If I do not have enough room to keep a banana in the house with it still growing (the leaf span would to large) can I store it like a bulb, cut off the leafs and store it in the basement? And bring it back out in the spring?

Valenciaguy, yes you can, but the best way is to store it with the youngest leaf intact for a chance at fruiting. You store it on its side, dig it out, remove the roots, clean out the "bulb" or corm.

Here's a very successful guy who's been doing this and have fruited successfully in zones 7 and below:

http://www.bananas.org/showthread.php?t=310

Thanks Joe that will be perfect I am looking into buying dwarf canvendish and even though it stays small, it would be easeist to store it. Also do you know of any bananas that would work well for me, and also fruit.