jnstropic

Terry, the Ae Ae is ripe when there are at least three fruit that can be used as a normal table banana and there will be enough green fruit to make chips and toastedos.

D'Andra asked: Has the pup been separated? Could it be shipped if we pay for it?

No pups can't be separated until May. The Ae Ae needs warm weather to be moved. This past fall a rain squall blew down two plants (the largest ones and they didn't have any pups). I replanted one and in a month I had two new leaves and shortly after that it put out a flower. I cut the flower in hope of getting the three very small pups to prosper. I had 6 pups in all but as the sun dimmed and the nights grew cool they all died. You can see this plant on my site. The biggest one was left to sprout pups but it just rotted.

I have shipped only one Ae Ae. The stem was 10 feet tall and Longwood Garden in Kennet Pen. sent a large truck to pick it up. The following year they mentioned it in there web site. But this year they no longer mention it. Seems that they lost it again.

I have grown this banana for 40 years. And I gave them away for 25 years and know of only three that truly prospered. But when I found out that a plant that I had given to some one, turned around and sold it, I decided to sell them to commercial banana growers, and none of them seem to be successful. I am giving this plant to someone in south Florida with hope that it might thrive.

The alternate prize is an awarded orchid that is more valuable then an Ae Ae pup.