After looking through the FS/Trade sections of the forum, I would like to have a banana tree for the fruit. What would be the best banana tree, for fruit in Fort Smith, AR Z6B - Z7A?

How long does it normally take for the tree to fruit?

I have seen Laaz has them in South Carolina and Millet in Colorado. I am pretty sure both of those states get colder than Northwest Arkansas?

Charleston SC is a zone 9a climate. The only way you will get bananas to fruit in a zone 6 - 7 would be to bring them in during winter & back out in the spring. Millets are grown in a heated greenhouse.

Oh, I thought you were more northern and therefore colder?

I'm in zone 5 & I have Ice cream & Double Mahoi nannas. Dbl Mahoi is smaller & I don't know how the nannas taste, but they are edible. It is a nice house plant in winter. The I.C. gets much bigger so I have it planted in ground & will dig it up soon. I pot them for winter & they go in a cool sunroom.
I.C. takes something like 18 months of tropical weather to get fruits--- I only get 3-4 months of good growing temps a yr. Hopefully '09 or '10 I'll get fruit.

I just started with bananas last year and haven't had fruit yet. There are two small varieties that set fruit- dessert type, not cooking type. They are Truly Tiny and High Color Mini, and only get up to 3-1/2 ft tall.
Gran Nain also has good bananas, and only gets 6-10 ft tall.
I was interested in these because they would seem to be easy to care for in the winter- take in and out of the house.

Thank you. Maybe I could just get one huge pot?

Yes, the bigger the pot the better for your bananas. They'll be happy but the problem of moving them around?

The banana shown on my Avatar picture is a Grand Nain Banana. I've grown quit a few of the Grand Nain variety. Grand Nain is the famous Chiquita brand banana sold in the stores. In my greenhouse they get up to 7 feet, and have always flowered at or about the 15th leaf. This banana is the most widely grown commercial banana in the world today. Fruit bunches may weigh up to 150 pounds. Good banana for container culture, and a great banana for a beginner banana grower. - Millet

I think I will use my dolly (hand truck) to move it.

Would the ice cream be an ok selection for a newb?


I would have to place it in the garage during the winter, I only have a small cold greenhouse. POA in my area does not allow for buildings to be seen over the fence.

Ice cream is a very big and tall banana. Go with Rajah Puri, you won't be disappointed. Rajah Puri has very good unique taste but slightly shorter than Ice cream. Nonetheless, it is big too.

But if I were to have a greenhouse that can be kept above 55 deg F the entire year, I would grow Senorita banana. These are the best to use in ice cream banana split, or just fresh eating.

Beautiful red pseudostem that gets to 5 ft high only, or lower. And the fruits mature in just 1 1/2 months after blooming. Most other bananas require 4 to 8 months for the fruits to mature from bloom.

I have read that many people prefer the taste of the ice cream once they have had it. How would the plants you describe compare in taste?

Senoritas sound great tasting and must look pretty. Unfortunately they don't seem to be available anywhere!
Too bad, I'd like to add that to my "collection" (of 3-4 varieties )

Be patient! Harvey secured one mother Senorita plant and soon will be selling them left and right!

Not one of my virtues!!

This has been my 3rd summer growing nannas so I guess I'm still a newbie. I always hear that Ice Cream is the best tasting - got it June "06 when only 2 inches tall.
You know, you can put them to sleep for winter too. Dig them up, get all dirt off rootball & store in cool dark place (after cutting most leaves off). I did that last year but it took too long to get it going again in spring. It will get potted & go in sunroom with 13ft ceiling. It's a real challenge, but soo cool to see a big nanna tree growing here! Laaz's tree got about 16-18ft high.