I am new to this forum and asking for an ID :)

[helike13]

First, I say hello to all of the members

I received a banana plant last October. It looked like this:

http://www.kephost.com/images4/2011/...h7wuhfxdqj.jpg

http://www.kephost.com/images4/2011/...tp3vwxqogu.jpg

And now, it looked like this:

http://www.kephost.com/images4/2012/...0d2dpox1bc.jpg

http://www.kephost.com/images4/2012/...60u8wdo04t.jpg

What cultivar it is? How tall will it be? When can I expect harvest? How much yield will it produce?

Thanks in advance....

[caliboy1994]

I'm thinking either Dwarf Cavendish or SDC. Both kinds can produce fruit, but it's easier to get fruit with DC.

[G.W.]

something cavendish it's a big group
I'm curious at the lack of pink on the petioles
a clue??

[helike13]

Thanks for your replies. It has never had pink markings on the leaf but it grew a pup in winter which I gave away and it has pink blotches.

Other:

I heard not all DC plants produce quality fruit, some of them produce inferior fruit. Is it true?

[G.W.]

blotches on a leaf is common

concerning variety
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
being most likely from the Cavendish subgroup it will produce edible fruit
this is a big group with I'm guessing hundreds of cultivars around the world so a pinpoint statement about which you have is nearly impossible

the real question is if your garden skills are up to par making a healthy plant capable of growing,fruiting,maturing the fruit before winter

maybe if this one comes off good you could worry about an improved variety
think "Practice nanner"

[helike13]

I grow it indoors year round so winter isn't a problem.

Other question:

How many leaves does the corm send out before flowering?

[G.W.]

30 ?

[helike13]

If 30, I'll get a fruiting plant next year because it sends out new leaf every week.

[caliboy1994]

There's not really a known exact number. Estimates range from in the 30s to 40s, I've heard somewhere 44.

[G.W.]

Originally Posted by caliboy1994

There's not really a known exact number.

exactly

[bremba]

Your plants are amazing! I would so love to get a banana plant! I once ordered a mini banana plant via www.seranataplants.com but I really would love to get a huge one

[ChuckT]

"but I really would love to get a huge one"

Be careful what you ask for. Last year I splurged a bit, got a bunch of M. sikkimensis seed, a few M. balbisiana Black Thai, an Ice Cream, Blue Burmese,
a Saba, (and a few more). My greenhouse has a 20 foot roof at the peak which is now getting filled with banana leaves. They grow FAST. They pup a lot (some of them) so pick a variety or 2 you love and go nuts, just plan for needing head room soon. I would shoot for sikkimensis, so if I lived in zone 6 or warmer I could leave it outdoors.

[RandyGHO]

One of the problems with leaf count is what is the starting point. That is it a TC, a small pup, a large pup or one of those large ones, that have been cutoff or maybe even a seed. I

always see the leaf count someone quoted but the starting point is not included so the number is meaningless I would think unless you can have a starting point that is clearly defined and understandable to all.

Randy