Karl, I think your post answered your question. Bananas require an uninterrupted growing season of 9-15 months or longer depending on variety. During this period of time the temperature cannot drop below 57F for any extended time. After flowering, another 2-4 additional months of prime weather is required to ripen. During the time of flowering, extremes of temperature, and fertilization, and extremes of watering MUST be avoided. The number of fruit a banana produces is DIRECTLY related to how HAPPY the plant is. I have grown a lot of bananas, and most all of the plants do well and put forth a lot of fruit, but I am sure it is due to the fact that they are planted in the ground inside a WARM AND HUMID greenhouse, where the plant has no negatives, such as wind, too high or too low temperatures. However, after paying the Colorado winter heat bill, the bananas probably cost me around $12.50 each. (LOL) Outside of being cultivated inside a greenhouse, there are only a few select spots in the tropical climates of the world where all these factors come together to make commercial banana production possible. This points out the added difficulty of producing fruit in cooler, less amiable climates. Congratulations on getting a banana to fruit outside the banana belt. THAT'S GREAT. You can be proud of yourself. - Millet
