Meet Darryl, the banana tree we planted in the summer of 2021. You’ll notice he has since spawned several (unnamed) offspring.

Yes, banana trees can grow in our climate, though they typically won’t fruit. They do reach heights of over 15 feet, though, which is awesome.

My extended family has been growing them for years — my wife and I didn’t join the tradition until we bought our house a few years ago.

We’ll document Darryl and family’s summer growth progress below.

At long last, the winter mulch has been removed (save for some cold, damp leaves we’re allowing to dry).

Looking sharp, fellas. Let’s have a healthy season.

Solid growth for the first week — everyone seems happy and healthy.

Considering installing some citrus spikes (fertilizer) to give the family a jolt; we’ll see how the next couple of weeks go.

Darryl and company are doing well. Check out that HEALTHY leaf growth week over week…very proud of the family.

Look at that giant leaf on Darryl’s left side — he really blossomed over the past week.

A violent thunderstorm early in the week damaged some of the leaves, but they’ve repaired themselves quickly. Good to see such strong resiliency in the team.

Two inches of rain in 24 hours might sound awful to you, but not for Darryl — he and his thirsty mongrels suck it right up.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.