holadebob
11-01-2009, 06:39 PM
:) Well, I bought an acre of tropical plants including some 500 banana plants (tallos here in Panama) and am trying to learn what I have.
What I have in the local language is Guineos patriotas,(Local native bananas fingers about 6-8" very thick skin and ripe when the skin is green), guineos manzanas (apple bananas), guineos primitivos (really short native bananas with very thin skin)Plantanos chinas (short stubby plantains- very sweet when ripe), and Plantanos largos (Long (about 12-14") Plantains-I think it is the kind of "normal"plantain you see in supermarkets). I may have other kinds, but haven't seen the fruit yet.
My question is - can I learn to identify these plants by leaves, stem, flower? It seems as if the plantains have darker leaves and seem to be wider, but after looking at so many it becomes a bit of a blur. Can someone enlighten me on a good source for learning how to identify the species?
I have another question if I can bug you folks more -- Each plant has at least 4 and up to 8 niņos (new plants at the base). The beginning of our six month dry season starts in December - should I eliminate all but a couple of the niņos before the dry season?
Although they haven't been irrigated in the past during dry season, they survive and hang on, probably because of the high humidity here. (?) After the almost finished upgrade of our community water system, I may be able to irrigate this year.
We're a retired couple that have lived here in Panama for almost ten years, and finally moved into the hills in the country and found this 1/3 hectare, and it is really enjoyable. My neighbors grow mostly rice and corn, and a few banana plants here and there but are ignored except when it's time to cut the bunch down. I started out growing cacao, but found out that they like the partial shade of banana plants, so I planted one between each cacao and they both seem really happy. I have been chopping up the residue from the banana plants for compost. Lots of residue, lots of compost.
Have a good day.
Thank you very much,
Bob
What I have in the local language is Guineos patriotas,(Local native bananas fingers about 6-8" very thick skin and ripe when the skin is green), guineos manzanas (apple bananas), guineos primitivos (really short native bananas with very thin skin)Plantanos chinas (short stubby plantains- very sweet when ripe), and Plantanos largos (Long (about 12-14") Plantains-I think it is the kind of "normal"plantain you see in supermarkets). I may have other kinds, but haven't seen the fruit yet.
My question is - can I learn to identify these plants by leaves, stem, flower? It seems as if the plantains have darker leaves and seem to be wider, but after looking at so many it becomes a bit of a blur. Can someone enlighten me on a good source for learning how to identify the species?
I have another question if I can bug you folks more -- Each plant has at least 4 and up to 8 niņos (new plants at the base). The beginning of our six month dry season starts in December - should I eliminate all but a couple of the niņos before the dry season?
Although they haven't been irrigated in the past during dry season, they survive and hang on, probably because of the high humidity here. (?) After the almost finished upgrade of our community water system, I may be able to irrigate this year.
We're a retired couple that have lived here in Panama for almost ten years, and finally moved into the hills in the country and found this 1/3 hectare, and it is really enjoyable. My neighbors grow mostly rice and corn, and a few banana plants here and there but are ignored except when it's time to cut the bunch down. I started out growing cacao, but found out that they like the partial shade of banana plants, so I planted one between each cacao and they both seem really happy. I have been chopping up the residue from the banana plants for compost. Lots of residue, lots of compost.
Have a good day.
Thank you very much,
Bob