Enterprising Tasmanian family grows bananas in their loungeroom

BANANAS growing in Tasmania is not an urban myth but a reality for one enterprising family.

Stuart and Rosie Barry with their children Clockwise from left- Geoff, 8, Ali, 10, Lyn, 9 and Christian, 6 with their banana tree in the lounge room which is starting to bear fruit

BANANAS growing inside a house in Tasmania is not an urban myth but a reality for one enterprising South Hobart family.

Stuart and Rosie Barry’s north-facing loungeroom in Strickland Ave gets sun all day and is very warm — warm enough for a coffee bush, an orange tree, lemongrass and a three metre tall Cavendish banana tree in a pot.

“They are all extremely happy and growing great, especially the banana,’’ Mr Barry said.

The family returned from a camping trip last Monday when one of the kids spotted the bananas sprouting from flowers on the tree.

“The kids are shocked, they run out each morning checking on them, they’ve got a million questions,’’ Mr Barry said.

The three hands of freshly minted bananas escaped yesterday’s icy blast safe and sound in the balmy Barry loungeroom, growing centimetres each day.

The family has devoted lots of tender loving care on the three-metre tall tropical plant, just waiting for this day, Mr Barry said.

“If we water this really well, in three years time we’ll get bananas and we’ll get in the newspaper,’’ he told his four young children when he bought the plant home from the nursery.

“I don’t think they believed me until now — and I’m just as shocked.’’