When I gave them a trial, ALL of them folded over in moderate winds. ( below tropical storm force) It wasn't a root issue, the stems were just too weak. The plants just never thrived anyway in my poor Cape Coral canal subsoil fill. They are delicious but have slender pseudostems and need a spot protected from wind on as many sides as possible at least until you get a good mat established. You could use other bananas as a windbreak. Top 3 varieties for me out of about 20 I tried growing are
1. Sweetheart (FHIA-03) Stocky, wind, disease and drought resistant. Bears early and large bunches excellent all around. Our family favorite. Very few suckers.
2 Praying hands Excellent quality with a hint of vanilla. When cavendish gets dark it is nasty but these are still good at that stage. Tall and sturdy and produces well. Just cut the stalk to harvest once they start turning yellow. Disease and drought resistant.
3 Tall Orinoco (Burro) Disease and drought resistant,slender pseudostems like Mysore but much sturdier. Smaller bunches of very nice fruit, the one I have has a hint of strawberry taste at the right ripening stage.
I have no irrigation and all have fruited reliably for me when mulched. They all are planted where they receive additional rain from roof runoff and/or AC drip line. I hit each mat with a couple pounds of cheap fertilizer to help them push some growth and again once they flower.
