Returned ‘Ten Pound Pom’, former Quantity Surveyor and amateur gardener Trevor Ray (86) from Stroud was given a banana plant by a friend about 15 years ago, writes Simon Pizzey.
After years of lavish care and attention it has grown to nearly ten feet tall and clearly one of the few plants enjoying recent heat waves.
“I’ve always liked growing things you shouldn’t be able to and I like the appearance,” said Trevor. “I like the unusual and the challenging.”
Despite the weather it hasn’t yet flowered and yes, there are no bananas yet. Some gardeners around the country have reported bananas growing on their plants.
Trevor added: “There is no secret feed, I don’t talk to it! I just cut it down to the ground in winter and it sprouts back in the spring.
“Recently a passer-by stopped and asked if he could have some leaves to use as plates at a feast event.”
Trevor has another banana plant growing in his back garden along with a fig tree and an unusual bottle bush plant he is also cultivating. The house is the site of a former apple orchard and Trevor enjoys growing fruit and veg, too.
