Local man proves bananas can grow in Lodi, too

When you think of bananas, you would think the only way to find any locally is to buy them in the supermarket because they are a tropical fruit grown in hot and humid climes.

But actually, a south Lodi man has several banana trees in his backyard. In fact, the backyard resembles a tropical paradise, complete with a swimming pool, several leafy banana trees and a view of a neighbor's four tall palm trees.

Usually, bananas die in the winter climate that Lodi has, but some will survive the cold weather, said Shawn Jones, who has grown several varieties of bananas in his backyard on Port Chelsea Circle the past two-and-a-half years.

The secret, he said, is to get the variety of bananas that have grown in the cooler mountainous regions. Don't get bananas that are used to hot, moist tropical climates year-round like the lower elevations in Hawaii, for example.

"They're very sweet — sweeter then bananas you get in the store," Jones' wife, Kimberly, said. "The taste is a cross between an apple and a banana. It's really good."

Jones, a regional sales manager who sells semi-conductor equipment, said he learned about tropical plants from his brother-in-law in Modesto. The bananas are green, although some of them might ripen in a couple of weeks, he said. Others will remain on the tree until fall. Some of the younger fruit are still in purple husks that resemble a corn husk.

Banana humor

"I can tell you what it's like to be married to a banana man — it's very a-peeling," Kimberly Jones said as she sat in her tropical backyard in south Lodi.

"I've heard that joke three times in two days," said husband Shawn Jones, who has grown bananas in their yard the past two-and-a-half years.

— News-Sentinel staff

In the fall, Jones will chop down the two largest trees once the bananas become ripe, to make room for some baby trees to grow.

Although most of their yard consists of banana trees, Jones grows avocados and guavas as well, including strawberry guavas.

For more information and photos of Jones' bananas, visit www.theulrichgroup.com/banana.htm.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

edumacation wrote on Aug 23, 2008 9:24 PM:

" Day-O. day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day,me say day,me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day

Daylight come and me wan' go home.

Work all night and a drink of rum
Daylight come and m,e wan go home
Stack banana till de mornin' come
Daylight come and ,me wan' go home.

Day O! "

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cj wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:08 PM:

" I found this article to be very interesting and informative. I would like to try growing banana trees now too. I just need to find out what variety tree grows best in the Lodi area. Thanks Shawn for the idea. "

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weezer wrote on Aug 18, 2008 8:47 AM:

" Bananas, avocados, and guavas? Sounds like Shawn Jones was interviewed from Southeast Asia. Now I know that it can be done. Thanks for the advice to get the "variety of bananas that have grown in the cooler mountainous regions." "

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Cogito wrote on Aug 18, 2008 7:49 AM:

" "Banana Humor"? That may possibly be the dumbest and worst joke I've ever heard in my life. The rest of the story is really cool though. "

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