Off the wall question.

[bigbonner]

I have seen banana trees at a neighbors and in the small town. They freeze down and die out during the winter if left standing. The neighbor cuts their down after a few heavy frost and they come back the next spring and the clumps get bigger with lots of small trees.
I am thinking about getting a banana tree. I have a patch of Giant Reed that we started as a small clump the size of two hands.
The canes are tough, and I dread cutting them down and cleaning them up after frost has killed them back.
You cannot burn those reeds. The cane parts may make some good bean poles and they don't seem to want to rot.

 

[120+]

We've got several. Putting a row across the back of the house this spring for shade. We cut em down every fall and cover with plastic and hay. Don't know if we're doing it right or not but, they'll be 4 years old this spring and they're getting 8 to 10 ft tall.

How long does it take for them to get 8 foot tall? Is it near the end of summer?
When do you uncover them in the spring?

 

[HuntressOfLight]

How long does it take for them to get 8 foot tall? Is it near the end of summer?
When do you uncover them in the spring?

Unwrap the tree once temperatures are above 40 degrees.

 

[bigbonner]

How long does it take for them to get 8 foot tall? Is it near the end of summer?
When do you uncover them in the spring?

Seems like they will be around 8 feet tall middle of summer. Some older trees I have seen I would guess well over 10 feet tall the end of summer. All come back after being cut off just above the ground.

 

[baknblack]

How long does it take for them to get 8 foot tall? Is it near the end of summer?
When do you uncover them in the spring?

Looks like most of your questions were answered. Mine took about 3 years to get really big and throwing a lot of shade.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Our countless, adorable Florida green anoles love climbing banana trees. They can camouflage themselves so easily upon them. I was always hunting them there as a young girl. One tried to gum my fingertip to death. Was quite the fright at that age, indeed. Anyway, they hunt the banana trees and maybe (probably) even live within them. They are always there but almost anywhere, as well, along with tree frogs galore.

 

[120+]

Looks like most of your questions were answered. Mine took about 3 years to get really big and throwing a lot of shade.

I'm going to give it a shot.

 

[barney]

Pineapples in KY is where it's at. IMHO

 

[High Rack]

My wife has a few out and the suckers get every bit 14+ tall, dang leave are almost 3 foot long.

 

[bigbonner]

Banana tree kept inside. I noticed that the bananas may have fallen off and were two to three inches long, but it looks like some may still be at the top.