Banana trees require bright, hot and humid conditions for growing.
Banana trees hail from the tropics of South America and Mexico. These plants grow from large corms, which live for years to produce round after round of foliage and fruit. Banana trees follow a 10- to 15-month growth calendar, with foliage that grows up, produces fruit and then dies completely to the ground. Bananas require frost-free conditions during this growth and won't survive or bear fruit in North Carolina's USDA growing zone 7 and 8 winters. To grow fruit-bearing bananas in this region, keep them in pots and take them indoors at first frost. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Grow bananas in heavy 30- to 40-gallon pots with drainage holes in North Carolina, so you can move them indoors in winter. Plant banana corms in a mixture of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost, to give the plants the nutrition and drainage they need. This size of pot will allow the banana plants to grow to full fruiting maturity.
2. Move banana trees indoors to heated houses or garages before the first frost in North Carolina, as these trees suffer at temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The timing may range from late September in Waynesville to early November in Morehead City.
3. Put the banana trees in areas where they'll still get six to eight hours of full natural or artificial light every day, as the trees will be active and growing at this time. Don't put them near heating vents or fireplaces, as these will dry the trees. Water the trees with 3 to 4 inches of water every week to maintain soil moisture.
4. Move the banana trees back outdoors after the last North Carolina frost lifts in April or May. Put them in spots where they'll receive protection from wind and eight hours of full sun every day. Maintain your watering schedule.
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