How far north do good edible bananas grow without protection

[All the fruit]

Hi everybody,

in the coastal border area between Italy France and Monaco there is a coastal strip with almost subtropical, almost frost free climate at an incredible latitude of around 43,7. For comparison the southern tip of Canada is at 41,7 n lat, much further south. Lots of subtropical stuff like mangos, cherimoyas and different sapotes grow in this coastal area due to the crazy microclimate. Topocho or burro banana is an established fruit plant there and i have harvested it there several times and put it on youtube.

Right now i am trying to establish how far north edible banana cultivation goes in this area by observing the conspicuous banana plants in parks and gardens. My hypothesis was that they grow as far northeast as Andora (the one in the foothills of the Alps, not in the Pyrenees). I managed to find fruiting orinoco bananas there.

How far northest do you think banana cultivation goes in the area? Maybe all the way north along the coast to Genova (44,4 lat, no subtropical climate)? Or maybe even to the Italian Lakes in Switzerland (lat 46,0) where there exists another warm temperate microclimate?  The USDA zone for the Monaco area is 10, for the lakes 9.

Or doyou know other areas further north with confirmed tasty edible banana cultivation?
Genova (lat 44,4).

[SoCal2warm]

I saw some Musa basjoo bananas that survived one year in Tacoma, Washington, USA. Not only just the stalk but also the leaf fronds. The following year there were some "bananas" to be seen. The fruit never had time enough to ripen. The fruits still looked skinny and completely green by the time the cold season arrived again. The location was not far from the water. This was an unusually good year with mild winter temperatures. So if the fruit did not ripen then, I do not think it would be better any other year.
Maybe 50% of years, the stalks are killed back to the ground, only to quickly grow back up again the following year.

This would be 47.3 degrees N latitude, which in Europe is equivalent to being between the latitudes of Geneva and Zurich.

[All the fruit]

In Germany basjoo often develops flowers and fruits. Musella sometimes ripens with protection.but im interested in sth edible and tasty

[drymifolia]

Or maybe even to the Italian Lakes in Switzerland (lat 46,0) where there exists another warm temperate microclimate?  The USDA zone for the Monaco area is 10, for the lakes 9.

Not sure about bananas, but there is a very nice mature avocado grove on the Swiss shore of one of the lakes, and I have a graft of an avocado cultivar originally found in Brissago, Switzerland. The botanical garden on these nearby islands also has some interesting plants, wouldn't be surprised if they've got a banana or two in the mix somewhere:

https://www.isoledibrissago.ti.ch/en/

[JSea]

In the South, the known limit is somewhere between 42S (West Coast) and 44S (East Coast) for Pisang Awak type bananas (unprotected, it's clearly cheating if you're wrapping the trunks with insulation material). These make extensive use of coastal microclimates however

[All the fruit]

Where is this avocado grove on one of the Swiss lakes? Going there today.


S44 in NZ? I must visit this country. In Europe pisang awak is not too common unfortunately

[Tropicaltoba]

There are a couple of reports of people who were able to grow them outdoors and get a crop around vancouver.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4274337

[All the fruit]

The Vancouver plant is Musa basjoo. Flowering and fruiting regularly in Germany and probably much further north

[drymifolia]

Where is this avocado grove on one of the Swiss lakes? Going there today.

The person who planted and maintains it got mad when I posted photos on another forum, even though it's technically public land that he got permission to use, not private property, so I feel bad about directing anyone to it.

[bussone]

For comparison the southern tip of Canada is at 41,7 n lat, much further south.

You're more likely to see a Canadian banana in Victoria (48.3 N) on the Pacific coast than on Pelee Island (41.7 N), in the heart of Lake Erie.

[All the fruit]

Correct. The climate on Canadas west coast is a lot milder. But do the bananas there make good fruits?

[All the fruit]

The last couple days i meet two guys who grow over 20 different bananas near Lago Maggiore in the Alps. Mostly young plants, many die but they keep trying and i think they will have many impressive breakthroughs