Question
I purchased a Palm tree that is suppose to produce banana's.  I've had it for 2 years and no bananas. I live in Minnesota. I put it on my deck, all sun in the summer and bring it in, in the winter.  It looks healthy,It's growing nicely and even have 3 smaller ones growing in the pot as well. (bonus)   Will I ever have bananas?  or is there something else I can do to help?  Thank you

Answer
Hi Melissa, I get very upset when I get a question about Bananas in containers; the claim by the sellers is that you can attain a bunch of Bananas from a dwarf Clannish (..which I am sure is what you have) and it is just not true. Banana Plants need a large soil area for their underground root system ( called a Corm) to develop, and a container just cannot provide this needed space. Bananas are tropical by nature and even grown here in Southern Florida, it is sometimes difficult to get them to fruit; for a frost or cold spell will set them back. You cannot provide the needed, year round growing conditions to get this to occur, I give you credit for being able to keep it alive never mind getting it to bear fruit. The fact that you were able to get it to send out pups (the smaller ones you alluded to) is also very commendable, you obviously have a green thumb; you Banana plant will continue to grow and will attempt to fruit, but will never be able to attain that goal, I know, for I have experimented many times with container grown Bananas and have seen the struggle for the plant to persevere and have finally given up and put it in the ground, and that is where it finally did bear fruit. Once those little pups have attained a height where they have several leaves, you can separate them from the parent plant and start them in separate containers, but again, you will enjoy a nice looking plant, but don't expect much more I am afraid. Nick