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hammer
07-18-2010, 04:33 PM
Hi everyone i have a question my cg is 6foot 5 inches someone told me when they get ready to bloom there will be 3 leaves standing up has anyone seen this before. and how long does it usually take for the fruit to get full on the plant.

DaveE
07-18-2010, 06:35 PM
Hi everyone i have a question my cg is 6foot 5 inches someone told me when they get ready to bloom there will be 3 leaves standing up has anyone seen this before. and how long does it usually take for the fruit to get full on the plant.

Hammer,

Will you post a current close up photo of the Gold?

Dave

Abnshrek
07-18-2010, 06:36 PM
Brent has a flower as of last month and he talked of november to ask how his fruit is.. If that's an answer. As for the three leaves..no idea. :^)

hammer
07-18-2010, 08:50 PM
Hammer,

Will you post a current close up photo of the Gold?

Dave I will post some pictures tomorrow .

LilRaverBoi
07-18-2010, 11:00 PM
I've never heard of such a '3 leaf' rule. IMO, that guideline is bogus. Watch for new leaves getting smaller and eventually the presence of a flag leaf (really small leaf that preceeds the inflorescence (bloom)).

hammer
07-19-2010, 09:12 AM
I've never heard of such a '3 leaf' rule. IMO, that guideline is bogus. Watch for new leaves getting smaller and eventually the presence of a flag leaf (really small leaf that preceeds the inflorescence (bloom)).

That was said by jeff earl in his article I dont think what he says is bogus.

sunfish
07-19-2010, 10:08 AM
Maybe what happens as the flag they stand more erect. Still the smaller leaves indicate the flag is coming.

DaveE
07-19-2010, 10:26 AM
I think once they reach their terminal height the leaves are almost emerging at the same point forcing the last few to have a more upright orientation. This along with the leaves getting smaller, like Tony pointed out, can be a good indication that the flag leaf is on the way. Hopefully we will be able to get a good idea from the photo.

One of the things I love about bananas is there is so much we have yet to learn. This makes everyones observations important.

hammer
07-19-2010, 11:50 AM
I've never heard of such a '3 leaf' rule. IMO, that guideline is bogus. Watch for new leaves getting smaller and eventually the presence of a flag leaf (really small leaf that preceeds the inflorescence (bloom)).And Sometimes bananas stack leaves before the flag leaf appears. this is called sheeting.

harveyc
07-19-2010, 12:07 PM
I have one flowering now. Maybe it's sort of got 3 erect leaves, including flag?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34483&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34483&ppuser=775)

hammer
07-19-2010, 12:09 PM
I have one flowering now. Maybe it's sort of got 3 erect leaves, including flag?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34483&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34483&ppuser=775)Thanks Harvey.

LilRaverBoi
07-19-2010, 12:24 PM
I count 6 leaves erect in that picture. In order to even HAVE a '3 leaf' rule, you would have to define 'standing up' as being less than _______ degrees from vertical (with ample water and w/o wind). No offense to Jeff in any way, but BOGUS BOGUS BOGUS, IMO. It's just like when people say that bananas fruit between 30-35 leaves....it's impossible to put a numerical value on anything like plants that vary so widely due to variant conditions.

Going by the picture, the suggestion I mentioned does indeed stand....the shortening leaves. Notice, I don't say '3 shorter leaves' or any numerical value, but just that there is a general trend of shorter leaves preceeding the inflorescence.

There are many ways to indicate that a banana bunch might be on its way out soon (leaf stacking, upright leaves, shorter leaves, bulge in the pseudostem, mature height of pstem, etc), but putting a strict numerical value on things is pure bovine feces, IMHO.....misleading. Your BEST bet is to rely on numerous general guidelines (as listed previously in this paragraph (and there are likely more)) to indicate that your plant is likely going to bloom soon. The more stringant a guideline becomes, the more 'failworthy' it also becomes. (and that's just something they teach you in test-taking skills)

PS...not trying to be angry or cruel here, just honest. Please don't take any of this as aggressive or insulting because this was not how it was meant.

Abnshrek
07-19-2010, 01:01 PM
#1 Bryan you have no idea what time of day or temperature Harvey took that pic. He recently has been getting 100F temps which may lead you to believe you are correct.
#2 If he took the pic in the evening you may have gotten a different impression. (We don't know when he took it.) :^)
#3 If you look closely at the picture they are more erect at the top, not as noticeable as other posted pictures, but more erect.
#4 Never assume your right, just try to contribute. :^)

LilRaverBoi
07-19-2010, 01:12 PM
#1 Bryan you have no idea what time of day or temperature Harvey took that pic. He recently has been getting 100F temps which may lead you to believe you are correct.
#2 If he took the pic in the evening you may have gotten a different impression. (We don't know when he took it.) :^)
This is exactly why I think the '3 leaf' rule is bogus....too much room for variance and subjectivity.

#4 Never assume your right, just try to contribute. :^)
Oh, I'm not assuming I'm right (or that what I stated is the final rule). As I stated, you should go on a number of general guidelines to base a final decision rather than using one hard-and-fast rule to make a swift decision. The things I mentioned were not MY guidelines either....they're other things I've found on the org. Again, this is not me being aggressive or trying to tell someone they're totally wrong (as I'm sure the 3 leaf thing works sometimes).....just suggesting a more effective method to base a decision on. Because there is so much variety and so many exceptions to rules, it's best to use many rules to make a more informed decision. This isn't something unique to plants, but general things taught in many professions/areas of study.

sunfish
07-19-2010, 01:13 PM
Harvey how tall is the p-stem on your C.G. Thanks

Hammer do you have shorter leaves forming on the C.G.

harveyc
07-19-2010, 01:16 PM
I don't think there's anything bogus about it, it's just Jeff's way of describing his experiences. Someone might not agree with or understand his description accurately, but that doesn't make it bogus. Just not a very precise description.

I took the photo about an hour ago, around 10am, and it was about 80F. It felt hotter than that, though! I think we got around 98F yesterday and I better water the plants again today. This plant was moved back in May as I a shade tree had grown and was shading the area where I used to have this plant and it's momma. Not the best size to move a plant but it was better off in the long run. It's got two new pups on the way so I'm hoping they'll contribute to the growth of this bunch.

Harvey how tall is the p-stem on your C.G. Thanks

Just measured at 54". I think I moved this plant around May 1st which probably stunted it a little.

DaveE
07-19-2010, 01:49 PM
And Sometimes bananas stack leaves before the flag leaf appears. this is called sheeting.

Hammer,

Thats what I was referring to in my post. I did not know there was a term for it, thanks!

Dave

john_ny
07-19-2010, 02:15 PM
I don't think there's anything bogus about it, it's just Jeff's way of describing his experiences. Someone might not agree with or understand his description accurately, but that doesn't make it bogus. Just not a very precise description.

I took the photo about an hour ago, around 10am, and it was about 80F. It felt hotter than that, though! I think we got around 98F yesterday and I better water the plants again today. This plant was moved back in May as I a shade tree had grown and was shading the area where I used to have this plant and it's momma. Not the best size to move a plant but it was better off in the long run. It's got two new pups on the way so I'm hoping they'll contribute to the growth of this bunch.



Just measured at 54". I think I moved this plant around May 1st which probably stunted it a little.

Well put, Harv, but who's Jeff?

hammer
07-19-2010, 03:00 PM
I have one flowering now. Maybe it's sort of got 3 erect leaves, including flag?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34483&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34483&ppuser=775)

Harvey thanks for the picture looks like yours with no flag leaf yet. my camra is lost again every time i need it i cant find it. but your pics is very helpful. I guess if mine blooms in aug I will put my greenhouse over it.

Abnshrek
07-19-2010, 03:04 PM
Harvey thanks for the picture looks like yours with no flag leaf yet. my camra is lost again every time i need it i cant find it. but your pics is very helpful. I guess if mine blooms in aug I will put my greenhouse over it.

The flag is just to the right of the leaf in the left center. Its just the angle of the pic.. :^)
John its a reference to Jeff Earl. :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34483 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34483&ppuser=775)

hammer
07-19-2010, 03:17 PM
The flag is just to the right of the leaf in the left center. Its just the angle of the pic.. :^)
John its a reference to Jeff Earl. :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34483 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34483&ppuser=775)Thanks mine is just not that far along yet. I think it will probably bloom aug or sep thats what im thinking. also think i have dc going to do the same.

harveyc
07-19-2010, 03:23 PM
Hey, while folks are talking about the California Gold, I see Jeff just put up another pup on eBay! :D California Gold - Cold Hardy dwarf Banana plant / tree - eBay (item 290455835955 end time Jul-22-10 10:06:22 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290455835955)

I think prices are usually (but not always) lowest mid-season. Folks buying early in the year get a shot at lots of growth with a good chance for an early bloom next year while buyers at the end of the year get the last ones of the year and maybe over-winter them in pots.

Well put, Harv, but who's Jeff?

John, Michael already answered it, but to clarify, yes, I'm referring to Jeff Early who coined the name California Gold for a banana he bought something like 15 years ago from a Texas nursery which is no defunct. I met him first when I got a pup from him and we're know friends on a first name basis and talk about lychee, fishing, politics, and whatever! So he's become a friend. Doesn't mean I agree with everything he says, but I think he's honest with his opinions about his bananas. He even admits he thinks folks pay too much money for pups at times but he also spent a lot of money himself trying out different varieties and now uses the money to fund his other plant hobbies.

john_ny
07-19-2010, 03:55 PM
Thanks,folks. I realized, after posting, who Jeff was. I just hadn't seen any of the posters on the first page of this thread named Jeff.

Steve L
07-19-2010, 04:02 PM
For those of you in my neck of the woods, i.e., the Louisiana Gulf Coast, I'm willing to give you a CG pup. My matt has gotten way too aggressive. The only thing is, you have to come and dig it up. I don't do the shipping thing anymore.

Steve

sunfish
07-19-2010, 05:53 PM
For those of you in my neck of the woods, i.e., the Louisiana Gulf Coast, I'm willing to give you a CG pup. My matt has gotten way too aggressive. The only thing is, you have to come and dig it up. I don't do the shipping thing anymore.

Steve

Remember the movie It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World . I can just see all these people heading to Lake Charles, La. to dig up California Gold.