In the north of England, the National Trust said two of its 12ft tall banana plants have come into fruit in gardens near Leeds. Bananas normally grow under glass in Britain, but the Trust said two of four banana plants out in the open at Nostell Priory six miles south of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, are bearing fruit.
The bananas were planted four years ago and get extra special care to help them survive the winters.
Nostell Priory’s kitchen gardener Mark Westmoreland said, “To guarantee bananas sprouting in this country you’d normally keep the plants in horticultural domes, filled with warm air to simulate a tropical climate.
“It really is a wonder that they’ve flowered without any intervention of that kind.
“I’ve always secretly hoped the bananas might sprout fruit one day, but I never thought it would actually happen.”
There is a long tradition of growing bananas indoors in Britain, with archive photographs showing Nostell Priory had a ‘Banana House’ in the early twentieth century. National Trust gardeners believe their outdoor bananas have been successful due to their special treatment over recent winters.
The recent warm weather also probably encouraged the fruit.
Source: express.co.uk
