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View Full Version : Backyard banana grove in Ft. Myers FL


FRITO
07-10-2012, 12:02 PM
Hi

This was just a green grass backyard 2 years ago.

If it was under irrigation things would be better, I need to do some thinning for better production. Horse manure is the only thing amended to this sandy nematode soil! and I cant get enough!

many varieties are represented as a variety trail is an ongoing experiment to find the best suited cultivars for the area. Thats a manzano fruiting front center.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/380713_10101377214513624_85697682_n.jpg

crazy banana
07-10-2012, 12:33 PM
I love it. It looks so tropical. Congrats on your fruiting Manzano.

kaczercat
07-10-2012, 12:39 PM
Looks great! congrats on the fruit!

Iunepeace
07-10-2012, 05:02 PM
Awesome and congratulations! I empathize with you on the irrigation, it can especially be needed here when we get into the dry season. What kind of spacing and mat management do you use for your varieties?

cincinnana
07-10-2012, 05:35 PM
That is the look that I want someday.
Awesome!!

trebor
07-10-2012, 06:23 PM
Hahaha A thing of beauty:goteam:
Your looking mighty good over there..

bananimal
07-10-2012, 07:10 PM
Hey Luke --- are you using fertilizer? That way you could get the minors that manure won't supply. Any Ag suppliers near you?

Just checked locs near you for Diamond R --- the one I use. They are in Bell, Fl. Just take Rt 19 south thru Old Town. Check them out. I use their 6-3-16 for bananas at 50 lbs for 23 bucks and change.

Diamond R Fertilizer Products (http://www.diamond-r.com/products.htm)

Snookie
07-10-2012, 07:40 PM
:woohoonaner: I like DAT me:}

FRITO
07-10-2012, 07:56 PM
Thanks all!

Iunepece, I planted the original pups at 6-8 foot spacing originally but the mats grow!

currently fruiting are Orinoco (tallest), Ice cream (second tallest), 3 manzanos, Goldfinger, FHIA-18. I think Dwarf Namwah and Dwarf Red are getting close!

Bananaimal, thanks for the heads up, I havnt found a local source for banana fert. I try not to use too many chemical fertilizers as I try to be organic as possible.


Ill try to get more photos up of the other nanas!

bananimal
07-10-2012, 10:05 PM
Thanks all!

Iunepece, I planted the original pups at 6-8 foot spacing originally but the mats grow!

currently fruiting are Orinoco (tallest), Ice cream (second tallest), 3 manzanos, Goldfinger, FHIA-18. I think Dwarf Namwah and Dwarf Red are getting close!

Bananaimal, thanks for the heads up, I havnt found a local source for banana fert. I try not to use too many chemical fertilizers as I try to be organic as possible.


Ill try to get more photos up of the other nanas!

You can go organic with Diamond R also. They sell Purdue chicken mix at 50 lbs for like 16 bucks. I use both. The rate for the chicken litter is 2 cups per mat every 2 weeks. For the 6-3-16 it's 2 cups every month.

And the chicken is ok for those nurseries that maintain organic certification.

breakintheweb
07-11-2012, 07:55 PM
Thanks all!

Iunepece, I planted the original pups at 6-8 foot spacing originally but the mats grow!

currently fruiting are Orinoco (tallest), Ice cream (second tallest), 3 manzanos, Goldfinger, FHIA-18. I think Dwarf Namwah and Dwarf Red are getting close!

Bananaimal, thanks for the heads up, I havnt found a local source for banana fert. I try not to use too many chemical fertilizers as I try to be organic as possible.


Ill try to get more photos up of the other nanas!

Where at in Ft myers are you? Your bananas seem to be doing much better than mine. I'm by the edison home.

FRITO
07-11-2012, 09:32 PM
S. ft myers near 41 and college. Horse manure is the secret for bananas here it really makes them happy.

GreenFin
07-11-2012, 10:43 PM
This was just a green grass backyard 2 years ago.

...

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/380713_10101377214513624_85697682_n.jpg

mo' bananas > mow lawn

Immense improvement! :08:

bananimal
07-12-2012, 10:02 AM
mo' bananas > mow lawn

Absolutely! I'm reclaiming some of my lawn for 2 condo mangos and a big Eureka lemon tree.

RAINFOREZT
07-12-2012, 10:04 AM
mo' bananas > mow lawn

Absolutely! I'm reclaiming some of my lawn for 2 condo mangos and a big Eureka lemon tree.

What kind of mangos?

RAINFOREZT
07-12-2012, 01:22 PM
Hi

This was just a green grass backyard 2 years ago.

If it was under irrigation things would be better, I need to do some thinning for better production. Horse manure is the only thing amended to this sandy nematode soil! and I cant get enough!

many varieties are represented as a variety trail is an ongoing experiment to find the best suited cultivars for the area. Thats a manzano fruiting front center.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s480x480/380713_10101377214513624_85697682_n.jpg

love the shade of those bananas...

bananimal
07-12-2012, 07:36 PM
What kind of mangos?

Nam Doc Mai and Pickering --- two of the very best tasting mangos there is. Then there is my big Glenn. Still not decided if I will keep it. The squirrels vote yes -- they got 25% of this years crop!

RAINFOREZT
07-12-2012, 10:02 PM
Nam Doc Mai and Pickering --- two of the very best tasting mangos there is. Then there is my big Glenn. Still not decided if I will keep it. The squirrels vote yes -- they got 25% of this years crop!

I never had a chance to try them yet. I have a big kent. They just started to ripe..squrrels and birds strated eating them about 2 months ago. I was worried at first, now I am thinking ..Just share it with them.

So far I tried Kent, Hyden, baily's marvel, carrie, julie, valencia pride, kieth

I would say that Carrie is the best so far.
,,. I heard good things about nam doc mai, lemon merrigo and pickering..

bananimal
07-12-2012, 10:22 PM
Wasn't this a banana thread?

Anyways --- the gurus are absolutely screaming about the Maha Chanok mango. Out of this world taste.

The Fairchild mango festival is this coming Sat and Sun. Will try to make it. Anybody here going?

Darkman
07-12-2012, 10:46 PM
The squirrels vote yes -- they got 25% of this years crop!

I never had a chance to try them yet. I have a big kent. They just started to ripe..squrrels and birds strated eating them about 2 months ago. I was worried at first, now I am thinking ..Just share it with them.

Try the Squirrel Etouffee followed by Mango Ice Cream!

wildsquirrel (http://trishgood1.tripod.com/wildsquirrel.html#Squirrel%20etouffee)

Just Game Recipes - 36 squirrel recipes for you to browse. (http://www.justgamerecipes.com/inxsqi.html)

Iunepeace
07-13-2012, 05:08 AM
Thanks all!

Iunepece, I planted the original pups at 6-8 foot spacing originally but the mats grow!

currently fruiting are Orinoco (tallest), Ice cream (second tallest), 3 manzanos, Goldfinger, FHIA-18. I think Dwarf Namwah and Dwarf Red are getting close!

Bananaimal, thanks for the heads up, I havnt found a local source for banana fert. I try not to use too many chemical fertilizers as I try to be organic as possible.


Ill try to get more photos up of the other nanas!

Thanks for the feedback! Most of my pups were planted at 6 ft. spacing as well, although I still have a couple in pots waiting to go in ground. Looking back, are you glad you used that spacing or do you regret putting them that close/far apart? And what fertilizers do you use? I'm trying to minimize chemical input myself :)

Awesome to have so many flowering and fruiting; congrats! :D

bananimal
07-13-2012, 11:23 AM
Charles ---- Let me see what the wife thinks of this one. I'd do it - the store always has stewing hens and my yard has the tree rats. I'll buy a couple of very bad tasting Tommy Atkins storage mangos for bait chunks.

Squirrel Etouffee

1 fat hen (boil until done,debone, keep broth)
6 squirrels (boil until done,debone, do not keep broth)
Ro-Tel tomatoes
3 large onions
1 bell pepper
6 medium potatoes, quartered
1 can whole kernel corn
2 cans English peas
salt and pepper
No. 2 can tomato juice
chili powder

Cook all together and cook all day. Makes a gumbo pot full.

Recipe from tripod.com

FRITO
07-18-2012, 04:50 PM
Thanks for the feedback! Most of my pups were planted at 6 ft. spacing as well, although I still have a couple in pots waiting to go in ground. Looking back, are you glad you used that spacing or do you regret putting them that close/far apart? And what fertilizers do you use? I'm trying to minimize chemical input myself :)

Awesome to have so many flowering and fruiting; congrats! :D



Im glad for this spacing as you can walk around between them, plus it allows them to have more space for pups. I tried to follow the commercial planting reccomended spacing, but havnt not been keeping the mats trimmed down to mother/teen/baby pups. (only 3 bananas per mat with one being the mother.)

it gives you room to work and dig put pups also. and a nice place to set a chair and admire the grove!


more pics on the way!

FRITO
07-18-2012, 05:21 PM
Manzano with 7 hands

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49784&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49784)

dwarf red on the left (single mother trunk) mysore mat on the right. manzo mat behind the dwarf red.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49781&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49781)

goldfinger
FHIA 1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49783&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49783)

Dwarf Namwah Flag leaf
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49780&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49780)

heres the new banana grove in the front yard. these all were put in 12 months ago from tissue culture or small pups. the closest banana in the front left is Kandarian and was a small 1 gallon TC 12 months ago!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49779&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49779)

GreenFin
07-18-2012, 06:04 PM
That is so incredibly awesome!

Just looks fantastic.

Iunepeace
07-19-2012, 12:45 AM
I concur! Whatever you're doing is working :D

I noticed you have a drip line looking hose among the bananas; how often do you water? And do you feed them through that or with some other method?