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View Full Version : Who wants a 'Thai' Banana?


Chance1945
04-11-2012, 08:21 PM
I discovered a small banana plantation right here in Bayou La Batre. I've driven by it dozens of times but never gave it much attention until today. I call it a plantation because the man is growing hundreds of bananas. I'm not familiar with it but he called it a 'Thai'. I stopped to chat with the man and he offered to let me taste one of the bananas and it was wonderful. Nice flavor and sort of creamy. The fruit is short and fat, about 4-5" long and 5" around.

He's willing to sell me some plants, large enough that he says they should fruit next year. I would imagine they will be around four feet. I'm going to dig some tomorrow so if anybody is interested let me know and I'll get extras.
They're $15.00 plus postage.

Terry

Nicolas Naranja
04-11-2012, 09:36 PM
Those would be Nam Wahs. I am surprised that they would already have fruit that far north.

alemily
04-12-2012, 12:38 AM
Namwah's will fruit this far north.

Here it is just a few minutes ago:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=48444&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=48444)

There was another bunch that appeared in early January, but I had to cut it down after it froze in early Feb and started to rot.

Bob3
04-13-2012, 03:53 PM
What's the height of the p-stem?
I have been thinking about replacing a Dwarf Orinoco mat that's been "going rogue" & has been getting way too tall to over-winter in it's little greenhouse.

alemily
04-13-2012, 06:07 PM
What's the height of the p-stem?
I have been thinking about replacing a Dwarf Orinoco mat that's been "going rogue" & has been getting way too tall to over-winter in it's little greenhouse.

I have a tall namwah, not a dwarf...that particular p-stem with the bunch hanging on it is around 12 feet with another p-stem that is even taller and still growing.

There's others on the forum growing the dwarf version who can give information on the height of that strain.

sunfish
04-13-2012, 06:26 PM
What's the height of the p-stem?
I have been thinking about replacing a Dwarf Orinoco mat that's been "going rogue" & has been getting way too tall to over-winter in it's little greenhouse.

6 to 8 1/2' p-stem down here

Nicolas Naranja
04-13-2012, 08:02 PM
My dwarf namwahs are generally all 7-8' tall. If I had a greenhouse I would grow either Gran Nain or Dwarf Super Plantain. They pseudostem is 5.5 to 6' and the leaf tips might reach 8'

Moonshiner
04-13-2012, 10:33 PM
Count me in! PM me with the info.

And thanks! :woohoonaner:

Chance1945
04-24-2012, 01:25 PM
Those would be Nam Wahs. I am surprised that they would already have fruit that far north.

After I got home I wondered where he got the fruit so early. I went back later and dug another dozen because they were selling so well and I looked around and some of the trees do in fact have bananas on them already. We had a pretty mild winter this year so maybe that plays a role in such early fruit.

Thanks for the identification. Am I wrong to call them "Thai" bananas? I questioned him again and that's the name he repeated.

Thanks,
Terry

sunfish
04-24-2012, 01:32 PM
After I got home I wondered where he got the fruit so early. I went back later and dug another dozen because they were selling so well and I looked around and some of the trees do in fact have bananas on them already. We had a pretty mild winter this year so maybe that plays a role in such early fruit.

Thanks for the identification. Am I wrong to call them "Thai" bananas? I questioned him again and that's the name he repeated.

Thanks,
Terry

Bananas don't fruit at any certain time of year

Chance1945
04-24-2012, 01:35 PM
Amanda, thanks for posting the picture. BTW your gros michel is ready for shipment. Let me know when you want it.

Chance1945
04-24-2012, 01:40 PM
What's the height of the p-stem?
I have been thinking about replacing a Dwarf Orinoco mat that's been "going rogue" & has been getting way too tall to over-winter in it's little greenhouse.

Bob, the ones that I have are the tall strain, 12'+. The ones I ship have a pstem of 2.5'-3'.

Chance1945
04-24-2012, 06:36 PM
Those would be Nam Wahs. I am surprised that they would already have fruit that far north.


I went on line to read up on Nam Wahs and discovered that TyTy nursery in Ty Ty, Ga is selling the same size that I'm shipping for $129.95 That was a bit of a shock!

Nicolas Naranja
04-24-2012, 09:43 PM
After I got home I wondered where he got the fruit so early. I went back later and dug another dozen because they were selling so well and I looked around and some of the trees do in fact have bananas on them already. We had a pretty mild winter this year so maybe that plays a role in such early fruit.

Thanks for the identification. Am I wrong to call them "Thai" bananas? I questioned him again and that's the name he repeated.

Thanks,
Terry

I guess my main thought would have been that that far North was probably as cold this year as it was for me last year. Fruit was made, but it wasn't fit to be sold.

Anyways, yes they are sold commercially as Thai Bananas.

harveyc
04-24-2012, 11:09 PM
I went on line to read up on Nam Wahs and discovered that TyTy nursery in Ty Ty, Ga is selling the same size that I'm shipping for $129.95 That was a bit of a shock!

What Ty Ty is offering for $129.95 isn't very clear:
http://www.tytyga.com/Nam-Wah-Banana-p/nam-wah-banana-tree.htm

I don't know what a "goliath" bulb that's 4 years old is supposed to look like. They say it's untrimmed and such an old plant should have fruited already. Offering and selling something are two different things. If anybody paid that kind of money for it they are pretty silly.

harveyc
04-24-2012, 11:17 PM
Your $15 price for a 2'-3' pup is a good price but I don't think there is any need to try to compare it to some vague plant description that Ty Ty is trying to sell. They also say that Texas Star will survive down to -16F. Pretty silly folks.

Chance1945
04-25-2012, 07:17 PM
Your $15 price for a 2'-3' pup is a good price but I don't think there is any need to try to compare it to some vague plant description that Ty Ty is trying to sell. They also say that Texas Star will survive down to -16F. Pretty silly folks.

This post seems to have upset you - two responds. "...but I don't think there is any need to try to compare it to some vague plant description..."
You missed my point. I was pointing out the obvious absurdity of their price, but I accept your chastiment for what it's worth and I thank you.

Terry

harveyc
04-25-2012, 07:41 PM
This post seems to have upset you - two responds. "...but I don't think there is any need to try to compare it to some vague plant description..."
You missed my point. I was pointing out the obvious absurdity of their price, but I accept your chastiment for what it's worth and I thank you.

Terry

I didn't get upset nor did I chastise you. I just didn't think there could be an accurate comparison to some poorly described product from a vendor of questionable reputation. But I don't think an inexperienced member should come along and believe they might be able to buy these plants and resell them for over $100 either so I think the situation should be clarified. Sometimes it takes me two posts ...... or even three! ;) .... to get my point across.

Chance1945
04-25-2012, 08:14 PM
Harvey, I can understand that! Sometimes after 3 posts I STILL haven't made myself clear. But I have an excuse that I use ofter. I old.

harveyc
04-25-2012, 08:24 PM
I'm nearly a "senior" myself. :)

TommyMacLuckie
04-25-2012, 09:00 PM
Amanda, thanks for posting the picture. BTW your gros michel is ready for shipment. Let me know when you want it.

WHAT?

You have Gros Michel!!??? Oh come ON! I want one! I contemplated smuggling some home from Jamaica last year but couldn't bring myself to do it because of the possibility of spreading disease etc...

Chance1945
04-26-2012, 08:24 PM
Hey Tommy, yeah I've got tissue culture gros michel. All you need do is tell me how many you want.

I have an older batch (from Feb.) plus a batch that just came in. They came with a shipment of Dbl Mahoi and Zebrina. Dbl Mahoi and Zebrina or $9.00, but on the gros michel I'll keep the price like it was in Feb. ($7.00), and that's only for Bananas.org folks.

Let me know what you need and then we'll guess at a postage rate.

Terry

GreenFin
04-26-2012, 09:43 PM
WHAT?

You have Gros Michel!!??? Oh come ON! I want one!

And it is indeed the real Gros Michel, as confirmed by both the USDA and Gabe. :08: :08:

I got two and they arrived in great condition. Now I'm anxious for them to start developing that distinctive purple in the p-stem in a month or two. :drum:

Bamabanana
04-28-2012, 04:03 PM
I discovered a small banana plantation right here in Bayou La Batre. I've driven by it dozens of times but never gave it much attention until today. I call it a plantation because the man is growing hundreds of bananas. I'm not familiar with it but he called it a 'Thai'. I stopped to chat with the man and he offered to let me taste one of the bananas and it was wonderful. Nice flavor and sort of creamy. The fruit is short and fat, about 4-5" long and 5" around.

He's willing to sell me some plants, large enough that he says they should fruit next year. I would imagine they will be around four feet. I'm going to dig some tomorrow so if anybody is interested let me know and I'll get extras.
They're $15.00 plus postage.

Terry
Cool! Black Thia ? I have two hoping one will produce fruit this year.

caliboy1994
04-28-2012, 04:45 PM
These would be Namwahs, not Black Thai.

TommyMacLuckie
04-29-2012, 11:06 AM
Hey Tommy, yeah I've got tissue culture gros michel. All you need do is tell me how many you want.

I have an older batch (from Feb.) plus a batch that just came in. They came with a shipment of Dbl Mahoi and Zebrina. Dbl Mahoi and Zebrina or $9.00, but on the gros michel I'll keep the price like it was in Feb. ($7.00), and that's only for Bananas.org folks.

Let me know what you need and then we'll guess at a postage rate.

Terry

I feel like that cat, who is it, who mumbled OhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboy...

TommyMacLuckie
04-29-2012, 11:08 AM
And it is indeed the real Gros Michel, as confirmed by both the USDA and Gabe. :08: :08:

I got two and they arrived in great condition. Now I'm anxious for them to start developing that distinctive purple in the p-stem in a month or two. :drum:

OhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboy!

Ha ha! That is so cool! Having seen them in Jamaica...and pictures of the fruit in New Orleans in the John Folse cook book...

So. Keep in a container or plant in the ground? I'm thinking container.

Chance1945
04-30-2012, 06:46 PM
Cool! Black Thia ? I have two hoping one will produce fruit this year.

I noticed your join date was April 2012 so let me say "welcome".

Personally, I'm extra happy that you're here. Birmingham is my hometown. Grew up out in Graysville. All of my family lives in and around Birmingham. I hope you will post a lot and let us know if you get fruit this year.

These bananas are not the Black Thai. The man that grows them calls them just plain 'Thai' but I have been told here that they are 'Nam Wah'. He has trees that already have bananas on them.

So good to hear from someone from Birmingham.

Terry Byars

Chance1945
05-03-2012, 04:29 PM
Going back to the banana grove tomorrow (Fri.) to dig more 'Thai's or 'Nam Wahs'. Pstem 3.5' to 4' for shipping or 4' to 5.5' for pickup in the Mobile/Grand Bay/Bayou La Batre area. PM me if you are interested.

Terry

GreenFin
05-03-2012, 05:08 PM
So. Keep in a container or plant in the ground?Get two and do both :08: :08:

Two Gros or not two Gros; that is the question...

Chance1945
05-03-2012, 08:29 PM
Cool! Black Thia ? I have two hoping one will produce fruit this year.
Are your Black Thai's potted or in the ground? I remember when I was a boy growing up in Birmingham someone had a banana tree planted outside and unless my memory is playing tricks on me it produced. It was in the Brookside area and if you don't know that area it's in a hollow, a pretty deep hollow and I'm sure it got colder there than it would in Birmingham. Even though Birmingham is in a valley. What part of town are you?

Terry

Chance1945
05-03-2012, 08:37 PM
OhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboyOhboy!

Ha ha! That is so cool! Having seen them in Jamaica...and pictures of the fruit in New Orleans in the John Folse cook book...

So. Keep in a container or plant in the ground? I'm thinking container.
Shakespear may be right. At the price I'd try both, but keep in mind that they do get tall. Aren't you south of Baton Rouge? You don't get that cold for any length of time.