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palmtree
12-05-2010, 01:25 AM
I got a Musa Saba as a small, one foot tall plant in September. I potted it up and took it inside when temps were cool (in mid October). its been growing really well inside and grew about 2 or 3 leaves indoors in about a month in a half. Im really happy with its growth rate, but Im just wondering if the plant will be too weak to survive when it goes outside in the spring. I also have an Ensete Maurelli (technically a Tandarra Red) thats doing great and growing VERY fast indoors, but the leaves are streching out.

Ill post a pic of the Saba and Ensete and a comparison pic of both (the ensete has tripled in size since July!). Ill keep updating my Saba's progress also throughout the winter and spring too!

I would really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share about Musa Saba's. Im not sure about when it will flower, or the growth rate in cooler spring temps (I know it takes off in the summer though). Is Musa Saba bananas okay with part shade, or does it demand full sun only?
Also if anyone knows if Ensete Maurelli is Tandarra Red, I would appreciate help with that. They look the same to me!
Thanks in advance!

palmtree
12-06-2010, 06:37 PM
Heres my Musa Saba October 1st, just after I got it.
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=DSC00129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/DSC00129.jpg" border="0" alt="Tropical rainstorm nicole October 1, 2010"></a>

Heres my Musa Saba banana 2 days ago. The emerging leaf grew about another 2 inches since I took this picture 2 days ago!
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0739.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/IMG_0739.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Heres my Ensete Tandarra Red. It looks like its a little stretched from the lack of light. Will it correct itself in the spring?
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0740.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/IMG_0740.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Thanks for looking!

palmtree
12-07-2010, 02:07 AM
I forgot to add a pic of my ensete when I first got in in July so here it is.
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=e7adb847.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/e7adb847.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Im going to sink its pot in the ground next summer which should hopefully allow it to grow even taller!

TommyMacLuckie
12-09-2010, 11:59 AM
Saba loves full sun. They get HUGE. Huge long fronds, large p-stem and quite tall. I'm not sure on the bloom time since only one has bloomed for me and it wound up not maturing enough before a freeze to know. I'm in 8B (or so I've been lead to believe).

That pup you have looks a bit thin to be a Saba. All the sword suckers I've finally had success moving have been huge, even when they're little (my first attempt at moving sword suckers was horrible - I learned that I pretty much needed to dig up the entire plant to get the suckers off properly). They're supposedly rather cold hardy and wind resistant - but I live in a hurricane zone and, well, things get tattered regardless of a hurricane or not. Of course, it also gets into the mid 20s on average between November and March - even down to 18F back in January - but the Sabas came back OK from that.

A bit slow - very slow - but they eventually got going.

Bama Banana
12-12-2010, 04:32 AM
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Selected%20End%20Of%20Summer%20Pics/IMG_1036.jpg

I got this one as a seedling from Green Earth back in March of 2009. I gave it full sun and watered it regularly, and it took off.

From what I have seen these things are bulletproof for zone 8 (at least after they get bigger). We had temps of 15 and 17 last winter. The Saba psuedostem survived with no protection while almost all of my other bananas, including Musa Basjoo and Orinoco, died down to the ground (or died altogether).

Around September 2010 the Saba flowered and I got this bunch with over 100 bananas...

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/joeypowell/Selected%20End%20Of%20Summer%20Pics/IMG_1037.jpg

Too bad I had to cut it all down a few days ago because of cold weather. :( See my other post, Monster Saba "Stump", for some more pics.

In my opinion, if you like big, this is the best banana of them all.

palmtree
12-12-2010, 03:11 PM
Thanks a lot for your responses! Im really looking forward to trying this banana in the ground next year!!
I hope that I actually have a Saba Banana! If it isnt then it definitely isnt a banana that I have yet.
Bama Banana, did your Saba look like mine when it was a seedling, or was the seedling you had a bit thicker?
Ill keep everyone updated on its growth which should hopefully really take off in the summer! I would greatly appreciate anyone's advise or experience with this amazing banana!

Bama Banana
12-12-2010, 07:04 PM
Hard to tell. I just can't remember. I would highly recommend Green Earth for buying one of these. I am very happy with mine.

palmtree
12-12-2010, 07:30 PM
Thanks, Ill look them up now! I wont buy anything until the spring though because I have very bad luck with banana plants when I buy them in the winter! :)

TommyMacLuckie
12-19-2010, 12:51 PM
The one that you show that is the Saba? That looks like a water sucker. Saba sword suckers are huge. In fact, they have tiny leaves even when the s. sucker is up to 4 feet tall.

nannerfunboi
12-19-2010, 03:41 PM
i dont have a saba..but i know im going to now..
great plant !!! spectacular size..love that..
you have mentioned "green earth" nursery..?? whats their website??
i have a real full sun back yard and im betting saba would do great out there.. my ensetes got really big this last summer..
thanks to all..
happy holidays...

hydroid
12-19-2010, 05:16 PM
I have some saba photos in my gallery, you can't mistake them, I had my grand daughter stand by them for a relative size comparison. They all died back last year from the freezes and I had to cut them to the ground but they came back with a vengence, he he.
It seems that the bigger they are the better they handle the cold. I just pile alot of pine straw around the base of the stem for winter protection.
Bo

Darkman
12-20-2010, 09:49 PM
I have some saba photos in my gallery, you can't mistake them, I had my grand daughter stand by them for a relative size comparison. They all died back last year from the freezes and I had to cut them to the ground but they came back with a vengence, he he.
It seems that the bigger they are the better they handle the cold. I just pile alot of pine straw around the base of the stem for winter protection.
Bo

This is a picture I took at Hydroids. The Saba is the tall one on the left. Easily twenty feet tall. There are about five different bananas in this picture.

<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=37489&ppuser=7611><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37489&size=1 border=0></a>

palmtree
12-20-2010, 10:15 PM
Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone! I couldnt find green earth nursery either, so if anyone can help, that would be great!

Also I never knew that water sucker and sword suckers existed as a terminology. If mine is a water sucker, what should I do? Is it going to have a really hard time becoming the giant that Sabas can become, or will it eventually grow normally (and apparently for a Saba thats really fast!!)
I cant wait to put all my banana plants in the ground and see how tall they get!!

sunfish
12-20-2010, 11:15 PM
Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone! I couldnt find green earth nursery either, so if anyone can help, that would be great!

Also I never knew that water sucker and sword suckers existed as a terminology. If mine is a water sucker, what should I do? Is it going to have a really hard time becoming the giant that Sabas can become, or will it eventually grow normally (and apparently for a Saba thats really fast!!)
I cant wait to put all my banana plants in the ground and see how tall they get!!

Your Saba is probably a Tissue Culture it will grow fine.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bananaplants.net%2Fbananaplants.html&rct=j&q=banana%20trees%20banana%20plants&ei=5CgQTYsKisSwA7birLwC&usg=AFQjCNGNj9ih1mk8wKUckN__EGUbq41i_Q&cad=rja

palmtree
12-21-2010, 12:12 AM
Thanks! So far its growing well and I really hope it continues! Ill keep everyone updated and I appreciate any more advice, experience, pics, etc.. Thanks again everyone!

Bama Banana
12-31-2010, 09:29 PM
For anyone interested, here is the link to Green Earth...

Banana Trees Banana Plants (http://www.bananaplants.net/bananaplants.html)

palmtree
01-01-2011, 01:40 AM
For anyone interested, here is the link to Green Earth...

Banana Trees Banana Plants (http://www.bananaplants.net/bananaplants.html)

Thanks for the link. I know that they mention the height in the description, but does anyone know about how long it takes to have a nice sized plant once you order from them? I know that it definitely varies depending on what banana you get, but Im sure that for a banana like Saba, it will become a huge plant sooner than later!
Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Bama Banana
01-03-2011, 04:19 PM
When I received that Saba from them, it was about 1 foot tall and very young. I planted it in April 2009. It grew to about 14 feet the first year. It matured and fruited (see the pic!) around September 2010. It also grew enough so that, after it's first summer in 2009, the psuedostem was able to withstand winter temps in the mid teens, with no protection.

Darkman
01-03-2011, 06:10 PM
It also grew enough so that, after it's first summer in 2009, the psuedostem was able to withstand winter temps in the mid teens, with no protection.

So you did not have any protection during the Jan. 2010 freeze? What did the Pstem look like after the freeze?

hydroid
01-03-2011, 06:24 PM
Hey Charlie, you gonna have em like that too, we'll have to cut you out of your house with a chain saw, you better keep that back hoe handy he he. I'm still here on the far side of the world. Did you get the rig moving pic?
Bo

palmtree
01-03-2011, 06:42 PM
Thanks Bama Banana! I will definitely be ordering from them in the spring and be planting both my sabas in the ground next to each other to see how they do (if they do manage to grow a lot then I might need to find a different place for them then I am currently thinking!). Your weather is warmer than us in the summer and your summer is a bit longer, but I would be VERY happy if my saba reached 10 feet. :)
Thanks! I cant wait to try these outside in the spring. It has been one month since I last took pics of my saba indoors and it is definitely a bit bigger now! Ill post some pics soon.

Darkman
01-03-2011, 07:17 PM
Hey Charlie, you gonna have em like that too, we'll have to cut you out of your house with a chain saw, you better keep that back hoe handy he he. I'm still here on the far side of the world. Did you get the rig moving pic?
Bo

Bo I hope your'e right. I love that tropical jungle look. If I could get some Parrots, Macaws, Monkeys and such to hang around that'd be cool. I sent you a PM. I'll look for the pic. Thanks

palmtree
02-04-2011, 01:12 AM
My musa saba is still doing very well. The pseudostem isnt getting much thicker, but it continues to push up healthy growth.
I wish I could say the same for my ensete. It has a terrible aphid infestation and I cut all the leaves off which still didnt help. Now Im spraying it with soap and water and Im just trying to keep it strong until spring. Once it goes outside the bug problems will probably go away.
I'll post some pics of both soon!

eric27
02-04-2011, 11:52 AM
My Saba is doing pretty well inside too. Had a brief spider mite attack but after washed in the shower it is fine now. Growth is slow to nothing right now but holding a few leaves. I have some aphids on some plants in my basement. You are right as soon as they go outside they disappear. I just keep washing them off to keep them in check.

palmtree
02-04-2011, 06:14 PM
If we can manage to get a few warm days in then I will take the bananas outside and wash them out which would definitely help with the bugs! Right now my basjoos are being attacked by mealy bugs, and my velutina has spidermites. My cavendish is recovering from a freeze and my blue java is the only one other than my saba without pests. I cant wait till spring.
I'll take some pics now and post them tonight or tomorrow.

palmtree
05-29-2011, 11:41 PM
Its been about 4 and a half months so I think its time that I finally post a new pic! Of couse my saba is now outside for the summer and so far so good! I had to cut all the leaves it made indoors off because of spider mites and stuff like that. It grew a lot! Its going to be huge come fall! Im so excited!
HERES WHEN I FIRST GOT IT OCTOBER 1st 2010
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=DSC00129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/DSC00129.jpg" border="0" alt="Tropical rainstorm nicole October 1, 2010"></a>

HERES MY SABA DECEMBER 4TH 2010
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0739.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/IMG_0739.jpg" border="0" alt="MUSA SABA"></a>

HERES MY SABA (The banana to the right) ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO (The leaf emerging in the pic fully opened today and I'll update again about 2 leaves from now!)
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_3344.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_3344.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

So what are all your estimates on how tall this will get by the end of the summer? Days will be in the 80sF with sun for the next 10 days and nights will range from the low 60s to the low 70s. My bananas usually grow until mid October and first frost is usually sometime in November (very late in November or even early December during lucky years!)

Thanks for looking! I just gave it some plant food today. Do you recommend any special types of plant food?

palmtree
05-31-2011, 05:14 PM
Looks like 90F tomorrow and then 80s. The newest Saba leaf has not grown significantly today (high in the mid 80s). I'm hoping that I will see the newest leaf start to emerge by tomorrow (same for my Ice cream banana). Right now my basjoo is winning!

palmtree
06-19-2011, 12:59 PM
My Saba has grown a lot in the last 3 weeks. It made 2 new leaves which is a lot considering that we had a 4 day strech of clouds and 70s. The forecast looks good. Every day is in the 80s and there are a handful of nights in the 70s. Its almost summer weather! Today is in the low 80s with sun and clouds. I'll post a pic in a few minutes of the Saba.

jimhardy
06-19-2011, 01:07 PM
Mine is finally moving too-
it was a rough spring with a a lot of cool weather though.

palmtree
06-19-2011, 03:49 PM
I definitely noticed that Sabas need a ton of heat (more than other bananas) for them to grow their fastest. Hopefully mine get the heat they need soon! Its definitely not reliably in the 90s yet, and I think it really should be in the 90s for them to grow well.
Heres some pics of it as of today, just 2 or 3 hours ago
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_3909.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_3909.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_3911.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_3911.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I also noticed that my Musa Basjoo has a very red center all of a sudden. Its a nice look that is especially noticeable on emerging leaves.
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_3910.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_3910.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Thanks for looking. I'll update again in about another 3 weeks.

nannerfunboi
06-19-2011, 05:46 PM
my sabas are doing same.. slow growth..but we have been unusually
cool here so far.. rained like crazy this morning..not typical..sigh
but i planted them in good drained soil..and alot of compost..
now they just need some hot days to get going!!!!

palmtree
06-19-2011, 06:17 PM
my sabas are doing same.. slow growth..but we have been unusually
cool here so far.. rained like crazy this morning..not typical..sigh
but i planted them in good drained soil..and alot of compost..
now they just need some hot days to get going!!!!

Same here. It hasnt been as cold here as it has been on the west coast, but by me, we have only been around average. Yesterday got up to 87F, but that was only for about an hour. Once the clouds rolled in at about 2pm, it dropped down to the upper 70s. Its been in the 70s for a while now and thats not warm enough to get the bananas going!

palmtree
10-18-2011, 12:13 AM
Its approaching the end of the growing season and most of the bananas probably will only push out one or 2 more leaves before frost hits in a little longer than a month (hopefully not less than that). My Saba has gotten really big since the pics in this thread, it is now taller than me with the tallest leaf now over 7 feet tall. Im really happy with how its done do I'll post some pics of it tomorrow!
The spiral ginger that is right next to it has been in competition with the saba all summer long and they are both nearly the same height (the sprial ginger just opened up some blooms today!).

TommyMacLuckie
10-19-2011, 08:56 AM
Sabas are incredibly slow growing. Even with as hot as it gets here in SE Louisiana (well into the 120s and 130s and higher in the sun during the summer) they seem to take forever.

But once they do get some size to 'em they seem to go a bit faster.

I have never seen baby Sabas that skinny though like the ones in those pictures.

Yug
01-22-2012, 10:40 PM
I was looking for another post, and just found this one. You folks mention that Saba is incredibly slow growing. Mine is my 2nd fastest growing 'nanner - my Manzano is slightly faster. Although, now that I have a very young Pisang Awak, and seeing how it is beginning to sprout up, it may actually take over the fastest-grower slot for my garden. Anyway, back to the Saba; once it got acclimated, it just shot right up there. I could never consider it a slow grower considering how it has put most of my others to shame.

jimhardy
01-22-2012, 10:57 PM
My Saba grew as big as any other one I have grown the first year,
can't wait to see what it does this year outside- I bet at least 15' !!!

nannerfunboi
01-24-2012, 09:45 PM
my sabas are overwintering fine..now mushiness..firm pstem.and one
is sending out new leaf..lol
i am thinking i underfertilized my tropicals last yr.. mad a friend over on
davesgarden..and he gave me some good thoughts on my fertilizing
program..
ive always erred on side of less is better.. id love my sabas to surpass my
ensete maurelli's.. and glaucum.. they got huge last summer..
i was pleased with size one saba got..but..i think i had my bananas on a
low cal diet..LOL..

palmtree
01-26-2012, 07:22 PM
You folks mention that Saba is incredibly slow growing. Mine is my 2nd fastest growing 'nanner - my Manzano is slightly faster. ... Once it got acclimated, it just shot right up there. I could never consider it a slow grower considering how it has put most of my others to shame.

After a growing season with my Saba, I completely take the slow growing thing back! Its a slow grower indoors (in comparison to my other bananas indoors like blue java) and its a slow grower when it first goes outside (not really looking like anything much until July), but by the end of the summer, its my fastest growing banana! I dont even know how it managed to grow so fast, but it is now the same size as my Blue Java banana and I got my Blue Java April 2010 as a 2 foot tall plant and I got my Saba October 2010 as a 1 foot tall plant. So the Blue Java had about 3 feet of growth more than my Saba, but my Saba still caught up with it.

Heres a more updated pic of my Saba. This pic was taken in October 2011. Right now (Late January 2012) its chilling indoors trying to grow a new leaf (its been trying to grow a new leaf since early December)...
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_8665.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_8665.jpg" border="0" alt="10.25.11"></a>

If you look at my post with my Saba pic from back in June, you can see a pretty huge difference in size. Now its taller than I am and I cant wait to see what size it will get to next summer!

jimhardy
01-26-2012, 09:22 PM
Mines chilling inside too.
It has put out a leaf and looks healthy-
the leaf is toughing the ceiling 8' up.....
I can't wait to see how big this gets this year,
I am guessing at least 12 but maybe 15'.


:woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

palmtree
01-27-2012, 12:30 AM
Mines chilling inside too.
It has put out a leaf and looks healthy-
the leaf is toughing the ceiling 8' up.....
I can't wait to see how big this gets this year,
I am guessing at least 12 but maybe 15'.


:woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

Our Sabas were both the same size when we got them so I wonder who's will be bigger by next summer! I have a good feeling that its going to be yours since the soil here isnt that great. But I think mine will be about 12 feet tall to the tallest leaf by the end of next year. I never imagined having a banana that tall and it might end up being my tallest tropical plant in my yard by next Fall.
Is yours pupping yet? Mine started to make some small pups by the base so Im looking forward to seeing if they shoot up next spring or die down. My Saba is probably one of the plants Im most excited about seeing this summer! Spring is almost here, just 2 more months!

Yug
01-27-2012, 01:44 AM
After a growing season with my Saba, I completely take the slow growing thing back! Its a slow grower indoors (in comparison to my other bananas indoors like blue java) and its a slow grower when it first goes outside (not really looking like anything much until July), but by the end of the summer, its my fastest growing banana! I dont even know how it managed to grow so fast, but it is now the same size as my Blue Java banana and I got my Blue Java April 2010 as a 2 foot tall plant and I got my Saba October 2010 as a 1 foot tall plant. So the Blue Java had about 3 feet of growth more than my Saba, but my Saba still caught up with it.

Heres a more updated pic of my Saba. This pic was taken in October 2011. Right now (Late January 2012) its chilling indoors trying to grow a new leaf (its been trying to grow a new leaf since early December)...
<a href="http://s705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_8665.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww59/tropicalzone7/Yard%202011/IMG_8665.jpg" border="0" alt="10.25.11"></a>

If you look at my post with my Saba pic from back in June, you can see a pretty huge difference in size. Now its taller than I am and I cant wait to see what size it will get to next summer!

I just don't see how you folks can take something that big, and put it inside during the cold months. :waving:

palmtree
01-27-2012, 04:54 AM
Yug, Sometimes I wonder the same thing! But its not as hard as it seems. Banana plants dont have very vigorous root systems so all you need is a sharp shovel to dig them up. Then I cut the leaves off of then and pot it up for the winter. Even after half the roots and all the leaves are cut off, its still pretty heavy though.
Next year its going to be a real challenge. Good thing my house has some high celings!

jimhardy
01-27-2012, 10:03 AM
I just don't see how you folks can take something that big, and put it inside during the cold months. :waving:




Mine will go in the basement next year instead of upstairs/inside.

When you see how big banana plants can get,it's worth it to
lug them around a little to have 12-15' plants during the long growing season.



Alex-

No pups on mine yet,probably this year but I will be happy to just see it go up instead of <>.

The trunk is already the size of a Nerf football and I bet this year it will be over a foot diameter.

I plan on amending the soil with compost,Greensand,Milorganite-etc- so I get luscious growth.

We just need more than 5" of rain June through Nov this year!



:nanadrink::0519:

nannerfunboi
01-27-2012, 10:13 PM
i agree jim.. im a newbie only on my 3rd yr with bananas..and im
hooked..LOL i have over 30 im overwintering inside..and 3 big clumps
of basjoo outside well covered.. and i will be adding more sabas,kandarians,
and praying hands this yr..
i have help digging and moving mine into the basement..couldnt do it
alone .. maybe with a dolly..
jealous of ya all in temperate/tropical areas.. :)

jimhardy
01-28-2012, 11:07 AM
Wow

Thats a lot!

I don't store that many but I do use a dolly to get the big Abyssinian downstairs...
luckily it's not to hard to bring up as it is lighter after 6 months in the basement .

palmtree
01-29-2012, 09:41 PM
I actually cut back on my banana plant collection. Right now all I have is my Saba and my Ice Cream banana and Im HOPING that my Basjoos and Velutina are going to come back from the ground this spring with no protection. Next year Im focusing much more on tropical bananas. Im hoping to get some ensetes, Praying hands, and whatever I can find locally!

nannerfunboi
01-29-2012, 11:04 PM
so true about ensetes loosing weight after overwintering..
sure tells how much water they hold while growing.. :)
i always wonder what my neighbours think when i have my
help hauling in all my plants in the back to the basement..
LOL
its our drug..truely..

jimhardy
01-30-2012, 10:25 AM
Yup

jimhardy
02-10-2012, 11:19 AM
Its approaching the end of the growing season and most of the bananas probably will only push out one or 2 more leaves before frost hits in a little longer than a month (hopefully not less than that). My Saba has gotten really big since the pics in this thread, it is now taller than me with the tallest leaf now over 7 feet tall. Im really happy with how its done do I'll post some pics of it tomorrow!
The spiral ginger that is right next to it has been in competition with the saba all summer long and they are both nearly the same height (the sprial ginger just opened up some blooms today!).



Hey Alex


I am guessing between 12-15' for mine next year...
If Basjoos can grow to 11'+ in one year why not a larger Banana
plant with a 6' head start be at least 12'

I guess thats it-if it grows 6' from a baby,what will it do
with a 6' head start!~?!!!


:goteam::nanadrink:







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nannerfunboi
02-10-2012, 05:01 PM
im hoping my basjoo get that head start.. havent looked at them
yet..
as much as i dream.. :) i doubt i'll ever get any of my bananas..even
the larger growing ones.. to be as big as someone with a 8 month growing
season.. sigh..
lol
but.. love what they do for me..and sure learned alot.. much thanks
to many here !!!!!
:goteam:

palmtree
02-12-2012, 01:31 AM
Wow Jim 12-15 feet, thats huge and I definitely think they will get that tall for you by the end of summer. Like you said, it has a huge jump start so that will help a lot!
I've always dreamed of having a really tall banana plant here and Im getting close to it. I want to be able to completely walk under the banana leaves and I might get to do that this summer. Fruit might be wishing for too much though, especially from a saba, but maybe Summer 2013!
Nannerfunboi, Dont be too surprised if your basjoos grow fast even if they die back a lot. I have seen them gain a lot of psudeostem growth in a shor amount of time when they break dormancy. Now an exception to the rule would be my basjoos which grew at a snails pace compared to others, but most people do get good growth from them. The growing season here is about 6 months long which still isnt enough in my opinion to really see banana plants get nice growth because they take about 2 months to start getting full again after a winter of dormancy.
Good luck!

jimhardy
02-12-2012, 11:40 AM
A warm/hot spring can make all the difference,last year was
terrible...cold spring,brutal heat for a couple months in summer
and only about 5" of rain June-Oct made for a cruddy year.

palmtree
02-12-2012, 06:15 PM
Only 5 inches of rain by you for the whole growing season! Wow, I didnt realize how dry it was by you last summer. We had a dry start to summer here with only 1.5 inches of rain in July, but August came and we were flooded literally after 20 inches of rain for the month (the pool was very close to overflowing 2 times that month!). The rain definitely helped with my water bill!

Dreaminofthetropics
02-16-2012, 08:44 PM
My saba had come back out about 4 ft (on top of a 6ft pseudostem) after the last freeze here in north florida. However, after two nights in the low 20s last week its once again looking so sad. I'm hoping it puts out like it did last time but not sure if these two nights so low will be the death of the pseudo stem or not. It is only one that keeps putting out like that my other two haven't started putting back out. This weather is so confusing! 80s one day and 20s two days later! Is everyone else having these issues? I'm hoping the late freeze after new growth won't be the death of them!

palmtree
02-17-2012, 09:17 PM
Sorry to hear about the damage to your saba Kat. I hope the saba comes back nice and tall this spring! The weather in Florida has been crazy this winter (in terms of all the heat and cold being so close to each other which is pretty confusing to all the plants).
I had that problem in January. The warmest temperature of the month and the coldest temperature of the month all happened in the same week! It was 63F for a high temperature one day and then a few days later it was 12F for a low temperature. It defintiely confused a lot of the plants (and people) into thinking that spring arrived. This month actually has not gotten into the 60s as often as it did in January, but temperatures have been a lot more consistent!

jrodzen
02-19-2012, 08:38 PM
I overwintered my sabas in the ground this past winter. We hit the low 20's a couple times in Dec and early Jan. So far, the pstem hasn't turned to mush. My basjoos are already leafing out... hope we don't get a late frost this year!

I am in zone 9a.

Dreaminofthetropics
02-19-2012, 08:41 PM
My saba has come back out a few inches since the freezes last week. So, if the pseudostem hasn't turned to mush should they leaf back out? When does everyone clip off old leaves and trim pseudostems? I was thinking maybe in a couple of weeks once I'm sure we won't get a late freeze??