Teach Me Everything I Need to Know About Banana Plants

Two years ago, I bought a small banana plant from the flea market. It was only $5, so I couldn't resist. The seller told me it was a fruiting variety, but it may have been a sales tactic? I'm not sure. It's growing very well here, even though it dies back each frost. It comes back bigger each year.

So I need y'all to teach me! Please explain the following:

1. Can I discern the variety of banana I've got simply by looking at it?
2. When will I know if I've got a fruiting vs. decorative banana plant?
3. Give me some ideas for using banana leaves. I already have used them as a chop 'n drop. Tell me how to use them in cooking? Do chickens like banana leaves?
4. How to divide the pups? I could probably pull off about three pups right now. But the summer heat stress?

I'm in Zone 8B, hot summers in mid 90sF/relatively cool winters below 30F. Right on the very edge of where bananas "should" grow, but I've seen both decorative and fruiting banana trees around here.

Thanks in advance!

Here's a pic I just took of it. My van is in the photo for size reference. Maybe it's 10 ft tall?

Most Bananas need 18 months of growth to produce fruit. Each stem grows to a certain size, sets a bunch of bananas, and dies, to be replaced by new stems. The problem is that in your climate, the stem never gets 18 months. You could try to protect enough of the stem through the winter and get Bananas the second year. Some people put a big cage around the stem and fill it with leaves to overwinter the stems. The contraption has to be kept dry so that the stems don't rot.

I'm sure people who have grown Bananas can give you more advice.

Ever eaten a banana with seeds in it? The best, tastes amazing, have had those in S E Asia (not that common), not sure what kind of banana you've got, if its a clone or not, but probably it is. I saved the banana seeds for many years,  but dont have them anymore.

This is good to know, thanks. Perhaps if we built a cage of chicken wire, filled it with leaves/mulch, and then covered it with a tarp or waxed cloth to stay dry?

There are hardy varieties that need no protection here in zone 7b. My neighbor has several that are fifteen feet tall. I think they’re good to minus ten Fahrenheit.

I'm also interested in this topic. I'm in the wrong area to readily grow them. I tried mulching over this past winter but I don't think I got enough on and we had some late cold in the spring.
I have read that they are heavy feeders so I've been giving them pee and all my rabbit poop.
Best of luck to both of us!