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hydroid
07-13-2012, 11:57 PM
Ok, Charles, Amanda, TJ, Terry, Russell, I am thinking about having a get-together at my place on Friday, August 3rd or Saturday August 4th everyone is invited, just need to nail down a date when everyone can make it. Let me know what ya'll think.
Bo

Darkman
07-14-2012, 12:08 AM
I'm good with either date!

Jack Daw
07-14-2012, 03:21 AM
This is perfect! Members seeing themselves in the real life as well. May you have a great time. Shame that we in Europe are not as close, as u fellas. :)

Darkman
07-14-2012, 03:21 PM
I know that I am speaking for Bo but he wil not mind that I say that anyone who is in the area no matter what state, country or continent will be welcome.

hydroid
07-14-2012, 03:42 PM
Right on Darkman, everyone is invited no matter where you're from. We've done this a couple of times before and it's a great time. Charles....didn't we do this one time in the rain? It was hilarious.
Looking like Saturday August 4th. will be the day, bring your camera.
Bo

hydroid
07-16-2012, 07:49 PM
Bump!

Come on guys, where ya at? Terry, Russell, Amanda, hello hello anybody there?
Bo

barnetmill
07-21-2012, 11:51 AM
hydroid: I would like to come. If that is alright please PM me the address and time. Also any special directions if these are needed.

Darkman pm me and told me about the event since I have not been on this forum very over the last couple of weeks.

hydroid
07-21-2012, 05:04 PM
Welcome to the Forum barnetmill and you are most welcome to join us on August 4th. about mid-morning or whenever you get there.
I've sent you a PM or maybe you can come with Darkman. Hopefully we can hook you up with some pups or plants that you don't have. We'll have a great time.
Bo

barnetmill
07-21-2012, 08:06 PM
Welcome to the Forum barnetmill and you are most welcome to join us on August 4th. about mid-morning or whenever you get there.
I've sent you a PM or maybe you can come with Darkman. Hopefully we can hook you up with some pups or plants that you don't have. We'll have a great time.
Bo
I will get back to Darkman.
I would like to have pups that can survive my local climate which is a bit colder than yours and a little colder than Darkman's. Darkmen is off of I-110 which means he is south of Escambia Bay, but north of Pensacola Bay. I am north of Escambia Bay with nothing between northern weather.

Darkman
07-21-2012, 09:19 PM
I will get back to Darkman.
I would like to have pups that can survive my local climate which is a bit colder than yours and a little colder than Darkman's. Darkmen is off of I-110 which means he is south of Escambia Bay, but north of Pensacola Bay. I am north of Escambia Bay with nothing between northern weather.

I agree that you are probably at least 5 degrees colder on an average cold front and maybe colder on a vicious front. The killer fronts that just overrun us are probbaly as lethal for everyone. If I remember correctly your property has a creek on it meaning that it is the low spot and that certainly will effect your microclimate. Your best and safest bet for now is the Orinoco. Fortunately it is abundantly available from me or Bo. So much so if it all died we'll be able to restock you!

Looking forward to finally meeting you. I'm sure that you can teach me quite a lot from your knowledge and experience with fruiting plants.

sbl
07-24-2012, 07:13 AM
I think Raji Puri is better than Orinoco for thiss area--It blooms quicker and seems to be about the same as far as cold hardiness. The 3 varieites that I have that survived the winter of 09/10 are Orinoco, Raji, and Ice Cream--they survived inground without protection (the pstems died).

Darkman
07-24-2012, 02:00 PM
I think Raji Puri is better than Orinoco for thiss area--It blooms quicker and seems to be about the same as far as cold hardiness. The 3 varieites that I have that survived the winter of 09/10 are Orinoco, Raji, and Ice Cream--they survived inground without protection (the pstems died).

SBL,

It is great to see you posting again! I owe you a phone call. If you can attend our get together it would be great.

Jose,

He has a lot more experience and knowledge than me and lives within about three miles from me. I'd say that he is correct. I do not have any Raji Puri pups yet but might before the end of the year. Not sure how Bo's mat is.

hydroid
07-24-2012, 09:21 PM
Well since my yard man cut my naners down to the ground this spring I don't expect the spectacular growth as previous years and don't expect to have anything blooming including Raja Puri but I should have quite a few various pups to give away at our get-together. And it looks like this years meet is going to bigger and better than we expected, should be our biggest meet to date.
Bo

barnetmill
07-25-2012, 07:37 PM
I think Raji Puri is better than Orinoco for thiss area--It blooms quicker and seems to be about the same as far as cold hardiness. The 3 varieites that I have that survived the winter of 09/10 are Orinoco, Raji, and Ice Cream--they survived inground without protection (the pstems died).
I have an icecream plants for a few yrs. the above ground portion gets killed about the end of november and in the spring it comes back up. It at times gets below 25 F at my location.

Jose263
07-25-2012, 09:02 PM
Hi Folks - Looks like i missed posting on this string - I'm looking forward to the meet -Coming from Biloxi but will overnight in Lillian. This has been a great season - 3 blooms so far this season NamWah and 2 orinocos (I think)
I believe Bo and Charles have warmer climates - I am a few miles north of I-10 in Biloxi - Orinoco, Tall Namwah, RajaPuri seem to fair better in cold.

Darkman
07-27-2012, 09:35 AM
For those lurkers we have finalized the date it will be Saturday August 4th, 2012 starting mid morning (0830 - 0930) until we get tired or Bo runs us off (probably 1200 - 1500).

This is an informal meet and you are welcome anytime during the day. We'll have some drinks and light snacks for munching. I'm hoping that we can exchange knowledge and experience and come away from this with a better undestanding of growing Banana on the Gulf Coast.

If you have pictures of your Bananas bring them. If you have some pups that you need to trade, swap or get rid of bring them just remember that you might not get rid of them if they're all Orinoco. LOL

Many of us also grow other fruits and vegetables that we will discus too.

Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Please come and you'll have a good time.

Wives, spouse and family welcome!

Got questions. Just ask.

Hope to see you there!

hydroid
08-03-2012, 12:30 PM
Bump!
Tomorrow is the day, if you are in the Gulf Shores area tomorrow Aug. 4th. please stop by and pay a visit with fellow members, it will be a chance to mix and mingle and perhaps leave with an extra banana plant or five.
Thanks
Bo

Darkman
08-03-2012, 01:05 PM
Bo lives on Cotton Creek Drive first house west of Geno Drive. It is easy to find from Hwy 59 or from the Foley Beach Expressway. First house West of Geno Rd.

PM ME OR BO if you need additional directions.

Jose263
08-03-2012, 01:42 PM
I have an icecream plants for a few yrs. the above ground portion gets killed about the end of november and in the spring it comes back up. It at times gets below 25 F at my location.

Barnet- Is your IC blue java or a poser? I thought I had an IC but turnsout it is a Tall Namwah sp? it did produce this year - fruit is small ladyfinger size. Darkman has the secret for winterizing for those few cold winter nights.
Are you going to the nana meet at Hydroids' tomorrow? If so, I would like to have a real 'Blue java' IC pup. I have orinoco or tall namwah pups.
Jose

john_ny
08-03-2012, 03:10 PM
Hey guys, have a good time! Wish I could be with you, but I'm already commited to Orlando, end of September, for Florida Nursery Growers Association show.

john_ny
08-03-2012, 04:09 PM
Take lots of pictures

Darkman
08-03-2012, 06:58 PM
Take lots of pictures

I'm sure pictures will be taken. Posting will be the issue!

My gallery is full and I need to cull some

But

I won't cull any that I have posted so I'm limited.

barnetmill
08-03-2012, 11:04 PM
Barnet- Is your IC blue java or a poser? I thought I had an IC but turnsout it is a Tall Namwah sp? it did produce this year - fruit is small ladyfinger size. Darkman has the secret for winterizing for those few cold winter nights.
Are you going to the nana meet at Hydroids' tomorrow? If so, I would like to have a real 'Blue java' IC pup. I have orinoco or tall namwah pups.
Jose
I purchased my Ice cream banana plant from just fruits and exotics some years ago. Last Time I Looked it was still alive and I am not happy with it since it did not do anything. Yes, I plan to go to the "nana meet".

Darkman
08-04-2012, 09:47 PM
We had a really great meet.

Those of you that could not attend missed a really good time.

We will be having more of these so maybe you can make it next time.

For a more detailed report see

Report on the Upper Gulf Coast Banana meet! - Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/showthread.php?p=201712#post201712)

hydroid
08-06-2012, 11:12 PM
It was alot of fun and thanks to the folks that came, also thanks to Charles for adding to my collection of new plants. It was great to meet all the new people and learn from them. I'm already looking forward to the next one.
Bo

barnetmill
08-07-2012, 10:08 AM
Darkman on Sunday I took a closer look at my one banana plant that was originally tagged as an icecream banana. I cleared a little of the brush away to look at it and it is certainly not growing a lot since I abandoned it 5-6 yrs ago after thinking it was not going to make me any bananas. It does have closed stems and from what you told me that does indicate a cold hardy banana. I just got my Husky 335 weed eater equipped with a saw blade back today and if the repair is good I will clear that area and apply a lot of nitrogen rich compost and if it grows any I will protect against the cold weather this winter. It is currently about 40 inches tall and it grew taller when i first got it when I was fertilizing it. I planted it near my creek in a raised bed filled with good soil and compost. I will add new compost as you suggested to the banana plant and also to the near by seedling grown paw paw trees that I have that are also not growing a lot to which I have just left there on their own with occassional weeding. Some plants like blueberries with minimal care under my conditions will grow very well and others will not. Bananas and Paw Paws evidently will not.
I also plan to clear and prepare areas for more banana plants.

Jose263
08-07-2012, 12:59 PM
The 'nana meet' was super -

Barnet - sounds like you are on target with your nana? all that work will definitely pay off. be sure it gets plenty of water also - after your nana puts out new leaves if they have reddish center stem (seen best on bottom side) and thin red outlines it may be a namwah -

I visited a paw paw grower near LSU last year - he had several large trees and said they like lots of fertilizer and compost. I have one paw paw tree about 4 ft - it bloomed for the 1st time this April. (but two trees are needed)
Have you had paw paw fruit?
I am looking for a second pawpaw plant or graftwood or both -
I'll pm you and Darkman maybe we can exchange scions or plants this winter..
:nanadrink:

barnetmill
08-07-2012, 04:38 PM
The 'nana meet' was super -

Barnet - sounds like you are on target with your nana? all that work will definitely pay off. be sure it gets plenty of water also - after your nana puts out new leaves if they have reddish center stem (seen best on bottom side) and thin red outlines it may be a namwah -

I visited a paw paw grower near LSU last year - he had several large trees and said they like lots of fertilizer and compost. I have one paw paw tree about 4 ft - it bloomed for the 1st time this April. (but two trees are needed)
Have you had paw paw fruit?
I am looking for a second pawpaw plant or graftwood or both -
I'll pm you and Darkman maybe we can exchange scions or plants this winter..
:nanadrink:
My paw paw trees have not really grown and so I have not gotten any fruit yet. Since they are seedlings the characteristics of fruit from them is currently unproven. I will be on the look out for established paw paw cultivars once I see if what I have will start growing.
Relative to water it seems to rain here more days than it does not. This has been a wet summer.

john_ny
08-07-2012, 04:55 PM
Don't see any pictures.

Darkman
08-07-2012, 06:25 PM
Darkman on Sunday I took a closer look at my one banana plant that was originally tagged as an icecream banana. I cleared a little of the brush away to look at it and it is certainly not growing a lot since I abandoned it 5-6 yrs ago after thinking it was not going to make me any bananas. It does have closed stems and from what you told me that does indicate a cold hardy banana. I just got my Husky 335 weed eater equipped with a saw blade back today and if the repair is good I will clear that area and apply a lot of nitrogen rich compost and if it grows any I will protect against the cold weather this winter. It is currently about 40 inches tall and it grew taller when i first got it when I was fertilizing it. I planted it near my creek in a raised bed filled with good soil and compost. I will add new compost as you suggested to the banana plant and also to the near by seedling grown paw paw trees that I have that are also not growing a lot to which I have just left there on their own with occassional weeding. Some plants like blueberries with minimal care under my conditions will grow very well and others will not. Bananas and Paw Paws evidently will not.
I also plan to clear and prepare areas for more banana plants.

Make sure you try to get as many nutrient robbing roots out of the banana bed. Pull all weeds especially grasses. Make sure it's in a sunny location, feed it and it should take off especially with therain we've been getting. If we hit a dry spell you'll have to water for optimum growth.

Make sure your small Paw Paws are shaded. They will not do good in the bright sunlight until they get larger.

The 'nana meet' was super - I visited a paw paw grower near LSU last year - he had several large trees and said they like lots of fertilizer and compost. I have one paw paw tree about 4 ft - it bloomed for the 1st time this April. (but two trees are needed)
Have you had paw paw fruit?

I am looking for a second pawpaw plant or graftwood or both -
I'll pm you and Darkman maybe we can exchange scions or plants this winter..
:nanadrink:

Who was the grower you visited? What varieties did he have?

Don't see any pictures.

We only got a few but Bo has them and will see they get posted.

Jose263
08-08-2012, 11:26 PM
Darkman - Jerry lives in Greensburg, La. does pawpaws & grafting for a hobby - his trees are grafted from LSU varieties - he raises and :0517furnishes seedlings to a local nursery.
I visited him last September (too late to sample fruit) and there were mature pawpaws thriving everywhere in the woods and river beds.
I'll send you a pm -
:goteam: