Growing Bananas! Part 2 of 2

Frequent fertilization is recommended and you should increase your fertilizer during the summer months to make your plant a bit happier. If you have access to horse manure add some dried manure to the bottom of your pot. The Banana will love this rewarding you with faster growth. Just make sure the manure is completely dry or it can burn your plant up. If you cannot get any manure, try a product that is high in nitrogen such as "Gardener's Special," or "Rapid-Gro."

While most Bananas extremely dislike drafts and any type of cold weather there are varieties that can withstand temperatures of 30 degrees F. with wind but not frost and still survive. One such variety that can withstand these extreme temperatures is the Orinoco that grows wild in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Other varieties, such as Rajapuri, might experience leaf damage or some other type of physical damage but still survive.

The best way to know what your particular variety of Musa can withstand is to research it. You can always separate a "pup" from the mother plant to test the hardiness of your plant. After all, you never really know what will happen until you try it for yourself. Different areas of your yard receive different degrees of wind, rain and cold temperatures depending on your sheltering conditions. There are particular varieties of Bananas out there that can withstand temperatures of 5 degrees F. with extended freezes and survive. The only drawback of this is that most likely these varieties will never produce fruit under these harsh conditions.

Lets talk about how to get your Musa variety to produce fruit. In order to get this to happen you must provide at least two growing seasons of frost-free conditions. In addition to this your Banana will need abundant nutrition especially in the early stages of growth. The best variety to pick would be a dwarf variety with a fast maturing fruit.

In the event that you cannot grow your Banana in your house over winter you can dig it up in the fall and store it. Bananas should be kept in a cool, dark place over the winter the same as your other bulbs.

When spring arrives replant your Banana in the ground outside. Allow only one plant per hole. The ideal Banana mat consists of one plant that is fruiting, one that is half-grown, one that is a quarter grown with the final plant just emerging. All of the offsets should not be left growing because this drains the mother plant. The exception being if they are at least a foot away from the main plant then it is ok to allow them to grow.

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