How many of us have dreamed of growing a banana plant at home after visiting an exotic location on holiday?

With their giant tropical leaves and superb architectural structure they perfectly represent our vision of a tropical paradise. The good news is, this is possible!

Despite a summer that has seen little sun, Newtown woman Novelette Childs, ever alert for the call to action, has successfully grown a bunch of bananas on her outdoor plant. It seems growing your own bananas is no longer a pipe dream, but a reality.

"I was just walking through the garden when I saw the plant had flowered. When I looked closer I could see a bunch of bananas hanging above my head," said Novelette.

"At the moment they are still quite small but hopefully in the next few weeks, as long as the frost doesn't get to them, they should start to increase in size and be ready to eat."

Experts suggest that to grow a banana you need constant warmth – the ideal night temperature would be 67 degrees Fahrenheit and the day temperatures would be in the 80s.

On top of this it is important to have at least 12 hours of bright light and high humidity of over 50 per cent. But with a typical Welsh summer, that has seen more rain than sun, just how has Novelette managed to grow her own bananas outdoors?

Novelette, who insists you don't need super powers to succeed, explains: "The banana plant grows really quickly and when it is about three-quarters grown it will produce several suckers at its base.

"Use a sharp knife to trim these at the base, leaving just one saved shoot. This shoot, known as the follower, will become your banana plant's main stem after the mother plant fruits.

"Once the plant has matured flower bracts quickly cover the stem and then roll back almost daily, each exposing a banana."