I have another subj thread about trying several types this year too btw.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0322485510

And again on the non-fruiting but superneato stuff - THESE are available at Beaverton Farmer's Market NOW and are big time sought after. I picked out the best one of three available this past Saturday.

http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Cu ... 04634.html

I got mine! So you can now go get your's!

Below is the text of Calif Gold Banana ebay listing - in case someone tries viewing this later after it expires.

California Gold - Cold Hardy dwarf Banana plant / tree

This auction is for a Rare Dwarf banana plant that I have found to be the cold hardiest of all edible fruit producing types bananas. I call it “California Gold ”

I had spent many years searching nurseries across the country for a banana ...ANY BANANA that would grow and produce edible fruit here in my cold winter climate. I wasted a lot of money when one plant after another failed to live up to claims of being a “hardy fruit producer”….

Then about twenty years ago, I found this unique banana plant listed at small Texas mail order nursery. It was simply listed as a “Hardy Dwarf Mexican Apple Banana.” When pressed for more detailed info, the owner said that in Mexico, they call several different types of edible bananas “ Apple Banana ”. But this one was exceptionally frost hardy and it produced good fruit. He thought it might a dwarf, related to Bluggoe. ( I doubt he even knew the exact cultivar... and after 20 years of experimentation and side by side comparisons, neither do I )

Anyway, with skepticism, I bought a small plant from this guy... I’m glad that I did. That nursery went out of business long ago, but my plants and it descendants continue to produce fruit year after year.

Quite easy to grow, this plant is a reliable producer for me here in Northern California. In my garden, It has regularly produces tasty 25 lb bunches of fruit ...with out any frost protection.

There are a few banana plants that might equal the hardiness of California Gold . For example, the Japanese fiber banana Musa basjoo, is one. But if the plant does manage to produce fruit, you'll get a mass of seedy, inedible pulp. Don’t confuse the California Gold banana with the other Dwarf bananas such as "Super Dwarf " Cavendish. It has been my experience that Cavendish type banana plants ( along with the majority of the other banana plants ) will freeze to the ground… Dead… at 32f! If the cold air temps don’t get them, then the chilly soil temps will! On the other hand...The California Gold hardy banana shakes off the cold. It can lose its leaves after a hard freeze, but then continues to grow when the weather warms in the spring. The leaves lost during the winter don’t seem to slow this plant down much. My unprotected plants have produced tasty bananas outdoors during the summer after enduring winter low temp in the low 20’s!

These plants should be able grow fine in USDA zone 8 and above as an outdoor plant. I am told, they have been fruited as far north as Washington State and British Columbia with only minor winter protection. If you live in a colder climate where the ground freezes you can either 1) Cover it for protection. 2) Dig it up, bare root it and over winter it in a warm garage or 3) Grow it in a large container as a indoors/outdoor plant. The mature plant is small. Most of my mature plants have a trunk 6 ft tall or a little larger,

I once pruned one way back and it produced fruit at only 4 ft tall. ( See photo ) Some of my trees have produced fruit in as early as 11 months from a pup.

This exotic looking plant makes a stunning tropical impression in any garden. The 25 lb bunches fruit from the mature 6 ft tall plants rivals any store bought fruit in quality and flavor...Equally delicious with just a hint of lemon and strawberry.

This auction is for 1 rooted "Pup" approximately 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall. The soil will be removed and the plant trimmed for shipping. Growing instructions are included.

(Feel free to Email me if you need additional cold climate instructions)

These bananas are so Rare and Unique, that they have been featured in our local newspaper and on television.

See a video at

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jef.....l/gdhq.WMV

streaming video, 2 meg file size

The Winter of 2007 was very cold by California standards. Many cities in my area received temps below 20f. The official low temp in my city was 23f. My California gold banana plants did just fine... even without any protection. They have leafed out just fine and produced fine bunches of fruit the following summer.

It is possible that later in the summer I will have another pup for sale.... For right now this is the only one I have available.

Buyer to pay for shipping and handling as calculated below

I will accept Paypal for payment.

Payment by credit card may only be made though Paypal….I prefer Paypal!

Winning bidder must either contact me or respond to my emails within 3 business days or the item may be relisted.

........Good luck and Happy bidding

BTW... If you are interested in the whole news video... follow the link below, and turn up the volume to hear.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... 2036983143