Craig: Musa sikkimensis variegated?

[Joyce]

Craig, here are the pix I just finished downloading?
What do you think?







Seems like the larger the plant gets, the more it becomes variegated.
The first 9 months of leaves were not variegated at all.
I grew this from 6 seeds I bought on eBay, only one germinated. 

[MikeW]

I have seen some gorgeous photos of the sikkimensis. That first photo shows this plant well on its' way. I was really tempted to try one, but think I am too warm here, and those bananas are not cheap!

Thanks for the dollop of jealousy in my morning coffee.

Cheers,

Mike

[Jerry]

The Sikkim banana is available at Plant Delights Nursery in NC  Google it.
Cost: $22.00  2 quart  I am so tempted, but low on a sunny space.
Mike W.  your plant is ready for pick up!

[lorraine1960]

BEAUTIFUL...................................      lorraine

[MikeW]

Wow - I had always seen them north of $100. Being from halfway up the Himalayas, I always figured they would need quite a cool climate.

Cheers,

Mike

[Joyce]

Mike, they seem to love the heat, the hotter, the faster they grow.
They do like LOTS of water, even more as it gets hotter. They'll grow in a bog.
Grew mine from seed I bought on eBay last year for about a buck a seed. 

Jerry, mine gets only a half day of sun, from about 1:30 pm 'til sunset.
Dappled bright shade until them...seems to love it. 

[Jerry]

heck yes, bananas grow in my Skippy, they would love a bog.
Members:  Joyce doesn't realize bananas cannot grow in New York. 

[KatFish]

Lol!  Her plants don't know it either 

[Joyce]

Jerry, these are hardy (not tropical) bananas, (just like the difference between hardy and tropical water lilies)
they'll even grow in CT and any zone 6 parts of New England. Even zone 5 if mulched heavily.
I live in a zone 7b/8a...so they are very hardy for me here.

Katfish...
Yeah, if I listened to all the misinformation on the internet, I wouldn't be growing half the plants I am growing here.
So many people believe every bit of crap if it's in print.
Like so many people think the USDA hardiness map is accurate...it is not.
The hardiness map is very general, not showing ANY microclimates or considering that islands are buffered by the bodies of water surrounding it.
So many people assume that since I live in NY, it's impossible to grow anything less than a zone 5.
I can grow LOTS of plants that are zone 8, because this eastern tip of LI, 100 miles from NYC on the North Fork, is extremely buffered by the LI Sound, Peconic Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Esther posted a topic that is very practical and helpful regarding hardiness zones, which I added to by posting a chart listing average winter low temps.
This is the most accurate way to determine your hardiness zone.