Can bananas grow in non-tropical regions?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.It seems unlikely that outside the tropics you can grow bananas until you try the Dwarf Cavendish. I had a Dwarf Cavendish plant that made it through the winter in Virginia in a reused whiskey barrel. These wee plants are tough indeed; for instance, they can withstand nights of 50°F as long as the roots are dry. But their toughness offers you and your family a chance for some uncommon setup before going down the rabbit hole of some serious tropical varieties.
Climate Adaptation
- Use heated mulch (black plastic over straw) to warm soil
- Install windbreaks 6ft tall minimum
- Group plants to create humidity pockets
- Avoid frost pockets in gardens
Soil Requirements
- Mix 40% compost + 30% perlite + 30% topsoil
- Test pH monthly, adjust with coffee grounds (acidic) or wood ash (alkaline)
- Top-dress with worm castings every 8 weeks
- Avoid waterlogging with 4-inch gravel base
Soil makeup matters above all else, even more than climate. This was evident from my failed crop in subsistence farming in Arizona because the sandy soil couldn't hold enough nutrients. Now I put coco coir into the desert dirt, and that makes it hold moisture. A buddy of mine in Florida swears by crushed oyster shells for calcium. You should experiment with what works with your particular soil.
Winter Protection
- Wrap trunks with burlap + Christmas lights (non-LED) for mild heat
- Apply 12-inch leaf mulch after first frost
- Use transparent storage bins as mini-greenhouses
- Prune leaves below 45°F to reduce frost damage
Pest Control
- Spray banana peels soaked in vinegar for aphids
- Plant lemongrass 3ft around base to deter weevils
- Apply cinnamon powder to cut suckers, prevents fungal rot
- Introduce ladybugs for mite management
The difference between a bland banana and one that is sweet and full of flavor, which I refer to as a "sugar bomb," is all about the timing of your harvest. I generally wait until the ribs have rounded out nicely, something I learned from my Thai neighbor. He would slide a butter knife under one of the flower remnants; if the flower lifts away cleanly, the bunch is likely ready for harvest. Apples give off ethylene gas to ripen bananas after they have been harvested.
Read the full article: How to Grow Bananas: Expert Tips for Bountiful Harvests
