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greenpagoda
11-08-2011, 07:07 AM
I live in Central Florida, zone 9b rarely gets below 30 13 miles from the coast
and 2 miles from the Indian River. I have a tiny nursery where we will be
coming out with a new apple for our area next fall or early '13. Have been
trying for a new fruit since I was 20 and am now 70. It is a cross with a
western apple and gorgeous. Also we have a "new" bunch grape. Never had
bananas and have only a 6x24 ft area on the protected S. side of the house.
I have a zan moreno and am thinking of California Gold but wonder as some
have said it is like a cooking banana and Texas star. I would also maybe
like a Mysore but it chokes in Florida? I have so many questions so will
love the forum. I also had a rare fruit nursery and have a LOT of knowledge
on many many fruits that grow here so if email is permitted off the forum
somehow I would answer questions for members. Have been growing for
24 years here. I am most interested in how members foil nematodes and protect plants thru the winter without digging them up. Will Ice Cream take
an unprotected exposure?
I joined to get answers to my questions and although it was nice for members to say hello that doesn't help me at all.
I have since bought bananas but still don't know much about texas star and california gold and ice cream. I thought there
were a lot of banana experts in the forum and there may be but I don't hear from them.. Anyway again thanks for the
welcomes.

t

sunfish
11-08-2011, 07:16 AM
Howdy

Yug
11-08-2011, 10:24 AM
I've read that for nematodes, marigolds are useful, but the different types (French, and African) work differently. One type drives them away,while the other type attracts them to keep them away from other plants. I prefer the 'Lemon Scented' type - small blooms, but large plant. I'm not sure how that one works, but it smells nicer than the other ones. I have a photo in my album - 'Stuffs'.

The Hollyberry Lady
11-08-2011, 06:27 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/thwelcome3.gif


from friendly Canada! :waving:


: )

smjmd
11-08-2011, 06:52 PM
Welcome to the best site on bananas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have several Cal Golds and Texas Stars that I have been growing for years, you can eat them out of hand if VERY ripe, but it can also be cooked too. I personally prefer the Texas Star as far as flavor and texture, etc. To me there is a difference. But, that is an opinion, and you know what they say about opinions :) Also, I live in northern Florida and have had much trouble growing Ice Creams there. I have had good luck with several Misi Luki's, Golden Aromatic's, Namwa's, Mona Lisa, Golden Pillows and a bunch of others. Good luck!!!!

Natureboy
11-08-2011, 07:27 PM
Welcome - it's always good to meet other growers from Central Florida. I live in Melbourne, so it sounds like you're in the vicinity. Feel free to use the Private Message feature (SendPM button to the right of individual posts) to communicate with members directly.

Controlling Nematodes: Two simple, yet effective measures.
1) Soil solarization (more practical with preparing plots; vegetable gardens) The Only Nematode Control For Gardens – Tom's Digs – Orlando Sentinel (http://tinyurl.com/7b6jl5r)
2) Heavily mulching (good for various reasons, but also inhibits nematodes) Suitability of Pueraria phaseoloi... [Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci. 2006] - PubMed - NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17390809)

As for BANANAS: Mysore has done well for me around here; been growing it for 4-5 yrs and never seen it choke - choking seems more common with Raji Puri. The taste of Mysore is exceptional, very fruity, and it has a long shelf life compared to others. I've grown Ice Cream for about 3 years or so and it is probably my most consistent producer. It's also very cool-tolerant for this area, pstems surviving temps as low as 24F. I have an IC on the south side that goes crazy - it's somewhat protected, but the roots also shelter under slab of the house, which it seems to like. I just started growing D. Namwah and I've heard great things about it too as far as taste, cool-tolerance, etc. I'm only into growing the ones that won't die to the ground around here, so I feel you! To me, it's not worth growing bananas that I have to protect...

Your new apple sounds interesting - good luck with that. I've had great results with my Muscadine grape. In my opinion, the flavor is so much more interesting than regular bunch grapes!

Nate