Homegrown St. Louis Bananas

SenseiSteve

HD Moderator
Staff member
Yes, I have St. Louis homegrown bananas. Just ate the first one today. YUM :D This tree is in my dining room. :D
 

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Wait - is this an indoor plant? If so, I want one, too! I love bananas!

What is it like to take care of this banana tree?
 
Love bananas! Used to have a tree outside the house when I was a kid! Nothing better than growing something yourself and then tasting the fruits of your labor. :P
 
We started by planting banana trees (bought at the local hardware store) next to our pool outside. For the last 3 or 4 years, I'd bring them indoors before winter and back out May 15th (last freeze in St. Louis). Last summer, I noticed what looked like an ear of corn on one of the trees, only it was the beginning of banana blossoms.
 
Steve, I realize this was done mostly as a hobby and not professionally, but would you by any chance know:

What temperature do they like?
Will they survive if they are grown only indoors?
Do they require bright light?
How often do you have to water them?
 
I'll also ask what size the tree was when you purchased it.
Something like this would go perfectly in my tropical room at home.
 
The original trees were only about a foot tall. I do keep lights on them during the day and water them daily (two cups). It's around 60 degrees in my dining room (not insulated) and they're still growing (new leaves). The larger trees must be over 8 feet tall now.
 
I really don't know because I didn't keep track of the trees. I have new ones sprout every year. They can grow over 6 feet in one year. I'm guessing this particular one was 3 years old because of the size of the trunk.
 
Do they taste different from the ones you get from Kmart?
You should also try growing an orange tree, it smells great.
 
No, they don't taste different - they're just smaller. My goal is to plant apricot and plum trees this Spring. I already have apple, pear, cherry and peach trees.
 
Update - just ate the last banana this morning. I sure hope we see some more blooms this year. While I'm daydreaming here, it's sleeting outside with predictions of 6 to 12 inches of snow. LOL. Already have a sleet of ice covering my SUV and everything else in sight. Gotta luv St. Louis weather. NOT!
 
Hmm, I never thought about bringing them in, at 6'? you take them in? I take it you keep them in pots year round? What kind of pots?
 
How much ice beneath and above that snow? Glad to no longer live in St. Louis :)
Where I am in North County, probably 1/4 inch, but just south of us, they got 1/2 to 1 inch of ice. It's sleeting now with predictions of a blizzard moving in. I may just get snowed in here. :D
 
Hmm, I never thought about bringing them in, at 6'? you take them in? I take it you keep them in pots year round? What kind of pots?
Brought them all in to my dining room. Just regular (large) flower pots. Just sand and dirt from my yard in the pots - did use Miracle Grow twice on them. :D
 
Brought them all in to my dining room. Just regular (large) flower pots. Just sand and dirt from my yard in the pots - did use Miracle Grow twice on them. :D

Miracle Grow does wonders! I love that stuff! We put some in our flower beds this past year and the flowers were huge and perfect!
 
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