Aug 27, 2008 11:28 pm US/Pacific
Lodi Man Growing Bananas In Back Yard
LODI (CBS13) ―
When you think of growing bananas, northern California might be the last place that comes to mind, but one Lodi man is growing the yellow fruit in his backyard.
Shawn Jones' backyard is full of banana plants that look like large, leafy trees. Several varieties are planted behind his Lodi him, despite a climate that bananas typically don't thrive in.
In the winter, for example, if it gets too cold, and it often does in the San Joaquin Valley, the plants would normally die.
"We got down to 20 degrees two years ago," Shawn said. "Lost palm trees but none of the bananas died."
Shawn's brother-in-law introduced him to his first banana plant and it grew from there. He said the tropical fruit can grow in colder climates; you just have to find the hardier variety.
The funny thing is, he doesn't know what variety he has because his plants were all given as presents.
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