Question
hey nick,

i just read your question about the ice cream banana! it answered some questions that i had, but it also led me to another...

i have no idea what climate numbers are and i havent found a good explanation on the web. i currently have an ice cream banana and would like to keep it alive. i think it wont be too hard to maintain but the climate just perplexed me...

i live in San Diego, it is nice and warm yeah round. however, we do get a couple frosts in the early morning in the deep of winter. The frost quickly melts and we heat up again within an hour of sunrise. anyway, is this a suitable climate for my ice cream banana? and what is the corresponding number for San Diego's climate?

answers to any of theses questions would be greatly appreciated!

thanks, Leaf

Answer
Hey Leaf, ok, the number one enemy of any banana plant is cold stress, and even a light frost can mean the difference between a 30lb bunch and a 5lb bunch; a cold stressed plant survive, even though when you come out in the morning you wouldn't think so by looking at it, for the leaves will have melted and the whole plant will look like a heap of cooked spinach, but it will come back from that with new growth, however, it will have paid the price and will be a weakened plant for the experience, producing an insignificant bunch of Bananas. That said, all is not lost, for this is where you have to take measures to protect your plant from this happening, with a frost blanket or string it with xmas lights, anything to keep that frost from settling on the leaf tissue of the plant. Here in Southwest Florida, we get a couple of light frost also, and an occasional light freeze, but I bend my Banana leaves upwards and tight with the trunk and tie them there, then wrap a frost protector (the one I use is called N-sulate, and can be purchased on the net..) around the wrapped plant, this protects the tissue, for the frost settles on the N-sulate (which has the consistency of cheese cloth) and the frost doesn't transpire through to the tissue itself, therefore saving the plant from a stress situation, which in turn pays dividends down the road with a much healthier plant and a larger bunch. Keep in mind Leaf, that in San Diego, your humidity is pretty low, and Bananas love humidity, so whenever you think of it, spray your plants down with the hose to simulate same. There is a lot more to know about Bananas, fertilizing , irrigation etc. but this response should answer your immediate needs. good luck! Nick