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View Full Version : Sword sucker? Water sucker?


BillynJennifer
07-22-2011, 06:04 PM
I've got some babies on a Super Dwarf Cavendish that I'm not sure about. Can someone tell me if these are swords or water suckers? I would really appreciate it.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44522&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44522&ppuser=4353)

venturabananas
07-22-2011, 06:25 PM
Sword. See the narrow leaves that are not like the "parent's" leaves in shape? That's the key.

BillynJennifer
07-22-2011, 06:30 PM
That's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.

Blake09
07-22-2011, 08:42 PM
Sword pups for sure. :)

kcj1219
07-22-2011, 08:48 PM
Those are distinct sword pups for sure!

BillynJennifer
07-22-2011, 08:53 PM
You don't know how glad I am to see those responses. If they were water suckers, I was really going to have a hard time getting rid of them.

Gabe15
07-22-2011, 10:08 PM
What is your concern with water suckers? There is a big misconception about them due to information coming from the industrial production side of things which really doesn't apply to anyone else, especially hobby growers.

Bananaman88
07-22-2011, 10:30 PM
I've always heard that sword suckers re-establish faster and produce better but I've never had any problems getting water suckers to re-establish.

BillynJennifer
07-23-2011, 08:34 AM
What is your concern with water suckers? There is a big conception about them due to information coming from the industrial production side of things which really doesn't apply to anyone else, especially hobby growers.


I was under the impression that a water sucker wouldn't be as strong when it was transplanted.

Gabe15
07-23-2011, 09:29 AM
Water suckers typically have smaller corms when young, so they can be slower to establish or weaker at first than a sword sucker if you direct plant them into the field. However, if you put them into pots and let them establish, they will act the same. Whether they are sword or water suckers, if they are from the same plant they are genetically identical and although there might some differences in growth and habit when they are young, they all grow up to be the same thing.

BillynJennifer
07-23-2011, 09:40 AM
Most of the babies that I am getting from this banana, I have promised to friends or neighbors. So, they will be transplanted into pots for the most part, at least at first. Also, since this is a super dwarf Cavendish, they will probably live out their life in a pot.