pups to a different area or getting bananas altogether I’m afraid there’s just too much shade now in the summer for them to grow with they are at. so I thought this was a great opportunity to try some different things, and see what happens!

[@ginamulder7420]

We use pipe insulation around the stalks of tender plants . That hay idea is terrific for the roots. Southeast Louisiana

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Pipe insulation is brilliant! I never thought of that, thank you! Man you guys have words hurricane luck than we do! I’m sure you are well acquainted with tatter leaves!

[@nicholashoffnagle2396]

I live in Portland Oregon in the Pacific Northwest which is supposedly 8b. Basjoo bananas do fine here, sometimes with no protection, but I would not try cavendish. What strikes me as the issue here is not just the occasional snow events but also the fairly constant mid 40s and raining during a lot of the winter which seems to lead to root rot. Going to try growing another cold hardy variety outdoors at some point called California Gold Banana. I also have heard blue Java bananas are hardy but with our rain maybe only Basjoo can survive that.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I think that’s the biggest problem with the hardiness zones in the United States. The new 2023 hardiness zone map just came out and it’s adjusted most upward by half. So for instance I have been in zone 8B since 2012. Prior to that I was in 9A. Now they’re saying in 2023 that I’m 9A again. I wondered if this might not be true, given the heat and my warmer numbers during fall and spring. The dwarf Cavendish definitely need more time to produce fruit fully. Growing any kind of banana for fruit and zones eight and nine is definitely tricky, and only those cold Hardy varieties of ones that will really work well. I’ve grown basjoo, I’ve heard they are very mealy and fibrous fruits. And I haven’t grown them for that reason. What’s your experience on them? Do you like them? For me the Cavendish pretty much are a biomass generator for me as they produce so much green. I thought about trying some other bananas as well and I’ve never heard of the California variety so I’ll need to look that up. I would love to be able to consistently get bananas for food and use the biomass for compost, but it’s just so tricky with the season not quite long enough

[@nicholashoffnagle2396]

I have never tasted Basjoo bananas but hopefully my fruit so I can. I have heard they are seedy. There have been some Basjoos near my parents house that have fruited. But dang are they hardy. I screwed up my protection of them last year and it got too moist so I lost a lot of the pseudostem, but they still came back. I am hoping once my California gold produces a pup I can transplant the bigger plant outside to test. I have heard they are almost as hardy as basjoos and produce seedless plantain type bananas. Blue Java ice cream bananas are another I have heard are cold hardy I would like to get and try growing.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’ve heard the blue Java are not bad, however, I’ve never tried those either. In our zone, most of the bananas will survive as long as you can protect the root ball with the bottom, even if the stem dies. In fact, each year, the one year-old pups Freeze back to the level I cut them to and protect them with hay or straw and then in the spring they pop right back out for their second year of growth, which is when I will typically get a chance at fruit. And that’s for a variety that is not very cold. So I think in most cases as long as you can do like you said, and protect them a lot of bananas are gonna continue to grow. It’s just getting them to fruit. That is always the issue for me!

[@Handles_AreStupid]

When I heard those were dwarf cavendish, it gave me a lot of hope for my bananas. I thought I'd stick to the "hardy" bananas (yunnanensis, basjoo, sikkimensis etc.) for my zone 8b garden, but if you are getting cavendish (famously damaged below 5C / 41F ) through winter, maybe I should try branching out a bit. Only problem is we get wet winters, so the straw/hay might not be enough, might try covering with a bag with the straw method.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

It’s definitely worth a try! I will tell you that it’s a lot more work to get fruit to set then it is with many of the cold, hardy bananas. But I find it’s worth it, it’s taught me a lot about growing them. I’ll likely be adding a few different ones to my garden as well just a test of different varieties. We get extremely wet during the winters too, and I haven’t yet had the bananas die from it. However, there’s always a chance, so adding something to it is never a bad idea!

[@TheJake76]

If you're growing for the tropical look of banana plants but not to eat you can always grow musa basjoo banana which are hardy down to zone 5. I grow them as perennials in Buffalo NY, we're about a 15 minute drive from Ontario Canada.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’ve heard that variety is the most hardy! I really want bananas to eat, however, if it doesn’t work out I may go the route you suggest. Buffalo NewYork is GORGEOUS btw. I spent a month there in my teens.absolutely stunning. I will say this though; I thought mosquito’s in Texas were big….Buffalo has pterodactyls for mosquitos! Thanks for the tip! Everything I do is kind of an experiment and I’ll add this one to the the list!

[@mauricewilkins7263]

Great video, I have blue java banana which I live in SC zone 8. I've been growing them for 2years now and hadn't had any bananas yet but should next warm season. My trees are at least 12 ft or more so hopefully have them by August. The way I protect them is I take a garden cover and wrap them then take chicken fence around the trees then stuff hay inside the fence not inside the cover for the plant to breathe and add a bit of plastic over the open hole as much as possible and they lived through the winter.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Very nice! One of the things I was concerned with last year was exactly what you mentioned. I was afraid the hay being in close contact would have the potential to start rotting and keep the trunk too wet. Luckily it warms up pretty quick here so it doesn’t stay on too long. Here’s to bananas in august! Thanks so much for the kind words and your experience as well!

[@ultimatelatina]

Just got a new subscriber! I'm in TX too and man this last freeze had me worried too. I'm taking like 50+ plants in and out of the house like a mad woman 😂 I'm so glad that season is over haha

[@TexasGardenDoc]

A fellow Texan, WELCOME!!!! You and me both! I feel like this is the year we get those bananas but with Texas weather you never know! You can be wearing shirts in the morning dying of a heat stroke and you’re running plants into the house by dinner time! 😂

[@teach2carter]

I had the same problem when I got into gardening and now opt for fewer but larger pots with multiple plants per container. Then they go along the driveway and I use a dolly to quickly move them into or out of the garage. 5 minutes tops.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Brilliant idea!

[@dexascan1]

I'm in Northern AZ and am excited now to try bananas! Loving Nugget too! :)

[@TexasGardenDoc]

We loved Nugz! He was a really great rooster and flock leader! I’m glad you found the video helpful, and I really hope it helps you work it out for your area and get your bananas surviving through the winter as well. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you, and if you have any problems at all or questions, just reach out. I’d love to help!

[@camanderson5304]

I grow bananas in Wisconsin. I’ve only been able to get them to fruit once, however I did end up having to cut that one down before protecting for the following winter. Most of the time they are just ornamental here. Our summers are to short. But they do grow about 12 feet a year with weekly fertilizer and daily watering! And of course HEAVY protection is required here. It’s funny seeing you worried about 20°. I am excited for the first 20° day after a long winter 🥶 great video! Those bananas look great, can’t wait to see how they stood up to this winter and how they will do this summer!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Lol Cam, everything is relative isn’t it! I have a secret for you though; us South Texans….when the temp drops below 50…we are just trying to stay alive at that point! 🤣😂🤣 What variety of bananas do you have? This next year I’m planning on leaving them and just not cutting them back at all. I’ll still protect the roots heavily and may even try protecting them with something like a Mobil green house. I do feel pretty confident I will get bananas this year as I inadvertently cut off a stalk that had a hidden flower and hand of bananas. You’re my first Wisconsin person and I’m very excited! The fact that you can get fruit waaaay up there from here is amazing to me. Keep doing what you’re doing and I can’t wait to keep experimenting. Let me know what you do to get that next hand if bananas there!

[@camanderson5304]

@@TexasGardenDoc Absolutely! I find it a challenge every year. But it is really up to the bananas and Mother Nature! I grow the ice cream banana variety and musa basjoo. These two types have worked best for me, as they don’t seem to mind a longer period of dormancy. Our last frost is usually in May (yes we are still having lows in the 20s and teens here), and our first is early or mid September, so there is not much time for good growing conditions. However, when I does warm up here it stays very warm. Our average temperature each day (high + low, divided by 2) is usually right around the perfect growing temperature of 78° for 4 months, which I think is why I get such good growth! If we have a cold summer and long winter then it is not likely that I will see a flag leaf or flower bud. But in the rare case that the pseudostem does not freeze to the ground (even with 3 feet of mulching), that is my next year that I expect to see at least a flower. In the year that I got a flower we had an early spring and late fall, so there was plenty time for good growth to occur. (I think the secret is in the fertilizer) Personally, I use Milorganite (MIL from Milwaukee, ORGAN from organic and NITE from nitrogen fertilizer) this stuff works wonders and does not burn so I use whole bags of this stuff every year. If you have this or something equivalent, I highly recommend it. It is, however, “made from poop”. What I have thought about trying for better winter protection is laying a heating cable around the base of a plant and wrapping the stem with burlap and the heating cable or Christmas lights. But when it gets to -35° here in the winter there’s not much I can do except pray the rhizomes make it. There is a lot more I could talk about, but I hope this answers some of it!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

It sounds like I should be watching your videos! Those varieties are definitely more cold tolerant and will be more accepting of the the longer cold as you said. I agree fertilizers are key! Crazy thing is I just discovered that brand of fertilizer about 3 months ago. I love the fact that it is slow release, and natural! I haven’t used any in the garden as of yet but my lawn looks amazing! To prefect that, I haven’t had a lawn …well ever. It’s been a struggle and the fertilizer I was just what I was looking for! I’ve seen a few people in northern climes have great success using the Christmas light or even ‘shop light’method to extend using almost exactly what you’ve described. To be honest, most of the excitement I get out of gardening comes from experimentation. The big issue is, experimenting but it’s nature takes a while, but I love the thrill of growing something that ‘you can’t grow there’. I’ve been tweaking and messing with garlics for years now and I’m hoping this year brings success! Love what your doing, and love the passion you have for it. There is no doubt that you will find success and do it it, as we say here, cool as a cucumber!

[@denisestarr2314]

Up in arkanasa I've had friends grow banana trees for ornamental. In fall the chop them off to the ground and mulch over top a mound . They com back every year . I'm going to try this year , and when I get pups im going to put some in pots to winter iny house so i can have banana trees for ornimental . I have a Musa banana tree ,the rhizomes are supose to be frost hardy ,it's more for fiber and ornamental. It can get 18ft tall . Up to zone 6a . Good vidio, thanks 😊

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That is very tue! I have seen people cut trees all the way to the ground as well, and mulch over them. I found that by cutting them higher up and protecting the stem higher up. I’m more likely to get bananas. I think it has something to do with the fact that the tree gets to the proper height quicker, and also because he survives into a second year. Best wishes to you with your Musa. I’d love to hear how it all works out for you. It can be a major challenge, growing bananas for fruit and 6a for sure. If you are just going in for ornamental though I have seen people as far north as Boston growing them, which is crazy!

[@misterbeeman3779]

I have a ice cream Bananna and a Raja Puri put them in pots so far already 3 feet thick stalks from three inch pups . I they say take inside first year second year put outside in the ground mine’s getting so big I may put in the ground in another month. Use your method layer with the straw wrap with plastic. Maybe leave some air holes to breath but shield the top from water getting in also . I’m in zone 8 A Mississippi. I have the ornamental bananas that make small 3 inch bananas with the big seeds they are edible but more seed than flesh . They ripen in October. I’m looking forward to using your method.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Wow, it’s sounds like those things are growing fast! I found that to be the problem with mine as well when I first started growing them. They got so big so fast. It was no real way to move them around. I was able to get them in side the first winter, because I didn’t plant them or get them started until mid summer. So I planted the mountain next spring and I did really well. I’ve seen a lot of people use plastic and things like that around mulch stuff against the trunk to keep water out. I haven’t had a real problem with water causing damage to much. However, it’s not a bad plan either. That’s fantastic! I really hope they do well for you and this method works really well also. I’d love to hear out turns out for you or if you do something different, that works even better!

[@kdccmb]

I grow the Red Velvet bananas. Got my first rhizomes from SFA Arboretum as a birthday present for my years of volunteer work there. I have about 20 plants now, they grow to about 10 feet with gorgeous flowers and fruit every year, however after the big freeze they did not mature last year. They freeze & the stalks dry & I cut them to the ground each winter. They grow fast & taste like vanilla cream custard. The only downside is they are fairly seedy, but the fantastic rich taste is so worth it! After tasting these, store bananas have no flavor at all.

[@kdccmb]

I'm in zone 8A, near Nacogdoches, Texas.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s fantastic! Yes, I did not choose a great variety to grow easily in this area, and I have heard of the red velvet, but never had a chance to get my hands on some. I’m moving my bananas this year to a new area, so I think I’m gonna give them a try. You make them sound fantastic! It sounds like you’re in a slightly cooler zone and I am too which means they should do very well here as well Thank you so much! So many times I forget about different varieties. I’ve thought of in the past, and you just reminded me!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Very similar zones, thank you!

[@donnalynch5117]

I am glad to see that "that" was enough to protect them. I would have had serious doubt about that working. We got our big snow in January(and sustained teens during the night and day), and then down to 3 & 5 during the February freeze. We just got catastrophic news about my dog yesterday,, but after this, I plan on growing some stuff by following your videos.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’m so sorry to hear about your dog….things like that are so difficult to deal with. We got down to 9 for around 18-24 hours, and we were well below freezing for several days, and all that with no electro either. I really thought they were goners. I believe that the combination of very heavy mulch around the rhizomes, and the stalk, coupled with a cover that, for the most part didn’t touch any leaves, allowed me to get through it. I have to tell you I was shocked when they not only made it but they made bananas as the next season as well. Now keep in mind that it did get up to above freezing shortly after, so that helped a lot! Best wishes to you!

[@donnalynch5117]

@@TexasGardenDoc - let me ask you this: Is spring the best time to try to start with bananas, and might you know where I can purchase plantains? I like those a lot better than bananas.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Early spring is definitely the best time. If you are just starting out you can get them going in a freeze protected area a little earlier than you could or ally plant them outside, but you have to be careful with water management as they don’t like to have soggy feet. Unfortunately I do not. In fact I had a very hard time finding my bananas as well…. I ended up with a purchase off of Amazon. I was a bit nervous about it but it did work out. You could try there or Etsy as well. Unfortunately you are taking a bit of a risk as because there is no real way to hold the seller accountable a year later when you find out if you got what you paid for or not.

[@donnalynch5117]

@@TexasGardenDoc - The dry feet thing might be problem for us. Everything here drains off fairly fast, but that first few hours after a big storm, you can canoe out of here. lol Can you do them in raised beds?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

You definitely can although they do get quite tall and I would think that they would be prone to falling over with any kind of wind. I would say go for something in between, so maybe dig a large hole and mix in some raised bed mix or even compost with some vermiculite mixed in. Then plant them in the ground. Another way you could do it is to make the same mix but slightly mound up that soil as well and plant it there. That way it has enough drainage but enough solid soil to grab on to.

[@FA-xw8zz]

Great video Amazing banana trees Gona use your ideas I’m trying to keep mine protected for this 2021 winter let’s see what happens

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Best of luck! It did work very well for me. This year I’ll be cutting them back quite a bit but still using the same technique to protect them in hopes of lots of bananas next year! Let me know how it goes. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment as well. Means the world to me!

[@kenlowder6932]

I mulch the base but not much higher then that. The freeze would kill the leaves but the thick trunk protected the heart inside the trunk. Near spring time I cut the top off and new leaves popped out in a few days. By keeping the plant tall it was ready to fruit, and the did. Mmmmmmm apple bananas!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s awesome! I’m toying with the idea of not cutting anything off until spring like you mentioned. They way I’m doing it I’m guessing how much of the stem will survive the freeze. I think that’s what I’ll do this year as well!

[@kenlowder6932]

The thicker the trunk the better the result. That was when i lived in Baytown. We did have a couple minor snows during that time and they did well using this method. Now i live in caldwell 8b just like you. Come spring i plan to grow some apple bananas and blue bananas. This is the method I’ll use on my farm, and I’ll wrap the trunks if we get another hell really freezing over. Nugget is killing it and me

[@TexasGardenDoc]

😂 he was a character! That sounds pretty amazing! I actually have apples and apples plumbs. I haven’t spent nearly the time I need to with them but hopefully I’ll get back on track with them this winter

[@bobg5362]

The snow might have saved you. Light, powdery snow actually acts as insulation.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

It’s quite true! I found it in the rest of my garden things that should not have survived did, and I believe that is a reason. As you can imagine, we don’t have much experience with snow in this area!

[@MayhemMero]

First off great vid Doc! Super informative and now I know to throw some hay around the base of banana plant if I'm ever worried it'll freeze! Also love to hear nugget interject every now and then! LOL

[@TexasGardenDoc]

MAYHEM!!!!! I love that rooster! He likes to talk almost as much as I do. Lol. Thanks for the kind words brother!

[@troydefond2307]

GREAT NEWS!! Been trying to grow and produce Bananas now for over 5 yrs with no luck!! How are they looking? Burleson, Tx here. 8a. have you tried the Texas banana tree yet?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

It’s definitely a hard game to play! We straddle zones enough that you really have to get it through the winter to get bananas the next year. I have not heard of the Texas banana tree! I’ll have to look it up, what is it?

[@cookiemonster6092]

@@TexasGardenDoc He is probably referring to the “Texas Star” I am zone 8a and have planted it and the “Golden Rhino Horn” they are supposed to be more cold tolerant. I just planted them about a month ago and we had 22 degree temps one night. I put a bucket over them and they survived at any rate. Whether I will see bananas in a couple of years is yet to be seen

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Thank you for that! I actually looked it up and I believe you’re correct the Texas star is also called the Texas banana tree. Apparently, it was discovered in Wichita, Texas, I believe in the 60s, and can stand fairly cold temperatures. I may see about getting one myself to see how it does. The dwarf Cavendish are doing well, but it’s definitely tricky!

[@chargermopar]

A friend of mine grows bananas in Minnesota. It is a lean-to greenhouse set up like a tropical paradise. We know that the cavendish banana also grew in a greenhouse.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

So very cool! Is it built against their house? I’ve seen this style of greenhouse before and they look amazing! It never ceases to amaze me what lush gardens people can grow in a greenhouse. Ice and snow outside, tropical paradise inside. So cool!

[@chargermopar]

@@TexasGardenDoc Yes it is against the back of the house connected to the living room. Greenhouse is 16 feet tall and slopes down a bit has a length of 50 feet and is 20 feet wide. It faces south.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

So very cool!

[@kenlowder6932]

I grow turmeric, red and black. Frost hits, i chop the green leaf part off and used it to cover the rhizomes. Spring came and up they popped. I live near college station

[@TexasGardenDoc]

You’re not to far from me! That’s pretty much what I do with my ginger once colder whether hits. I make my last harvest right before that and mulch with the leaves. Comes right back! Well except when snow apocalypse it….that killed it that year. Now I always have a potted rhizome from the garden just to make sure Texas Weather doesn’t get me again!

[@mpitogo1978]

awesome thank you. I’m in Texas as well and our new house came with a banana plant.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Very nice! Have you been in the new house long enough to go through a full growing season yet? How is it doing? Congrats on the new home as well!

[@mpitogo1978]

@@TexasGardenDoc Just a bit over 3 weeks now. The previous owners tells that it survived last year’s frost and came back. It’s looking a bit sad as it wasn’t prepped for winter but I’ll clean it up and hopefully she’s still good for this season.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s awesome! Did the owner know what variety it was? Also, I should mention that after this last freeze I cut mine back and I found a large flower pod with about 16 small bananas on it and lots of flowers. It was in the top of the plant obviously, but was untouched as far as freeze damage goes, which was strange to me given that the entire top of the plant was frozen and damaged. I didn’t see the pod when I cut it down. If I had I might have left it as an experiment and not cut it back at all. Did the owners happen to tell you what they normally do for winter prep? I have a friend in the my same zone who has his planted very close to his house on a south facing wall, and I don’t think he’s ever done anything to them until spring when he cuts them back and he has bananas every season. I think that southern exposure and the warmth from the house are protecting them very well in his case.

[@kuriouskat1490]

Hi Doc, just came across your channel and am enjoying the information. I've been trying to find more Texas channels. I watch Scott Head from Black Gumbo, he's south of Houston, and I also live just south of Houston, zone 9. What kind of bananas are you growing or do you recommend to grow? My husband and I would like to add some actual fruiting banana trees and I want to learn what the best varieties are. And I like your humor and how you end your videos.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Awww thanks so much! Yes Scott is just south of me. I’m about 20:miles north out near Conroe so I’m actually 8b…which was 9a until a few years ago. I’m growing dwarf cavendish which are basically just like you TPE typical grocery store bananas. ..only difference is they only get about 15 feet tall. I struggle with too I have shade where they sit but they are doing quite well. I HOPE I’ll have fruit next year (3rd year)for the first time. I’ll be doing my winterization a tiny bit different this year but the principals are the same. I would say, barring anymore 2021 snow-pocalypse you might need not do too much more than just protect the rhizomes in ground with some good thick mulch. From what I’ve learned from other people Musa basjoo seems to be very hardy particularly in your zone. I haven’t tried them myself, they weren’t available when I got my starts, but I’ve heard they are quite good at the cold we would typically experience. Good for you two! Growing something to feed yourself or even just provide a little joy is what it’s all about. I wish you the best of luck and when you do get that first successful fruit, let me know! Also, thank you for the kind words!

[@genejaytre]

This is a great video. I have bananas as well I usually just chop them down and throw a painters dropcloth over them and maybe some plastic if I knew was gonna be like ice or snow or anything like that. Mize managed to survive the freeze of February last year and grew back just fine very tall actually and I chopped them down again this year threw the blanket over them again. But I will try this method next year

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Sue thank you so much for telling me how you did this! I was truly surprised mine survived given the fact they are the cavendish variety that they survived! We had an unusually warm/hot December so far but had our first freeze last week. I’ve only wrapped the trunks and this week I will removing all the dead/frozen leaves and whacking the trunks back just above the hay wrap. I’m hoping with a little luck I’ll be eating fresh bananas next season!

[@genejaytre]

@@TexasGardenDoc you should check out millennial gardener too. I believe he gets more freezes than we do(I’m in dallas). He gets bananas

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I 100% watch him when he pops into my feed. He’s got a great no-nonsense way of doing things that I really love! I haven’t watched him in a while so I’ll be sure to go by and check his latest videos out. Thank you!

[@forestwitch13]

Really cool vid. I wonder if I can keep some alive in Central Oklahoma? Maybe I'll give it a try.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Thank you for the kind words! I have heard of people keeping bananas, alive as far north is New England. I will say you definitely want to look for a very cold, hardy variety if possible if you’d like to get fruit from it. Do let me know how it goes for you, and if you have any questions, just reach out!

[@tedhodoba3637]

I'm in Albuquerque and my garden is borderline Zone 7B/ 8a. I have successfully overwintered Musa basjoo, Musella lasiocarpa, Musa velutina, and Musa dwarf Orinoco. I overwintered Musa royal purple indoors, planted it out in late spring. It decided to flower in September and has tiny bananas on it now. I doubt there is enough time for them to ripen. I surround my bananas with a cage that I fill with straw. So far I've been able to bring them through two winters this way.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Very cool! Yes I’m a bit worried about my fruit having time to ripen this season as well. I think all this weird weather all year messed everything up a bit. I’ve heard the basjoo doesn’t need to or doesn’t benefit from cutting it back at the trunk. Do you cut yours back? I might test it this year with my cavendish and see how they do.

[@tedhodoba3637]

@@TexasGardenDoc I did cut them back to a few feet so I could cover the whole thing. I think I will just leave them sticking out of the straw this year. I saw another video where they did that with success.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Sounds like we might be experimenting together! I was reading a lot of stuff a few years ago about how not cutting the tops reduces the risk of the from rotting. I usually cut at a slight angle but they are so fibrous they could still hold water and rot. I think I’m going to leave them this season too. But man….they are like 10’ tall…that’s a lot of straw and a ladder to cover the tops as well. Let me know how it goes for you. I’m curious to see how this turns out!

[@tedhodoba3637]

@@TexasGardenDoc I'm just going to cover them about 2 to 3 ft with straw and leave the tops sticking out instead of cutting them back this year.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Interesting, guess as long as the stem stays alive that’s all that really matters!

[@practicingpreparedness100]

I covered mine with black garden fabric.. all the leaves died off, but they came back in the spring and are thriving.. Texas zone 9 b

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Great news! It’s interesting how you list your zone as Texas 9b. I’ve often thought about how the zones work across the world and I find myself always saying the same thing, Texas Zone 8b. I’ve realized over the years that zone 8b in Texas is not the same as zone 8b in other parts of the country and the world. What kind of bananas are you growing? Thanks so much for commenting about your success with landscape fabric! Someone else will definitely benefit from this!

[@practicingpreparedness100]

Texas Garden Doc .. I’m grow Nina banana ( the kind from grocery store) and plantains... no fruit yet... but the plantain did fruit at my old house in zone 10 only took a year there... here is more difficult and the soil is very different... best wishes for your banana growing

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Same to you! I’m hoping next year I’ll finally see some fruit myself!

[@maryg1338]

I’m in 7b and my bananas usually make it through the freeze here on Long Island. Straw, plastic bags to keep it dry, and then a plastic garbage bin on top. When I say usually, if the main plant doesn’t make it, some will pop up from the rhizome. However, I have gotten a flower pod, but never bananas. I ignorantly cut off the pod and that was that. Interested why hay and not straw

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi Mary! I actually did the exact same thing after I filmed that video. I had a flower pod with lots of small bananas on it but didn’t see it when I cut it down…. They will definitely sprout pups if you can keep the root alive, even if the stalks die, but they do have to have one full season of growth under their belt first. Season means some5ing a little different for each type of banana though. One season might be a year and a half depending on climate. This year I’m going to experiment with NOT cutting the, back to see how they do, well, at least a few of them anyway. The reason for hay and not straw, is that in my area there are two problems with star. 1) it’s either not available very often. 2) if it is available I’m told that it can not be verified to be pesticide and herbicide free. Since I use it in my garden as well, I just don’t like to chance the straw. I have bought straw online, however it is a lot more expensive that way.

[@zgoalscorer8450]

plastic on top doesnt cause rot? im long island as well. was thinking burlap or maybe a small plastic cap on top and wrap the rest of stem in burlap

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi there! Here in Texas we don’t get nearly as cold or have the sustained winters that you can have on Long Island. I have heard of people getting some tropical to live through those, using the method I’ve described here and som supplemental heating. However, I’m confused about the plastic question. I don’t use any sort of plastic on or around the bananas or anything else in the garden. The only way I would consider that is if I could keep a structure well above and away from the plant to create a sort of mini greenhouse. I only used hay, and old bedsheets to protect these. I have built a mini green house in the past that used 6 mil plastic, but none of it touched a plant inside or, as you stated, it could rot or at minimum freeze. That was mainly for house plants and flowers too. In the very distant past I did create a sort of hoop house over some beds that I provided some extra warmth too, but I also had it vented so as to let some of the humidity out. Sorry, if there’s any confusion, but I don’t use plastic to wrap the bananas or tent them. I hope that helps in some way!

[@melissamoreland5961]

OK I found some banana trees around $40 should I buy a dwarf cavendish ? I also think I’m going to put it in a bigger container so this first year I can bring it inside this winter and then spring plant it. What are your thoughts?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s almost exactly what I did when I first got my dwarf Cavendish! I would say, though you might look for some other dwarf varieties that are a little bit quicker to go to fruit if you can find them. Banjoo is a good one, but definitely look into them before to make sure it’s something you want to eat as far as the fruit goes.

[@kerimadsen1528]

Hi there. Sorry for the long post. I'm in Houston and I was gifted a single banana pup that I planted a little over a year and I never thought it would grow. It was probably planted at a bad time of year and then the winter freeze came and knowing nothing about banana plants, we thought it was just a goner. But, low and behold, the thing came back with a vengeance. The main plant had died completely, but the one pup it had sprouted began growing again from the center and that has grown to be about 12 feet tall with putting off more than 10 pups this summer. I didn't think we'd get bananas but WE DID... but starting the last week of September unfortunately. All of this to say, the bananas need more time! And we are about to face a couple of nights in the low 40s possibly in the 30s. I'm wondering if there is anything you know to do to protect the bananas that are on the plant for a couple of nights? I want to give the fruit a chance to mature. I know it's not likely to happen, but I'm willing to try. Any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated. I will definitely use your method for protecting the rest of the plant but don't know if I need to do that just yet or wait until more ominous cold is forecast. Wish I could attach a photo of my beautiful banana babies here.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

No problem at all! Yes, once those pups get some good whether they will shoot up for the sky! For this first little freeze is coming through the Houston area, and I say freeze lightly as it is probably not going to freeze, but will get very close to it, about the only thing you can do is try to protect them in the leaves best you can from frost . They’re way up high so I’m not sure how you could really do that but you could take and wrap the bananas with a frost cloth and secure it on there. It’s about the only thing I can think to do, I’ve tried it a few times in the past, but it was later in the year Around November 20, and it didn’t work well for me. However, we did get a hard freeze so that’s a little different than this. Hopefully that works out for you, and I wish you all the best as well! I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!

[@kerimadsen1528]

@@TexasGardenDoc Thank you. It did get into the low 40s for a couple of nights but fortunately it wasn't too cold during the day. I wrapped them in a thin dog blanket 😂 and wrapped that in a clear plastic bag. Taped up the top and sides and left it on there for about 4 days. The bananas are fine and still growing, thankfully. I think I"m gong to need to do the hay around the base soon, though, as it's about to get cold again. I'm just trying to get it through to at least about mid December. Finger's crossed.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s great! Mine did just fine through the light frost that we got. I didn’t cover them at all. The biggest issue is really not even getting them through to December for me, but getting them through to the next season, if you have bananas on the trees and you do get a freeze you’re probably going to lose the bananas, if you leave them on. It’s kind of a slippery slope where we are. I’m a little north of you, so I get a little bit colder a little bit longer but still in zone nine it can be a little touch and go. Definitely give it a try when the cold stuff comes around and let me know how it turns out. And once you’re out there working on it if you have any problems, just let me know I’d love to help!

[@anupamaseshadri]

Have you tried covering it with a frost cover?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I have not use it. Frost cover over them. I think that could definitely work, depending on what’s on your in! Unfortunately, for me, the frost isn’t the issue, it’s the freezing. Since bananas are tropical’s, the light frost will damage the leaves, however, once it reaches that time of year, you have freezes coming right behind it, at least where I am. No, if you live in an area that just has frosts for a little while, that could help to keep the leaves alive longer, and protect any fruit that is growing, that might get you a little further down the road. So in areas that have falls like that, I think that could help a lot. However, we go either from first frost to first freeze within a day or two, or we go straight to the first freeze. Unfortunately, it may not freeze again for weeks! That’s a great idea to try for sure!

[@lizzbd4527]

I’m in 8b and Texas and I’m hoping to grow some bananas. Where did you get your original transplants from?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi Liz! I actually got them off Amazon……where everything comes from nowadays. Lol I was late in the season and decided I wanted to grow bananas, because my daughter loves them. I could fins any in stock from normal suppliers, but found some pups on amazon. I have a friend that had them in his landscape for years, but never pulled any pups in time so I gave it a shot. To be honest I feel I got pretty lucky with mine. If you’re in 8b the dwarf cavendish like I’m growing is a pretty good choice. There are others out there that also do well but I don’t have any experience with them. You should give them a go if you can. I will say that this time in the year it’s probably best to plant them in very large pots and overwinter them in a garage or in your home. Then in the spring next year plant them out. I think that will give you the best chance of success….and delicious bananas!

[@MyFamilyOutdoorAdventures]

Hey, enjoyed your vid. Curious too if they produce. I live just south of Dfw about 20 mins south of Fortworth right down 35... and am looking to grow a couple banna plants....also...would you care to give/ sell a couple pups?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi there! Thanks for your kind comment. If protected well you should be able to grow them in your area no problem! Something I learned this last winter is to pay better attention before cutting the, down. I say that to answer your other question; will they produce. I cut my mossy successful stalk down without seeing the giant flower and hand of 4 inch bananas at the very top! My stomach dropped when I saw it but it was too late. So they do produce for me. The pups I started where in their second year, which I believe is their first opportunity to fruit in non subtropical climates. Unfortunately that means that that stalk is also dead. Once they fruit, the plant dies and pushes a new one up from the rhizomes. I’d love to share! I haven’t pulled the hay protection off the stalks yet, no reason other than I haven’t had a chance to do it yet. If I have extra pups I’d be more than happy to send them to you. Do you have a twitter account? If so, go find me on there @TexasGardenDoc and send me a DM. I should know in a few weekends if I have enough to split off. I would say the first year you grow them, starting at this time of year, you might plant them in large pots that you can move into protect rather than putting them in the ground, then next spring plant them out. I’m also going to try NOT chopping them back this fall to see how they do. Thanks for commenting!

[@martymar9713]

greatness

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’m glad you liked it! I really hope it helps you out as well. If you have any questions, just let me know!

[@rickdavis2235]

What part of Texas are you in? It got down to 9° here in February of this year just north of Hondo, Texas. I have a dwarf Cavendish and blue java, both in 15 gallon pots. The cavendish is about 6 feet tall and the blue java is about 12 foot. I'm debating on whether to put them in the ground now or wait until spring. I have a greenhouse but it's only 8 feet in the center. What would you recommend? What I've seen some people do is build a welded wire fence around the plants and fill it with straw, hay or leaves. If you can build and 8' fence, the tree shouldn't die back any further than that so it's not starting all over at the beginning of the growing season and chances for bananas are much better.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Rick, thank you for commenting! I’m north of houston, I believe you are in zone 8b like I am. If I’m not mistaken, the Blue Java is pretty cold hardy so I’d say inside or out your probably fine (of course with some protection outside). Given your zone and if it were me, I’d definitely plant them outside but I’d wait until after your last frost date to do it. It sounds like they are maybe a year old or so? If so, that extra time in the green house will serve them well and give you a big head start without much stress for next season! Given that the Java is a bit too tall, you might try removing some of the top leaves to give yourself some growing room in the green house. If the trunk is 12’ then you could try leaning it on it’s side at an angle to get it in there for the winter, just make sure you secure it so it doesn’t lean too far or fall over. I’ve seen people use the welded wire system as well as just wire mesh and chicken wire to do the same thing. They stuff about 2 feet of hay around the outside of the trunk. I’ve seen that work well into the northern suburbs of Dallas. For me, tying the slabs of hay around the trunk worked great even with the record freeze last year. Keeping the full trunk alive and intact, along with the roots, will definitely give you a higher chance for fruiting earlier. I’ve been told, but don’t know this to be fact on my own yet, that if you can keep the trunk but mainly the root alive, somewhere about 3 years in you, have a good chance for bananas. I have a buddy that has full cavendish and his freeze back every year, I’d say he gets bananas about every other year consistently and sometimes every year. Mine were cut back to 2’ tall and are now somewhere around 10-12 feet. In our climate they grow pretty fast. But if you can protect the entire trunk and root I think it’s the best approach! Best of luck to you and let me know what you end up doing and how it works out!

[@rickdavis2235]

@@TexasGardenDoc Yep. Zone 8b here. Both of my trees were about 15 inches tall back in April and it's true that the java is pretty cold hardy. I guess I'll wait until spring and stick them in the ground. Thanks for the advice. I paid about $45 for my blue java in April and they are not $90 from the same supplier.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s crazy! I couldn’t find any Java when I ordered mine…. I e never actually tasted one but I hear they are fantastic! Man…seed prices are through the roof now too. Luckily I most all the varieties I plan to grow next year and have been saving my own as well. Let me know how it works out and how those bananas taste when you get the, to come in!

[@anneciamartin9514]

Hello. Just came across your video and very happy that I did. I'm in Southern California, zone 9b where we just had our first frost last Wednesday and one this week as well. We've been covering the banana plants but the leaves look brown and they are bent (probably from the weight of the sheet) but the stems are still green. I will do what you say and cover the trunks up with hay and make sure there is a thick layer of mulch. My question is, should I cut off the leaves that turned brown? I also have another banana plant in another location and the whole thing is brown, stem included and the middle leaf turned brown on me. Should I just pull the plant and start over? Sorry for the long post.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

We are in the sane zone! I typically wait until after the first big frost to cut anything back. I will cut off any dead leaves when it’s convenient. Definitely do wrap them for sure though and put that mulch down. That may be the most important part. You don’t have to cut them back. This year i won’t be cutting mine back until spring. If you do decide to cut them back I suggest just slightly above the y height of the hay or straw. But make sure to cut it at an angle. That will give the pseudo steam the best chance to survive. It can rot more easily if you cut it flat. I don’t think I would pull the other one up just yet, cover the ground with thick mulch. You might be surprised what comes back on spring! I’ll try to post on the community page later today or tomorrow so you can see how mine look after 15 F and a 3 day freeze. They look pretty sad! Let me know how it goes! If you have any other questions or even things you try I’d love to hear about them!

[@anneciamartin9514]

@Texas Garden Doc thank you. I will give it a shot. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Best wishes to you and a merry Christmas! I’d love to hear how it turns out!

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

Now that they are much taller how do you protect them now? .. I head your can dig them up before a big freeze and store them in a cool place.. then when a freeze or cold is over you can plant them back. Maybe they will work?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s a great question! Digging them up is certainly an option. Although, at this size I don’t think I’d want that task! I would say it might be better to grow them in pots to begin with if you are in an area that receivers really cold temperatures. For my, it’s been an unseasonably warm November and December so I haven’t touched them yet. Personally I’m waiting for the first frost. After that I’ll cut them back to about chest height and do just what I did last year hay or straw tied around them with a heavy mulch at the base and maybe a suspended cloth or plastic using takes spaced out to try to capture a little more heat if it gets really cold. I’ve heard of people in zone 4 using this method or something similar and it worked for them. But as you said, if you ca. do it, gigging them up and getting them in a green house or a garage would definitely offer more protection. Just make sure they are take. Care of properly when they are in there. Thanks for the comment!

[@ajaxkm]

Will wrapping incandescent lights around the tree work ? If so, how much do I wrap around it.?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi there! Do you mean like Christmas style lights? I assume that’s what you mean since you use the word wrapping around the tree. You can absolutely do that in combination with covering your plants and it will definitely add heat. I’ve done it quite a bit in the really cold parts of our winter in our non-edible landscape to keep things alive, or at least protected from the freeze for a little bit of time. I’d say it works moderately well, but knowing how many lights to put on is really determined by how cold it’s gonna get and what kind of protection you’re giving the plant I’ve also used painters lamps in the past combined with plastic sheeting, and that works really well, but you do have to be careful using any kind of light source because you could start a fire or melt something if you’re using plastic. Keep that in mind. I wish I could give you more definitive answer about how many to use but it really is different depending on everyone situation. I would say go a little more than you think you need it first and then check to see how they did adjust. Hope that helps!

[@ajaxkm]

@TexasGardenDoc thank you for your help. Yes I mean the christmas lights but I mentioned incandescent because there are also led ones. Anyway, I plan to use a frost blanket and the lights . However since I live in Western part of Texas, it only gets below 20 F rarely. Anyway thank you for your help

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Then you should do just fine using the incandescent string lights. Like I said, I would just make sure that you don’t allow the lights to touch the frost blanket. It really shouldn’t be an issue but just in case. And then just kind of watch your progress. It’s not a bad idea to start with a little more than you think and back off. Hopefully that helps!

[@qflower4982]

Great tips

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it and I hope it helps you get your bananas through the winter as well!

[@moniquegebeline4350]

Right but mine is flowered out and has 3 bunches of bananas!!!! It’s like 10 ft talk 😭 (zone 8b/9a coastal ms)

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Very nice! Sounds you are in exactly the same zone and coastal climate as I am. Let me ask you this. How did it do in the summer? Did the hear wilt it badly? Also, do you have it in absolute full Sun or mostly sun etc. thanks for commenting!

[@Qaysgh]

Hi How do you protect it when it is this tall? Will you cut it?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I sure do! Last year I decided not to cut them down, and they did survive. It was much harder to protect them by covering the tops. And in the end, the survival rate was about the same just harder to deal with. So I still cut them down and intend to do the same this year. I hope that helps!

[@oldtimeflipper8691]

i see a lot of zone charts. with different numbers. where is the best place to get the chart that determines what zone one is in?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s actually a fantastic question! I usually tell people to go to the USDA website. It’s the most updated and accurate. In fact if you search for, ‘USDA Hardiness zone ‘ and then tack your zip code on the end, you usually end up on their webpage and you can even look more closely at the maps to see where your home actually falls. I can tell you what DOESNT give good zone location advice….every seed packet I’ve ever bought! Lol. After years of trying to figure out why I couldn’t get things growing right, I ended up search the ag extension service webpages for when to plant stuff! Hope that helps!

[@julielefler9747]

I live in zone 5 I have to bring them in every year they are in hudge pots I have had mine 12 years never fruited but the say gotta feed them constantly I don't

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s a long time! I do know they are very heavy feeders, and in pots they would definitely need more nutrition, then if they were in the ground. I’m still kind of surprised you’ve never seen a flower at all. Do you know what kind they are? I know there’s some ornamental varieties that really don’t fruit at all. I wonder if maybe it might be one of those? That’s a lot of work for sure. Moving them in and out each year!

[@julielefler9747]

@@TexasGardenDoc I ordered them offline through robertas they are located in Indiana they said real fruit. It is hard to move they are over 100 lbs I had one up until last year 15 ft tall. It was garage kept to tall for house ! I have over 26 plants that come into garage because of zone 5 I bring in cannas angel truimpits elephant ears. Bananas and dwarf fruit trees I have tried wintering some it never works. Thanks fur your videos they come in handy

[@TexasGardenDoc]

@julielefler9747 oh my that’s a lot of work! I would assume that they aren’t getting enough warmth long enough to fruit then, or it could just be they have filled the pots and can’t do anymore. Do you ever have suckers come up in the pots? Thank you, you are very kind! I wish we could get yours to fruit, that would be well worth it!

[@wovenfaithapparel]

What are the benefits of maintaining a banana tree through the winter as opposed to just restarting after winter

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That is a really great question! It all comes down to length of growing season. Most bananas require between 12 and 18 months or more to mature and set fruit. (There are exceptions to that however). In my case, the growing season just isn’t long enough, so by overwintering the pseudo stem and the root, they will start to grow again the next season to reach their fruiting potential. I hope that makes sense, if not let me know!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I should also say that, restarting it after winter is exactly what I’ve been doing. My winters are just cold enough that without protection they might not survive until the next season. Left that part out. Lol

[@wovenfaithapparel]

@@TexasGardenDoc makes a lot of sense! Thanks

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Awesome! What you said does as well, because really having them restart in spring is exactly what you want!

[@wovenfaithapparel]

@@TexasGardenDoc Ahh so you are saying restarting is better, even though it can take 12-18 months ? I had covered mine with hay and leaves and wrapped with chicken wire right before I posted this , first time I’ve done it so i thought I’d try. Last year i restarted and they were huge, but i was hoping they would get even bigger if I kept a the ones that didn’t produce fruit and rollover to spring. So I didn’t restart,

[@hcwbw3]

nugget is saying growing bananas where it snows is "bananas" lol

[@TexasGardenDoc]

😂 so very true he’s a smart chicken!

[@MrGapack1965]

I live in area 9a in Florida and we had a freeze last weekend. My bananas frozen and now the leaves are black. One had just gotten to the point of starting to flower but I did not cover it. We are expecting another freeze this weekend. Should I cut back the dead leaves or use them for protection along with some type of cover cloth?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Gregory, sorry to hear that! I actually just cut mine down after a 3 day freeze and I found something very interesting. I didn’t see it up in the top because all the leaves were so badly damaged, but when I cut it back what I found was the huge flower pod with two rows of very mature bananas and some slightly wilted but still stable flowers. I since your in 9a and that massive cold air mass is moving your way I would say this, not knowing your variety of course, but my cavendish survived a few days with periods of several hours below freezing and the fruit capsule was till intact. If you can cover it it definitely won’t hurt. I would leave the leaves for now for added protection and see how it goes. I found some anecdotal research that says NOT cutting it can lead to a better chance of fruit in some areas. Now I haven’t tried this myself, but I’m thinking that depending on your variety and given that you aren’t likely to see a LOT of freezing weather through the rest of the season being in Florida you may get earlier fruit by not cutting it. Just a suggestion as I’ve not tried it myself yet. Best of luck and let me know how it goes. Thanks so much for reaching out and commenting!

[@MrGapack1965]

@@TexasGardenDoc I have dwarf Cavendish as well

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Ok so in this case I would say, protect the trunk and root ball with leaves hay blankets whatever you have. Keep the protection concentrated mainly at the lower trunk and ground level. Anything else on the trunk definitely won’t hurt. Leave the damaged leaves for now and give it a cover up to if possible. Worst case you’ll cut them down later and they’ll re-grow. Best case you may have bananas next season before anyone else!

[@donsherry9168]

I’m in Deland FL and we got down to 24 for 5 hours this past weekend. I have 7 12-16 ft and 8 5ft or less Bananas of various species. The small ones were covered and had minimal damage, but the bigger ones…. But they’ve dealt with this before, so give them another month and either just leave them be or chop them down. You’ll be shocked at how much stronger and fuller when they return. And fertilizer the heck out of them with a good 8-10-8 or any fertilizer intended for fruits or vegetables.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Don great advice! I know I was very shocked to see how well mine have held up! Thanks for your first hand experience it will help a lot of people!

[@AustinTexasGardening]

Howdy Texan Zone 8b neighbor

[@TexasGardenDoc]

8b is a hard line to walk, or the best line! Depends on your perspective! Thanks again!

[@Joe55144]

@TexasGardenDoc Did end up getting bananas?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I did! Unfortunately, they did not get to fully ripen, as we had a three month early freeze at the end of the year… So we just try again! Actually, they would’ve been fine and I taking them inside the house. I cut the hand off and put it in my barn. I don’t know why I didn’t think it would freeze in there, it always does! minor slip up, but we will get them this year and be able to eat them. I’m sure!

[@Joe55144]

@@TexasGardenDoc I am trying this year in central Texas, got a Blue java and a Dwarf cavendish to start

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That’s excellent! If I understand correctly, the blue Java should do very well for you. There’s also a variety called the Texas star banana, which was found growing many years ago in Wichita, that is said to be very cold hardy as well. I’m considering purchasing one this year to see how it does. Just got a find the funds to do it now! Best of luck to you and I’d love to hear how they do for you as well!

[@azmatmalikLTU]

Man think about adding anti freezing agent. As water in the plants expand when freeze n damage the plant so try 2% ethanol solution every week or two to save your plant. Give 20 minutes to absorb.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Interesting concept! I’ll check it out! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@jessielawrence6677]

Nugget sounds like he may taste good.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

😂🤣😂 my son named all the chickens this go round. Nugget,Dumpling, Teriyaki, Dinner…. Lol oh and then one is named bob! Lol The roosters have pushed my patience a few times and I thought the same thing!

[@williamgarr8100]

What part of Texas are you in? I am right outside Waxahachie.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Always great to hear from a fellow Texan! So you’re just south of Dallas then I believe. I’m just north of houston, so your a couple of hours North of me if I’m not mistaken.

[@williamgarr8100]

@@TexasGardenDoc yup, we drive down 45 headed to the cruise ships every once in a while.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Man…I haven’t been on a cruise in years! Any favorite destinations?

[@williamgarr8100]

@@TexasGardenDoc Cozumel, Playa Del Carmen and Rhoatan Honduras. That is one of the Royal Caribbean 8day 7 night cruises. Lol

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Cozumel Calica where my favorites! The last Cruz I went on to Playa del Carmen, it was just a tiki hut. Not a real building around on the beach! It’s a bit different now! 😂

[@melissamoreland5961]

Can we really grow bananas? I’ve never seen them in the nursery. I want to do this. Yes I’m also zone 8b

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Yes, you can actually do it! It’s actually pretty hit or miss in our zone, but if you go for a more cold, hardy type banana, you’ll have much more success. Dwarf Cavendish are doing OK but it’s definitely more of a struggle than it needs to be. I’m considering bajoo and a few others to try out soon. And you’re right it’s very hard to find actual food variety, bananas, in any nurseries where I am as well.

[@melissamoreland5961]

Update I bought one from Lowe’s bc they are the only one that will ship for free instead of $25. And of course the taller and more mature the better chance for survival so I’m going to keep it in a pot until I feel it’s mature enough to handle the winter

[@TexasGardenDoc]

@melissamoreland5961 that’s perfect! I got mine around March or April, and I kept them in pots all the way through the first winner into the next spring before I planted them out. So that’s probably a great idea!

[@Prince19912]

I'm gonna try something crazy and attempt, hard emphasis on "attempt", to grow a Blue Java banana in South Jersey. I'm already checking for ways to protect it because I know that this is an insane idea but I wanna F around and find out so I'll remember all this hahaha(I'm in F'in Zone 7 for Christ's sake)

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Lol! I do know that plenty of people do grow bananas, there, and other places in your zone as well. Although they do survive through the winter’s, I’m not sure that they are able to get them to produce fruit. Having said that, you might consider making some kind of frame to go around it during the winter months, something is larger than the plant and its leaves, and then put some kind of Christmas lights in there, or maybe a painters, light, something like that to keep the temperature up during the winter months. I consider doing something like that here to see if I could get more bananas more easily, but I haven’t tried it yet. I have seen or some people have done this in borderline areas and produced bananas. Just food for thought! I’d love to hear how this turns out for you, and best of luck to you as well!

[@Prince19912]

@@TexasGardenDoc Will attempt to report back if there's ever any success!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Fantastic!

[@ToddMagnussonWasHere]

Haha, funny, doing the same in East TN. Blue Java’s. Wish ya luck NJ grower. Hoping that there isn’t that Canadian deep freeze like the winter of 2022

[@Prince19912]

@@ToddMagnussonWasHere So far so good! Always feels good to see a big new leaf grow in!

[@begarza8218]

I have a type of banana tree that was given to me but doesn’t produce bananas but they get really tall. We planted them on the backside of the pool in a flower bed. I usually just cover them with mulch this is the 3rd summer for them in our yard. They aren’t getting very tall maybe 3 ft at most. They have good drainage they are in full sun at least 6 hours. I haven’t put fertilizer on them maybe that’s why? I need suggestions if you have any? Please and thank you in advance.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi there! So you haven’t seen any bananas yet correct and it’s their third year. You say they get really tall, is this the only year they aren’t very tall?is the flower bed behind the pool encapsulated? Meaning it’s got concrete or rock on all sides? Have you seen any ‘pups’ coming up or are they growing from the same trunk every year? It’s possible you have an ornamental variety that doesn’t fruit. It’s also possible that this may be your year for fruit. Upmost varieties will fruit in the second or third year. Are they watered deeply regularly. They like moist soil and that mulch should help a lot! How long does your hot season last? Mine is about 6 months with very mild (usually) winters and they just barely have time to set fruit. As for fertilizing, anything that’s a liquid organic or powdered organic with a good amount of potassium should help. You have to be DP careful though you don’t want to overdo it Sorry, lots of questions, it if I know some of those we may be able to find a solution!

[@begarza8218]

@@TexasGardenDoc they are in a flower bed not butted up against the pool there is a stepping stone walk way between the bed and the pool. The flower bed has landscaping pavers lining the bed. They have only reached up to 3 ft high all 3 summers they have never gotten taller. But I know they reach 6-8 ft tall because my uncle that gave them to me his were between 6-8 ft tall. I give them a drink everyday sometimes every other day. I’m from North Texas between Oklahoma and Dallas Texas. It’s in the triple digits here during the day. I water either in the morning or late in the evening but usually early in the morning. Hot season lasts just in case you don’t know about Texas YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR GOING TO GET 🤷🏻‍♀️ I have manure or miracle growth for fertilizer I can use. Also winters unpredictable I don’t even put house plants out until after Easter the last freeze.

[@begarza8218]

@@TexasGardenDoc the flower bed has pavers on all sides, they have pups, sorry I’m trying to answer all questions. Just trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong and need to be doing.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Oh I. Quite familiar. If someone doesn’t like the weather in Texas, wait 15 minutes, it will change! Ok so north of Dallas is going to be kind of tough but it might be possible. Have your uncle’s ever set fruit? Does he live in the same zone? There are some dwarf varieties that only grow around 8 feet so that is a possibility. Mine are dwarfs but reach 10-12 feet. Id say where you are, wrapping the trunks with straw or some thing similar to about chest high or about 10} under the top fronds when cold weather hits, is the way to go. Don’t chop the stalks down. I learned that this year. Cover to protect during winter, maybe even run a string of Christmas lights under the cover to keep them warm on the coldest nights. You are gonna need two years of solid growth to produce your fist bananas. The height thing is a little strange still though. You can use miracle grow, but I don’t particularly like it. It’s very easy to burn your plants with it. Manure is great, but it needs to be very well rotted and only top dress the soil with it an water in. Not much potassium in it but it will help. When the leaves die back this fall, cut the, off, chop the, up and drop the, as mulch. It will give back some of that potassium. Keep me posted on this. If possible, find me on Twitter and DM me there. Id love to help you go through this and see if we can get fruit. It’s gonna be very tough where you are, but maybe still possible? There are some varieties that might do better for you ther, but their names escape me at the moment.

[@begarza8218]

@@TexasGardenDoc I also have BLACK CLAY SOIL so I normally plant perennials that could care less where they are they are just happy to be alive and spread like crazy.

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

What to believe in? I believe in the Son of The Most High….The "Word” that became flesh. John 3:15-16.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That is the most important tenet of my four things! Thank you!

[@starlight-xt7po]

Thank you

[@derrickwalker3018]

Have your banana plants produced bananas yet?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

They have! Last year they did. Unfortunately, I did not see the hand and I cut it down, so they weren’t quite ripe yet, but I took them inside and let them ripen up. They were pretty good! Probably not as good as they ripen on the plant very good! Unfortunately, this year I’m not seeing a flower yet which is kind of late so I don’t know that I’ll get any this year

[@gaj1490]

I added a comment here this afternoon and now its gone?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hmmmm… let me check and see if the tube machine blocked it for some reason.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I just looked through the backend to see if your comment was stuck somewhere, but it’s not at all. Which is really weird. I personally only deleted a couple of comments over the last couple of years and that’s only because they used extreme profanity or something else that was really not appropriate. Sorry, it disappeared but I appreciate you taking the time to not only post in the first place, but also to follow up when you couldn’t find it anymore.

[@gaj1490]

I basically said that in Surrey UK were we had -10deg C for a couple of nights but mostly -4 degs C for several weeks on and off, I just put 4" of shop bought compost around the trucks in early November. The plants all rotted into the ground. However have grown to over 7Ft this year.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

@gaj1490 it sounds like you’re doing exactly what you need to do. As long as the root ball doesn’t freeze, you should be in good shape. I’m going to guess that your growing season is not very long, so it may be difficult with that hard of a freeze to get it to fruit. However, again, as long as the root doesn’t freeze and die, you’ve got a fighting chance for it! For me, I’ve gotten actual bananas that were edible one time, I’m hoping for them this year as well, but even if I don’t get bananas, the good news is all the green then I get from the banana trees, go right back into my garden, and make great nutrient, dense compost! I’ll be interested to see how they do the rest of the year for you. Fingers crossed. I will get bananas again this year as well!

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

I made a update on how they look after the freeze!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Awesome! I’ll go check it out!

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

@@TexasGardenDoc have your bananas had any freeze damage yet?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Not this year. This morning was supposed to be 38 so I figured a little frost, but I don’t cover them for frost only freeze. Like you we have very warm weather coming again so I’m holding out. First freeze (light freeze) I’ll let the leaves get exposed, then I’ll cut the trunk off at about 3’ and protect them with they hay like last year. They grew 12 or 13 feet from March until now so I’m hoping for fruit next year if I can get them through this winter!

[@blaynesplantvlog7117]

@@TexasGardenDoc lol we are in the same State! Texas!!!! I am in DFW so our weather is similar!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

There you go! Zone 8a then for you zone 8b for me. I saw DFW had freeze warnings last night, it definitely came through!

[@elistanford6174]

What variety of bananas are you growing

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi there! These happen to be dwarf Cavendish. I chose them number one because they were the dwarf variety, and number two because I was hoping it would encourage my family to have a recognizable name, a fruit on the table to eat. I will say that I definitely set myself up for a challenge! Here it is just a little bit too cold to make it easy to grow, and the fruit does produce but with all this weird weather chaos, I can’t seem to get them all the way through to ripe. There are lots of other varieties of more cold, hardy, bananas, the produce in a shorter amount of time. If for some reason these ever go, I may try a different variety or I may just add them to it. I’m not sure. Hopefully every year I grow and learn something new with these, and I can get them all the way to a full ripen fruit!

[@elistanford6174]

@@TexasGardenDoc okay thank you for that. I also deal with the cold weather, I'm in zone 8 so I ordered some ice cream banana plants also known as blue Java supposed to tolerate the cold the best I gather what zone are you?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

That variety and the banjoo are supposed to be much more cold tolerant and manageable for colder climates. I’m in zone eight as well, 8b. I’m guessing those varieties will probably do very well for you. If you do decide to grow one of those, I’d love to see how they come along, and how they do through the winners in producing fruit!

[@elistanford6174]

@@TexasGardenDoc okay I'll keep you posted my ice cream bananas plans are on the order trying to get educated before they arrive in the next couple days. I also learned you can grow a banana tree just from a green banana, I did not know that. But usually the ones you buy at the store need a hotter from what I understand

[@elistanford6174]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaXGfaB7btx1nKc

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Did you leave leaves 🍁 on ?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Hi again! I’m not entirely sure what your question is, but if you mean, do I leave the leafs on the stem when I cut them back for winter. If that is the question, then the answer is no I do not. Typically I cut the stems off below the lowest leaves and then pack them with straw for the winter. However, I have heard of people leaving them on and it seems to work OK as well. I just don’t like the mess that I have to clean up after freezes. They turn to a mush, so it makes it more difficult to clean up in the spring. Hopefully that helps if that wasn’t your question, just let me know!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Are they still alive now after 2023 winter you all had ?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

They certainly are! They’re actually getting pretty close to putting out a flower at this point. The biggest problem now is keeping them from scorching in this horrible heat, and keeping them watered, of course!

[@00jlove]

Hello Have you had any bananas yet?

[@00jlove]

OK, I just heard you say you don't have any yet? After how long will they grow?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I actually WOULD have had some last season, but the hand was hidden in the top leaves so I didn’t see it. 😔 Usually after the second full season for the main root you get bananas, or so I’ve been told. Which seems to hold true as that video was made at the end of the second season. Fingers crossed I’ll have 2 or 3 hands this fall!

[@dougmcdougal8226]

I live on lake Tawakoni not lake to walk any🤣

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Lol! My father used to fish that lake quite a bit in the 80’s and 90’s. He said he loved it it is quite beautiful!

[@ragnaraxelson59]

Believing in something without evidence? How is that a benefit?

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I don’t think I’m here to debate. I think what you’re referring to it, but if you listen closely with what I say, I say you need something to believe in. Do you have any evidence of yourself? Because that’s something to believe in. Believing in something gives you the ability to know that whatever it is you believe in is wrong and you can rely on it. I assume you posted this comment just to be argumentative, but you missed the mark. I have very deep faith, but I’m not asking you to. I’m asking you to believe in something. I hope that helps!

[@ragnaraxelson59]

Faith is useless without evidence. @@TexasGardenDoc

[@ragnaraxelson59]

You would be better served approaching the world with logic and reason, rather than blind faith.

[@TexasGardenDoc]

I’m good with where I am, I’m not so sure what the point is of all of this. If you’re upset because I recommend that people believe in something and you assume it to be something that you don’t want to do, you can certainly do that or not do that. That’s completely up to you how you wanna live your life same as it is to me., And by the way, I think if you spend a few minutes thinking about it, and if you’ve watched any of these videos, logic and reason plays a very big role in my life. But it does not preclude my faith one bit. You need to believe in something. Whatever that is for you is worth believing in. That will serve you well in life. But that’s just my two cents. Everyone has their own way and path in life. I hope for you that you’re just feeling and wonderful. And if it is, I have a feeling you believe in yourself. Which is the whole point, believing in something.

[@ragnaraxelson59]

TG, I am not upset at all. I guess my point is that you are expelling a lot of meaningless hot air. I am interested in seeing people's experimentation with subtropical fruit trees in marginal climates. I have no interest in hearing people's faiths or beliefs without evidence. @@TexasGardenDoc

[@tesstess3371]

So much work on growing a crop that will result into bland bananas, if one is really lucky. My next door neighbor grows banana trees. Only once in 10 yrs I've seen set fruit, but they never matured. Want tasty bananas? Travel to Central and South America, where other banana varieties are cultivated. Let me tell later about my papaya disaster...

[@tesstess3371]

Ok tell me what else to grow now besides okra...

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Oh man you aren’t kidding about those tastier varieties down there! I did get a small hand last season, but I didn’t see it when I cut them back….😔 I’m hoping this year I’ll get them again. Fruits have always been particularly difficult for me. I don’t know why actually. I think it’s because life gets in the way so much (work etc) that I get complacent. Sounds like the papaya incident was not a good one! Thanks so much for your comments I love interacting!

[@TexasGardenDoc]

Lol. Okra is one of those plants that grows really well but is a pain for me because the random windstorms we get here late in the season.my absolute favorite to grow is purple hull peas. They grow in just about any type of soil, can take some drought and some over watering, are fast growers and really prolific setting fruit! One of my favorites!

[@misterbeeman3779]

Get some chicken or cow manure they’ll grow faster .

[@TexasGardenDoc]

You know, that’s one of the things that I have not done much with the bananas, fertilize. I’m going to be moving them yes, winter to a new spot to grow in spring, and that would be a great time to add some chicken manure from the poop. Great advice. Thank you!

[@47nodoubt]

you don't even have fruit, whats the point, just live in a climate thats not complete shit .

[@TexasGardenDoc]

First off, keep it clean. First and only warning then I’ll take it down. Second of all, I actually did get fruit last year. Third…man I’m sorry your having a bad time in life. Why else make that kind of comment. Obviously you don’t like my climate, cool. But man…I sincerely hope things get better for you….