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hammer
09-21-2010, 10:47 AM
Was wondering if i could cut the bloom off first hand of male flower is on i want to cut the bloom as soon as i can. finger count is 207.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36854&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36854&ppuser=3875)

sunfish
09-21-2010, 11:27 AM
Beautiful bunch

momoese
09-21-2010, 11:31 AM
Give it some time to grow out before cutting. You want about 6 inches of peduncle past the last hand so it doesn't dry up into the fruits.

Nice bunch, congrats!

Bananaman88
09-21-2010, 11:49 AM
I would definitely hold off as Mitchel advised.

pitangadiego
09-21-2010, 01:06 PM
Leave 6-12" below the last hand. If you cut too close, and the stem dessicates, you will loose some of the bananas.

bananimal
09-21-2010, 03:34 PM
Shannon - Great job. I cut at 8". Tired of picking up bracts -- then standing up and getting whacked in the head by the flower. Especially with all the bees and wasps all over the buds.

BTW what kind of naners are those? How many hands?

Not to forget the corn snake hiding in the dried up male flower cluster on an earlier Goldfinger bunch. He shot out of the flower 3 times trying to nip me.

This is what can happen if the flower is left to keep growing.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8690&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8690&ppuser=820)

Dan

hammer
09-21-2010, 04:21 PM
Shannon - Great job. I cut at 8". Tired of picking up bracts -- then standing up and getting whacked in the head by the flower. Especially with all the bees and wasps all over the buds.

BTW what kind of naners are those? How many hands?

Not to forget the corn snake hiding in the dried up male flower cluster on an earlier Goldfinger bunch. He shot out of the flower 3 times trying to nip me.

This is what can happen if the flower is left to keep growing.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8690&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8690&ppuser=820)

DanThanks it is a dwarfcavendish 10 hands.

hammer
09-21-2010, 04:58 PM
I will wait for it to get 6 inches and i will wack it of below the last hand. i going try to save the bunch im going to put plastic over the hole plant and put a light in the make shift greenhouse Im open for any input Ill need everybodys help thanks everyone.

momoese
09-21-2010, 07:00 PM
I will wait for it to get 6 inches and i will wack it of below the last hand. i going try to save the bunch im going to put plastic over the hole plant and put a light in the make shift greenhouse Im open for any input Ill need everybodys help thanks everyone.

There are lots of ways to keep the air warm but the soil is another issue. Do you get hard freezes?

sunfish
09-21-2010, 07:15 PM
Keeping the soil dry is going to help.I lost two buches last winter to soggy soil

pitangadiego
09-21-2010, 08:23 PM
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP954-24.jpg

Example of too short.

hammer
09-21-2010, 09:36 PM
There are lots of ways to keep the air warm but the soil is another issue. Do you get hard freezes?When i put the plastic over the banana plant i going to keep it dry maybe put some mulch or hay november around thanksgiving is when we get or freeze normally this one seems to be growing super fast thanks for the info.

Patty in Wisc
09-22-2010, 10:41 AM
Uh oh, I just checked mine...I cut the flower off only 2 1/2 inches below the last hand. Wish I knew this before:(

pitangadiego
09-22-2010, 01:24 PM
Patty, it probably won't be an issue, but it can be sometimes. That is why it is better to leave more, and be safe.