Banana id

[Harry]

Hi all,

I am Fairly new to gardening and I was hoping that one of you knowledgeable people might be able to identify the type of banana plant in the following pictures. whether its a fruiting type or purely ornamental.

Thanks in advance

Harry

[grub]

What else can you tell us about it Harry? How old, big, hardy etc will all help us out a bit as will a better picture of the petioles

[mushtaq86]

With the stocky build and petioles being close to each other,drum roll everyone musa Cavendish edible cultivator

[Harry]

Thanks mushtaq86, and grub for the quick replys, glad to hear its an edible one.

[stephenprudence]

Will a cavendish survive in Andalucia, touch and go, but it may do... if it hits 0C though its a gonner.

[Nathan]

Almeria is one of the warmest spots in Spain, so I'm sure a Musa cavendish will be fine there

[medjool]

Almeria has a similar climate to pompey!!!!!!!!!

[Nathan]

Almeria has a similar climate to pompey!!!!!!!!!

I wish...

[Alexander]

The Arabs where the first ones in that part of Spain whom cultivated bananas!
Most species and cultivars can be grown there!

Alexander

[Dave Brown]

Hi Harry, and welcome

Looks like Dwarf cavendish, which they grow commercially in the Canaries. It does not like to drop below 10C ideally, but can drop down lower for short periods, providing temps get back up to around the 15C+ mark the next day. Not the easiest banana to overwinter in the UK

[Harry]

Hi all,

thanks for the replys on hardiness, I suppose that I will have to try and protect them a bit in the winter then, and hope for the best. Its not quite frost free here, as we are about 20 minutes inland, last winter we had about 3-4 frosts.
I don't know if it would be a good indicator but, my streliizia nicolai came through unscathed. so maybe some hope for the musa.


Harry

[Dave Brown]

Strelizia nicolai is pretty tough taking as low as-6C in California. It is the warm days that allow it to handle it. I haven't had -6C since 2001, but don't get the warm days so mine has to be inside. Musa Dwarf cav will not like down to freezing even if warm days.

[Alexander]

For edible bananas, Musa Chini Champi and M. Rajapuri are better ones then Dwarf Cavendish as they are more coldtolerant.

Alexander