View Full Version : Propping up my Ice Cream
Magilla Gorilla
11-06-2010, 04:57 PM
A few weeks ago my Ice cream banana started to show a flower. Now I have a huge flower with lots of bananas. I have never propped up my plants before and have been o.k. until a few weeks ago. My Orinoco fell over with a little bunch of bananas.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/YeloZ06/Bananas/FallenOrinoco.jpg
My ice cream is huge! What is the best way to prop up this plant before it falls and what do you use?
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l192/YeloZ06/IceCream211-07-10.jpg
Worm_Farmer
11-06-2010, 07:15 PM
Tie it to a nearby tree.
sunfish
11-06-2010, 08:09 PM
http://www.bananas.org/f2/banana-tree-support-9591.html#post96816
Gabe15
11-07-2010, 02:51 AM
Here's what I do. I use Leuceana leucocephala trees (weedy, quick growing, perfect shapes), I just select and cut them such that there is a Y at the top and put that under the peduncle or against the pseudostem. If the bunch is in a position that it would damaged by a single pole from underneath, I use two longer ones that come from the sides.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38213&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38213&ppuser=5)
Magilla Gorilla
11-07-2010, 03:28 AM
Thanks for the info and the pictures. I am going to build them with my irrigation pipe as I don't have leucocephala trees. The Ice Flower and hands are very big. Thanks again!
Gabe15
11-07-2010, 03:33 AM
Ya, you can use pretty much anything so long as it works. This particular one holding up our 'Goldfinger' bunch was part of our tent which got ripped apart (and bent perfectly into shape) in a windstorm.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38214&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38214&ppuser=5)
Magilla Gorilla
11-07-2010, 03:36 AM
Very cool to be able to take something from mother nature. I try to do that in my garden as well.
Scott
11-07-2010, 11:25 AM
I use 2" PVC from Home Depot. Wifey made me paint the poles green so they blend in a bit.
10' PVC + 2' PVC (cut to size from another 10' PVC) + 2" PVC 'Y'
http://www.scottnsandy.com/bananas/Banana%20096.jpg
Didn't glue anything. Between the 10' and 2' is a 2" coupling connector.
The 'Y' goes against the curve of the flower where it comes from the p-stem
This year I'm using bamboo and placing a short 2" (green painted) PVC. Mix/Match
http://www.scottnsandy.com/bananas/IMG_1705.jpg
http://www.scottnsandy.com/bananas/IMG_1706.jpg
Bamboo X2 80Lb fishing line
http://www.scottnsandy.com/bananas/gran3.jpg
Good Luck
jpcoopee
11-08-2010, 09:55 AM
Magilla-
I've had good luck with PVC - schedule 40 is best.
If you lash 2 -10 foot pieces of 3/4" together about a foot from the end, you then have a bipod that adjusts to the terrain. Cross the poles, slide under stem of banana bunch, and walk ends in towards plant until you're happy. It's reusable, can be painted, and lasts forever. Cheap too !
Hope that helps !
J.P.
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