Good tasting cold hardy banana

[Martinbrick]

What is a good or best tasting banana that would do good in Tennessee
I am looking into Saba bananas but having difficulty finding one and also not sure how good it'll do

[Galatians522]

I don't think you will get even the most cold hardy bananas like Basjoo to survive above ground and outdoors that far north. It was my understanding that the above ground parts freeze off that far north and they just sprout back from the roots. I'm thinking that your best bet is to get a resiliant dwarf banana (such as Dwarf Namwah) and grow it in a large pot during the cold months and then plant it outside as soon as things warm up. Most banana varieties need to put out about 40 some leaves before they bloom. If the temps are warm and they get plenty of water and fertilizer, they will put out 1 leaf a week--far less when its cold. After that, it takes most varieties 3-4 months to fill enough to ripen off the plant. That is going to mean that you will need a pretty big jump start to get bananas in TN.

[Jaboticaba45]

Hey! I'm in Tennessee.
Musa basjoo will do fine with no protection. but the fruits suck.

I had a dwarf namwah in ground and it died back from cold, but it came back the following year.
Unfortunately, bananas need 12 months frost free to flower.
So I would recommend growing in a pot or greenhouse.

[Calusa]

Most banana varieties need to put out about 40 some leaves before they bloom.

Good to know. 👍

[DavidBYE]

TN is a good area for pawpaw. I believe there is a variety that has the flavor of banana.

[Galatians522]

Hey! I'm in Tennessee.
Musa basjoo will do fine with no protection. but the fruits suck.

I had a dwarf namwah in ground and it died back from cold, but it came back the following year.
Unfortunately, bananas need 12 months frost free to flower.
So I would recommend growing in a pot or greenhouse.

That is pretty neat! So, Basjoo fruited for you with no protection?

[drymifolia]

I've seen basjoo flowering here in Seattle, but I've never seen fruit on them. My guess was cool temperatures preventing effective pollination. They are heavily seeded and have almost no flesh, though, right, and abort the fruit if not pollinated?

[Jaboticaba45]

Yes!
I have them planted up near two walls of the house.
But it still gets super cold.
Unlike the common advice to prune them back each year, I just leave them alone. The stalks can survive sometimes
and if that happens, in the next growing season, it'll start growing at 6t+ feet.
That's how you can get them to fruit.

The fruit are tasteless
no flesh
Mine didn't get seeds.
Definitely not worth growing unless for decoration.

[Galatians522]

Yes!
I have them planted up near two walls of the house.
But it still gets super cold.
Unlike the common advice to prune them back each year, I just leave them alone. The stalks can survive sometimes
and if that happens, in the next growing season, it'll start growing at 6t+ feet.
That's how you can get them to fruit.

The fruit are tasteless
no flesh
Mine didn't get seeds.
Definitely not worth growing unless for decoration.

That is awesome! Could you make tostones with them? I know that some bananas that don't taste great raw make fine tostones when fried.

[SplorKeLZ]

I've seen basjoo flowering here in Seattle, but I've never seen fruit on them. My guess was cool temperatures preventing effective pollination. They are heavily seeded and have almost no flesh, though, right, and abort the fruit if not pollinated?

My neighbors across the street have a banana that has fruited before and is probably basjoo

[Jaboticaba45]

Yes!
I have them planted up near two walls of the house.
But it still gets super cold.
Unlike the common advice to prune them back each year, I just leave them alone. The stalks can survive sometimes
and if that happens, in the next growing season, it'll start growing at 6t+ feet.
That's how you can get them to fruit.

The fruit are tasteless
no flesh
Mine didn't get seeds.
Definitely not worth growing unless for decoration.

That is awesome! Could you make tostones with them? I know that some bananas that don't taste great raw make fine tostones when fried.

TBH I don't know. Probably not.
The fruits were on the small side and no sweet.
After trying to eat one, I just threw the whole bunch out lol.

This thread makes me think of that one lady I visited in CR who had over 20 different vars of bananas.

[Galatians522]

No sweetness is perfect for tostones. If you get more, I would give it a shot. Just be sure to use them before they get soft. Tostones is one of my favorite uses for green Orinocco bananas (which are also not sweet). I cut mine to the size and shape of French fries and fry in hot oil @ 350 for 5-6 minutes. I've tried lots of varieties and Orinocco is one of the best for this because its not sweet when it is green. They taste a lot like french fries only more crisp. Thanks for setting me straight on how hardy Basjoo is by the way. I am very impressed that you can get fruit in TN!