View Full Version : Musa Sikkimensis Gigantea
jmoore
11-08-2010, 03:24 PM
I received an email from Europalms the other day and this was on the list of new seeds. Has anyone heard of it, or is it 'Daj Giant' by another name? The email also said it had large seeds.
51st state
11-09-2010, 01:49 PM
Hi James
Hope you're well.
From previous experience 'Darjeeling Giant' had seeds which were slightly smaller than regular Sikkimensis. (see pic attached).
I'm too committed this winter to give them a go. Please let me know how you get on, I'm sure I'll find a suitable trade :)
regards
Kev
jmoore
11-10-2010, 03:16 PM
Hi Kev
I'm good thanks.
Well I might have to get some of these mysterious seeds then, which is unfortunate really, because this addiction is getting the better of me. I've just forked out on some Griersonii and Itinerans (forma India) seeds aswell. Blimey.
Cheers
jmoore
11-27-2010, 01:57 AM
OK the seeds have arrived this is what they look like
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38849&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38849&ppuser=4043)
Maybe slightly bigger than usual, but there's not much in it
51st state
11-27-2010, 06:03 AM
I wish you'd stop tempting me by posting seed pics. I just can't do it this winter, need to finish the house renovation first or she'll kill me
nannerfunboi
11-27-2010, 03:42 PM
james.. keep putting up those pics of seeds you are going to start..heehehe :)
hey.. new in starting banana seeds..got several going now.. havent sprouted yet..but its only been little over a week.. sigh..LOL
whats your plan on sprouting yours?
do you file the seed to open up a bit?
soaking? any other treatments ?
i have mine in unbleached paper towel..in a plastic bag..in heated aquarium..
temp stays close to 82 F
thanks..and good luck on yours !!!!
jmoore
11-28-2010, 08:57 AM
Hi
I will soak them for a week, changing water daily. Then put them on a bed of vermiculite that has been soaked with boiling water and excess water drained off. I will then alternate the temperature, 30degrees by day and ambient temperature at night. Check for signs of germination then transfer them to peat compost if they do germinate.
It seems to work for me.
Cheers
nannerfunboi
11-29-2010, 11:20 AM
thanks jim.. i think im going to order some more seed..and try your
way as well..
maybe trying several methods..i will find a way that is most sucessful
to sprout seed..
thanks to all here for your wealth of knowledge and practice for sucess
in growing these fun plants..
dave
jmoore
01-09-2011, 09:14 AM
This is a photo of my first Gigantea sprout :woohoonaner:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=39762&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39762)
Markku Hakkinen
01-14-2011, 10:52 AM
It looks like Musa cheesmanii based on its seeds. It is somehow similar with M.sikkimensis but is still a distinct species. Does anyone any photos of it in order to make a proper identification?
Markku.
jmoore
01-14-2011, 01:50 PM
All the Cheesmani seeds I've bought have had almost spikes on the seeds, these are smooth.
Markku Hakkinen
01-14-2011, 02:12 PM
The M.cheesmanii seeds what I have received from India are sligthy warty similar to M.sikkimensis seeds. I have not seen any M.cheesmanii in cultivation either in Europe or USA. The photos are mostly welcome.
Markku.
jmoore
05-06-2011, 11:58 AM
Here is an update now the Gigantea are a bit bigger
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=42466&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=42466&ppuser=4043)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=42467&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=42467&ppuser=4043)
They are showing some lovely colouration
Very nice job James, keep up the good work!
musa_monkey
07-08-2011, 07:21 AM
James, how are they doing now ?
Here's mine, growing on well so far with some interesting colouration
I am still looking for more info on this plant so far i haven't located much on it at all.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff14/musa_monkey/sikkigigantea-1-1.jpg
jmoore
07-08-2011, 12:30 PM
looking good :08: I'll post a pic tomorrow, when the weather has cheered up a bit.
I've noticed another hybrid of sikkimensis called 'Fire', so far I've only seen plants for sale, but no seeds. Does anyone know anything about this?
Here's the photo of my Gigantea.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44191&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44191&ppuser=4043)
musa_monkey
07-09-2011, 03:54 AM
James. that's very nice just curious is it potted up in ericaceous ?
Not heard of "fire" but found this, original in German, translated via google;
Google Translate (http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.hec-tech.net%2F%3Ftag%3Dmusa-sikkimensis-fire)
jmoore
07-09-2011, 06:40 AM
No, only J. Arthur Bowers multi purpose.
Thanks for the link by the way.
Musa777
07-27-2011, 11:59 AM
Hi James,
Musa sikkimensis "Fire" is a type of Musa sikkimensis of which i imported seeds the first time in 2000 from India.
There are some differences in the adult plants from Musa sikkimensis and the seeds are also a little bigger than usual sikkimensis seeds.
Young Fire show a very great painting on the leaves.
jmoore
09-18-2011, 09:55 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45760&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45760&ppuser=4043)
Here is an end of season photo of my gigantea
musa_monkey
09-18-2011, 01:31 PM
Very nice James, I really like this plant, they colour up well and are obviously different to a Red Tiger when you put them side by side.
I will over winter mine indoors this year.
It survived the high winds we had remarkably well when a lot of my basjoos shredded their leaves so it should be interesting to see how robust it is when it matures.
jmoore
04-02-2012, 01:43 PM
Wakey wakey sikkimensis gigantea
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48342&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48342&ppuser=4043)
This has spent 4 months in my loft, seems to have done OK.
tony palmer
06-11-2012, 12:13 PM
Hi James,
I have a couple of questions… where any of your gigantea normal green or are they all that dark variegated form, also has your gigantea produced any pups yet? The one I have seems reluctant too; the P-stem is about 4ft.
http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy222/11palmer/030.jpg
http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy222/11palmer/025.jpg
Tony
Dalmatiansoap
06-11-2012, 03:03 PM
Mine lost all that red color, its just green now, second year in the ground, no protection, lost all leaves due to wind, one pup last year, none this Spring. Slow grower.
:woohoonaner:
jmoore
06-12-2012, 01:18 AM
Hi Tony they have all been quite red, I only have one now though. It's outside in a pot not growing very quickly due to the rubbish weather. Yours is much bigger than mine. No pups yet no
tony palmer
06-12-2012, 04:09 AM
Thanks for your replies guys.. have any of you found any info on were the Gigantea seed was collected or a description of the plant in the wild, I’ve had a look on the net but not had any luck!
It looks like Botanist’s may not have done any work on the species Musa sikkimensis and its possible variants! I suspect there are at least a few of them, like the have found with Itinerans, Yunnanensis and Basjoo.
After growing various Sikkimensis… Darjeeling Giant, Red Tiger, Hookerii, and seed offered by Phil Markey of Sikkimensis collected in Myanmar, it’s obvious to me the variants exist and its possible Gigantea is another of them.. NOT very scientific but we don’t have much info to go on.
Ante, you said Gigantea survived planted out, can you tell us what your winter low was!
Tony
jmoore
06-12-2012, 01:28 PM
Hi Tony
I don't know anything about where it was harvested, unfortunately. I've only ever seen the seed sold by Europalms so it's possible that the guy who owns europalms knows (James I think his name is).
My suspicions are that it is a hybrid like Darjeeling Giant and Helen's Hybrid. I only base this on the fact that I got a double sprout once.
There is another variant - 'fire' - Marcus Senger has previously sold seed.
I'm not sure there is much difference between sikkimensis, 'red tiger', Manipur, 'red flash', other than which part of West Bengal the seeds were collected.
It would be interesting to see them all growing side by side, or indeed flowering side by side, but I don't think that will ever happen.
Dalmatiansoap
06-12-2012, 01:48 PM
Ante, you said Gigantea survived planted out, can you tell us what your winter low was!
Tony
Didnt hit the freezing temperatures this year but there was a decent time with temp. didnt get more than 5C. There was some frost on it last year and it was is worse location but it recovered great.
tony palmer
06-26-2012, 04:47 PM
Well, I’ve planted it out guys… my average winter low is around -6c to -8c so it will be interesting to see if it survives the winter!
I have planted the P-stem a little deeper to give the corm some protection from the frost but that’s all the protection it will get.:drum:
http://i794.photobucket.com/albums/yy222/11palmer/023-1.jpg
Tony
jmoore
05-11-2013, 10:09 AM
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This is my Sikkimensis 'Gigantea' after the long and cold spring, still looking very red and just starting to push 2 pups
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