Growing banana
subtropical / tropical fruit
Pollination
Edible cultivars are seedless and set fruit without pollination.
Growing it
Zones 9-11 in the ground; container-grown and overwintered indoors elsewhere. Needs 10-15 frost-free months to fruit; hardy types like Musa basjoo are grown for foliage, not fruit.
Where banana grows best
Hardy in zones 9-11. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Florida, Hawaii. Also parts of Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does banana grow in?
Banana grows in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.
How many chill hours does banana need?
Banana has no winter chill requirement. Cold hardiness and summer heat matter more for where it grows.
Is banana self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Edible cultivars are seedless and set fruit without pollination.
Which states can grow banana?
Banana suits most of Florida, Hawaii, and parts of 13 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.