I was walking along a local street tonight when I cames across across this amazing site:
A banana plant bearing some impressive looking large bracts ( leaf-like structure) that are shed as the fruit develops http://www.kew.org/ksheets/banana
According to the RHS, bananas rarely produce fruit outdoors in the UK as they need constant warm and humid temperatures of at least 67F during the night and a minimum of 80F for daylight hours.
The nights and days have been very muggy the past few weeks which may have produced this impressive display.Or,could being so close to a street lamp have provided the extra heat required to bear this remarkable fruit?
I can’t wait to see how many bananas there will be when they burst through – will keep you posted with updated pics.Let me know if you are having similar success with growing bananas this summer?
This is not a banana TREE – actually, the banana is the largest herbaceous perennial and belongs to the monocotyledons of the Musaceae family, which also includes palms, grasses, and orchids.
Watch my video filmed in Will Giles inspirational Exotic Garden in Norwich to find out more about how to make the most of growing bananas in your garden:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMtc15dk9yQ
Or read my previous blog about how bananas have been succesfully grown indoors in the UK :
http://www.myclimatechangegarden.com/blog/bananas-bear-fruit-in-uk
August 12th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Very impressive! I’ve seen bananas on the Musa basjoo at Wisley, but seeing that bract with the street light behind looks most bizarre. Mine came through the winter without protection but haven’t shown any sign of fruiting. I think they’re too busy trying to fight off the holboellia which is doing its best to swallow them up.