How To Grow Cold Hardy Banana Plants :-Hardy banana trees prefer soil that drains well and is moist when planted in full to partial sun. Though called a tree, the resilient banana tree is actually the largest herbaceous perennial in the world. Beneath the appearance of a trunk, firmly linked banana tree leaves are present. The botanical term for this “trunk” is pseudostem, which translates to “false stem.”
How To Grow Cold Hardy Banana Plants
Much like with canna lilies, all of the plant growth occurs inside the pseudostem of banana trees. The massive, beneficial leaves of the cold-hardy banana tree—some varieties may grow up to eleven feet (3 meters) in length—have a purpose. In hurricanes or tropical storms, the leaf will tear along both sides.
What Does a Cold Hardy Banana Tree Look Like?
In addition to producing small, light yellow blooms, the cold-resistant banana tree also produces green leaves. These blossoms give rise to bananas, which begin as a brilliant green color and then transform into a golden color as they mature. It is not possible to consume the bananas since the interior is dry and bitter.
How to Plant a Cold Hardy Banana Tree
You will be provided with a rhizome, which is a mass of roots, together with a starter plant, sometimes referred to as a sucker, sprouting out of it, when you acquire a banana tree that is resistant to freezing temperatures.
You can plant cold-resistant banana trees in your yard, in a pot on your patio, or in a huge pot inside your house alongside a window. All of these options are viable options.
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A hole that is three feet broad and two feet deep should be used to plant the suckers. Fill the hole with soil that is composed of half the original earth and half soil that has been modified with compost or aged manure that has been well-rotted.
Perform a thorough watering of the sucker, and then apply a layer of mulch that is two to three inches thick around the rhizome. For further information, see How to Mulch Around a Tree Correctly.
In the course of the tree’s development, a pseudostem will emerge from the rhizome. After the pseudostem has been fertilized, the genuine stem will emerge from the heart of the pseudostem and bloom with yellow flowers that will eventually develop into bananas.
The entirety of this process ought to take approximately nine months. The lifespan of a cold-resistant banana tree is approximately six years, just as that of ordinary banana trees.
Tolerance and Susceptibility
Due to the fact that bananas are not indigenous to the United States, several diseases that are prevalent in tropical bananas in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America will not be able to be transmitted to bananas grown in the United States.
There is one significant disease that American bananas are prone to, and that is root rot. Root rot occurs when the rhizome of the banana is rotted away by the soil that is cold and moist.
In addition to being prone to illness, the cold-resistant banana tree is also vulnerable to harm from severe winds. The plant, on the other hand, is able to resist the effects of cold temperatures, which enables it to thrive in regions with lower temperatures.
Wildlife Threats
There is no need to be concerned about animals or insects attacking the fruit because cold-resistant bananas are not edible. Nevertheless, the leaves are susceptible to assault from common insects such as aphids and moths. Through the application of a regular or non-toxic insecticide, you may avoid the infestation of aphids and moths.
Winter Protection
Even if the cold-resistant banana tree is capable of growing in colder climates, it will still need to be protected from the harsh winter weather through the use of protection. Before the first frost, we suggest harvesting the tree and pruning it back to a height of approximately 12 to 24 inches from the ground.
In order to prevent water from gathering and decaying the crown, it is important to cut it at an angle and then cover it with thick plastic or burlap. After that, you should apply an insulating protective layer over the trunk of the tree by using mulch, hay, bark, or raked leaves.
This will keep the tree from being damaged by the cycles of freezing and thawing. Drive stakes into the ground at a distance of three feet or more from the core of the tree to retain wire or netting. This will ensure that the protective layer remains in place during the entire season.
 Conclusion
It is possible that gardeners in colder states who want to create a tropical look without having to worry about insects or pests damaging the tree’s fruits would find this tree to be the finest option. This is due to the fact that the bananas that grow on the cold-resistant banana tree are not edible.
It is recommended that you get the ice cream banana tree alternatively if you live in a region that is warm to mild and you are looking for a tropical atmosphere with fruit that can be eaten.
