NATURE ATTRACTION – Imagine growing bananas in your outdoor garden as far North as Michigan with these hardy bananas! They will provide you with the most gorgeous and defining tropical look not to mention the looks of amazement from your neighbors. Their attractive fruit is borne in clusters of 30-60 but is suitable to eat due to their small three inch size.
KEY TIPS – Yearly pruning is necessary after first hard frost. Cut all growth back to about one foot high. Cover with a few inches of mulch, straw, hay, or pine needles around all sides about three feet in diameter. This is not necessary though helps protect the new growth in the spring. After threat of last frost in spring remove mulch. The stem will be soft and gelatinous but the crown underneath the soil will sprout new shoots.
SHELF LIFE – Water the plants thoroughly letting the excess water drain through the bottom of the pot.
PLANT Preparation- Cut away any yellow or brown leaves or broken stems that may have occurred.  This grooming is completely normal.
POTTED PLANTS- Repot the plants into larger 12 inch pots separately. You can transplant gradually one pot size per year up to 20 inches in diameter. They like it wet so a tray under the container to catch water is recommended. As a fine container plant they can be grown indoors year round or withstand about 10F outdoors.
Soil- They like bagged potting mixes for houseplants that will drain well.  Most garden centers carry various brand names with perlite, vermiculite, soil and sand. 
GARDEN PREPARATION - If your soil is clayish amend it with a standard garden soil for adequate drainage. In the garden they can withstand -10 degrees Fahrenheit!
PLANTING SPACING – If planting into the garden space them 10-12 feet apart. If planting into a container allow for adequate air ventilation on deck or patio.
PLANT HEIGHT AND WIDTH – These will grow to 4-5 feet the first year and double that in ensuing years. In pots they’ll reach a maximum of 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide! In the garden they’ll do about 2 times that!
Water- They like it wet. Water them in well in the garden. Keep moist. In pots, water the plants thoroughly letting the excess water drain through the bottom of the pot. You may leave a tray underneath pot to help keep them moist.
FERTILIZER- To promote more flowers and fruit use a well balanced fertilizer like Roberta’s Flower Magic Plant Food (M7503) weekly in summer.
LIGHTING- Full sun is best outside in summer. Otherwise a half a day of sun is sufficient.
Blooming –Occurs in summer generally beginning in the second year.
FRUITING – Occurs in the late summer generally beginning in the second year.
HARVESTING – Fruit is not suitable to eat due to their small size. Leave them on tree. The large leaves are great for wrapping meats and fish for steaming or grilling!
ZONE 5 to 11- In pots these are hardy down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit without damaging the plant. . In the garden they can withstand -10 degrees Fahrenheit!
PRUNING – Yearly pruning is necessary after first hard frost. Cut all growth back to about one foot high. In spring, new growth will rapidly occur.
WINTERIZING – In the garden, after pruning hard, cover with a  few inches of mulch, straw, hay, or pine needles around all sides about three feet in diameter. This is not necessary though helps protect the new growth in the spring. After threat of last frost in spring remove mulch. The stem will be soft and gelatinous but the crown underneath the soil will sprout new shoots.
SUPPORT – They need no support. They are very thick and sturdy even in wind.