Down on the Allotment

Matron grows vegetables and fruit in a Hampshire garden. I've been growing veggies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Some traditional varieties and old favourites as well as new ideas. I share my garden with my allotment assistant Daisy the Labrador. On Twitter as @MatronsVeggies

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Dwarf Japanese Banana

Last year I took delivery of a 'Musa Basjoo' the dwarf Japanese Banana. This variety is one of the hardiest and will survive the British Winter if it is protected. Last Autumn I cut the stem down to about 4ft tall and packed it round with straw and fleece and protected it from the Winter. It was a warm Spring day yesterday and I decided to see if it had survived. So glad to report that it appears to have done well, one large green leaf has already started to grow up out of the tip, a little bit frostbitten at the tip, but healthy and waiting to grow.
I will keep this covered up for a few weeks' more just to ensure that the last frosts are over and that the leaves will not be damaged.
The very cold Winter weather over the past weeks has caused a little damage to this fruit, a little brown patches can be seen, but overall a wonderful testament to the thrill of growing your own fruit in your own garden! Delicious! Happy April 1st !

15 Comments:

At 1:13 AM, Blogger VP said...

What fantastic success you have with fruit in your garden Matron! I seem to remember similar astonishing success with apples last year. Must be the effects of global warming ;)

 
At 3:26 AM, Blogger Jennifer AKA keewee said...

I have been considering growing one of these dwarf bananas. If it survived your cold winter, then one should do OK here.
Thanks for the post.

 
At 4:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fruit! And so early in April too...Well done you!

 
At 8:29 AM, Anonymous Soilman said...

Wow! Awesome! And are the bsnanas really edible??!?

 
At 11:07 AM, Anonymous Heiner said...

Congrats on your success!

Funnily enough, I selected Musa basjo for my april 1st post as well ;-)

 
At 11:44 AM, Blogger Kath said...

That looks amazing!

 
At 1:59 PM, Anonymous kitsapFG said...

Incredible and the bananas look like any you would purchase at the local food mart! Did they taste good?!

 
At 3:25 PM, Blogger Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

That's great! I wonder how many bananas will be produced on it this year?

 
At 4:26 PM, Blogger Carrie said...

Holy Moly - that's amazing! I bet no banana will ever have tasted so good.

 
At 5:18 PM, Blogger Downshifter said...

I bought some of the seeds from Chilterns last year but never got round to sowing them. With overwintering crops like that I'll have to make a start. Will definately plug the hungry gap down my allotment!
Didn't I see you buying bananas in Tescos earlier this week, why did you bother ;)

 
At 8:00 PM, Anonymous easygardener said...

Amazingly successful - almost magical one might say ;-)

 
At 9:01 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Happy for ya! I uncovered mine this week but with much worse results. Although the stem has not completely turned to mush I fear it has had it!

Will pray that it grow from the base!

Ryan

 
At 7:46 PM, Blogger Carla said...

Are those REAL bananas?
I wonder, if I protected my banana, if it might have a chance to produce fruit for me. Its hardy, and an early fruit bearing, but I think the frost knocks it back. hhhmmmmm....

 
At 8:54 PM, Blogger Sparkly said...

Wow!!!!!! Would love to have a go at bananas. How many fruit do you get?

 
At 3:28 PM, Blogger tina said...

Just catching up on your posts and HAD to comment here. Too darned funny!

 

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