We've grown banana trees for years - technically we're in a growing zone that freezes each winter, so must take them out of the ground as winter approaches.
This year we didn't water them much at all besides the original watering in after planting and the occasional bucket of water I saved when showering. We dig them out and put them in the basement for overwintering. Took some pictures of a part of our crop.
Fingerling
Hanging on fence after harvesting
The ferny looking thing is another plant, a cypress vine, not part of the banana.
These are Hawaiian fingerlings. Had some on my breakfast cereal today. We grow them more for the landscaping qualities, but the fruit is a nice side benefit. They make for great shade on our concrete patio.
Shade & the red thing ? is where the next row will begin budding out
During the last week of October the banana trees were taken out and put away for winter. Come next April out they'll go again. We call it cheap entertainment and a bit of exercise. We often have folks stop and out Hubster goes to give a lesson in banana growing in our climate.
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If you look back at the wine cellar posts in my blog you'll see the giant square black holes that have lift up doors on them. This is the 3ftx18-20ft space under my utility room. They fit in, up under there.
Each plant puts off babies each year. Once they bloom out, then they're done-kaput, life as we know it? over. The bananas usually grow out here in the second year, so the mid-size trees are actually ones that usually overwinter.
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Another thought surfaced that ya'll might find interesting...
When I was in Honduras in the 80's you could buy a whole stalk of bananas for $1 back in the jungle or $2 at the street-market in Tegucigalpa.
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We generally have very hot summers where I live - 100 degree days are somewhat routine.
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