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NeedMoreNanas
08-13-2012, 05:50 PM
Hey guys,
basic story is, I want to start a project in which I take a banana plant back from every country I go to on holiday. Last year I didn't have time to bring one back, which is a pity because we went by car which means transporting back would be easy (from France to Germany, you can read about this stuff in my introduction)

This year I'm going by plane so I would like to ask, has anybody done this before?

If so, I'd like some detailed information:

Where do you live?
Where did you go to?
By plane or car(or other)?
How did you take it back?(Wrapped in a towel etc)
Other info?

Thanks a lot in advance guys!
(Maybe, maybe we can get this a sticky :ha: )

Abnshrek
08-13-2012, 05:54 PM
Make sure there is no soil on the roots and wrap the roots in damp pappertowel and wrapped in plastic.. That's how I ship them. I drove and brought banana's home before, more than once. I think customs has a problem with soil transfer for sure but not plants per se.. so good luck.. :^)

NeedMoreNanas
08-13-2012, 06:00 PM
Thank you, from where to where did you transport the bananas?

sunfish
08-13-2012, 06:11 PM
Call you Agriculture Department and ask them

RandyGHO
08-13-2012, 06:18 PM
Just asking because I don't know but I would think the chance of infecting your home planting with a disease or new bug would make this a risky endeavor.

The Aussies have strict rules on moving plant material around in their country. I would assume other banana growing areas might have equal controls.

NeedMoreNanas
08-13-2012, 06:24 PM
Just asking because I don't know but I would think the chance of infecting your home planting with a disease or new bug would make this a risky endeavor.

The Aussies have strict rules on moving plant material around in their country. I would assume other banana growing areas might have equal controls.

I don't think that's a problem, plants get shipped around the whole time.
About the controls, that's why I am asking. The countries are both in the EU but still.

Dalmatiansoap
08-13-2012, 06:24 PM
Just use first post office and shipp that baby home!
:nanadrink:

NeedMoreNanas
08-13-2012, 06:28 PM
Good idea, but dont know if that isn't a bit expensive, and also how my parents would respond to that.
They look at me awkwardly when I admire banana plants anyway :/

sunfish
08-13-2012, 07:24 PM
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Ministry_of_Food,_Agriculture_and_Consumer_Protection)

kaczercat
08-13-2012, 07:54 PM
I brought back an unknown banana from cuba last year. dug it up washed it and stuck it in a bag. no problems at all, took cigarettes back too didn't declare them either.

sunfish
08-13-2012, 08:15 PM
I brought back an unknown banana from cuba last year. dug it up washed it and stuck it in a bag. no problems at all, took cigarettes back too didn't declare them either.

Cool

I meant kewl

bananimal
08-14-2012, 12:16 AM
Hi Ben ---------- the easiest way to get all the banana plants you want would be to contact Herr Markus Jonda at Palmcenter-exotica. His nursery is in Neufahrn right there in Germany. Look under bananenstauden. Are you close enough to visit? I have 2 Chini Champa that came from him.

Palmscenter-Exotica (http://www.palmscenter.de/index.htm)

Dan

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 08:23 AM
I brought back an unknown banana from cuba last year. dug it up washed it and stuck it in a bag. no problems at all, took cigarettes back too didn't declare them either.

Thanks, I'd almost been thinking I'd be the only one doing this! Got any pics of that banana?

@Bananimal: Thanks for the link, but I think you understood me wrrong, I don't want to havve all the different species, 90% of them will be DC or x Paradisiaca anyway, it's just about being able to say : This one's from there, that one is a souvenir from there, etc. :)

alias
08-14-2012, 08:28 AM
From Malta I brought here: cactus, aloa and a lot of palm seeds. Although I have seen a fruiting Musa cavendish, I haven't took bulb because I have a lot of those up here.

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 08:33 AM
Nice, did you take the cactus as a plant or seefs?

alias
08-14-2012, 11:46 AM
Plant. Some great looking variety with yellow spikes :)

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 12:32 PM
Did you take it back in a suitcase or did you take it on the plane with you in a rucksack etc.?

alias
08-14-2012, 12:52 PM
In the plane, it has been in a suitcase. I asked one lady behind the stand and she referred it is not ilegal to take seeds or small plants with you. Even at the airport you can buy little cacti.

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 01:14 PM
Thank you, that is very helpful :) :nanadrink:

Kostas
08-14-2012, 01:17 PM
Its really not worth the risk bringing plants from abroad when you can get the very same ones locally. Especially when moving plants,the risk of spreading diseases is real,and with exclusively vegetatively propagated plants,like bananas,the risk is even greater,especially when bringing them from tropical areas or areas of mass cultivation. I do get plants from all over the world too,but only what I can't get locally and always researching a safe moving protocol for them to avoid brining serious diseases or pests. It's always best to bring plants from places with fewer pest and disease risks for the plant you are bringing rather than a place it's mass cultivated and thus pest pressure is higher. So,regarding bananas,cold countries or local banana specialty nurseries are your best choice for getting the bananas you want and only when you can't find what you want,do more research and bring it from abroad.
Within the EU,it's totally legal to move plants any way you want. Still,do your research for pests and diseases you may unknowingly bring from that country and take steps to lessen or eliminate the risk.

It doesnt add much to a common plant when you say you got it from abroad. On the other hand,when you show a very uncommon for your area or rare plant that your friends can easily take notice and say you got it from one of your travels,then it's indeed awe inspiring!

Happy traveling!!! Seed collecting while traveling is a much safer habit that you may want to employ instead and allows you to bring many more individuals and species with you in a safe way :)

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 01:27 PM
Thanks Costa, after reading your post, I will still try to bring back a plant, but I woll definately research which diseases it can have in the country I will go to.
I will of course also try to collect palm seeds :D

Olafhenny
08-14-2012, 07:01 PM
Hi Ben,

the previous posters’ opinions have all been coloured by their knowledge of strict North American
laws against import of plant material. I have travelled to Germany several times by air and nobody
has ever asked me about that.

I also can understand your desire to bring home a plant from each country. So really, what it gets
down to is, what is the best way to treat the plant.

Mailing bananas home, as has been suggested by some, is a bad option, as long light deprived
transfer can cause rot in the plant or parts of it and would require a lengthy re-adjustment time in a
low light environment. I believe it is best to “harvest” the pup as closely to your departure home as
possible and stick it in your cargo suitcase.

I have given here a detailed account c/w photos on how I brought my Ornata home.
http://www.bananas.org/f2/i-think-i-scored-coup-13386-2.html

That gets you to Page 2, scroll down to the bottom and work your way up the time line to the top of page one.

I ran into this banana, when I was still fairly new to this forum and had never heard of a banana,
small enough at maturity, to fit into any apartment, thus the ‘coup’ part. And today I still think it
to be a coup, because I so far have not head of another Ornata in Canada and sending such things
across borders always creates a number of problems.

As you can see in the above thread, I felt compelled to chop off the pseudo stem completely to
evade customs problems. You may not have to be quite as radical to get it into Germany.

Good luck,
Olaf

NeedMoreNanas
08-14-2012, 07:08 PM
Thanks so much Olaf,
First hand experience is always great! I'm really sure now that I won't have problems with
Customs,since both countries are in the EU! :)
I'm going to read your thread now, since I think such stories are always very interesting!
If anybody else has done this before, feel free to tell us!
Thanks again

sunfish
08-14-2012, 08:30 PM
Hi Ben,

the previous posters’ opinions have all been coloured by their knowledge of strict North American
laws against import of plant material. I have travelled to Germany several times by air and nobody
has ever asked me about that.

I also can understand your desire to bring home a plant from each country. So really, what it gets
down to is, what is the best way to treat the plant.

Mailing bananas home, as has been suggested by some, is a bad option, as long light deprived
transfer can cause rot in the plant or parts of it and would require a lengthy re-adjustment time in a
low light environment. I believe it is best to “harvest” the pup as closely to your departure home as
possible and stick it in your cargo suitcase.

I have given here a detailed account c/w photos on how I brought my Ornata home.
http://www.bananas.org/f2/i-think-i-scored-coup-13386-2.html

That gets you to Page 2, scroll down to the bottom and work your way up the time line to the top of page one.

I ran into this banana, when I was still fairly new to this forum and had never heard of a banana,
small enough at maturity, to fit into any apartment, thus the ‘coup’ part. And today I still think it
to be a coup, because I so far have not head of another Ornata in Canada and sending such things
across borders always creates a number of problems.

As you can see in the above thread, I felt compelled to chop off the pseudo stem completely to
evade customs problems. You may not have to be quite as radical to get it into Germany.

Good luck,
Olaf





It's the Country your importing to that ask the questions.

Plant and Plant Product Imports - Plants - Canadian Food Inspection Agency (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/imports/eng/1299168480001/1299168593866)

Government of Canada - Be Aware and Declare! - What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products? (http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml)

Olafhenny
08-14-2012, 08:46 PM
Glad you noticed, Tony. Ben is in Germany, a country, which is not quite as fired up about
food imports as Canada and the US

Abnshrek
08-14-2012, 08:54 PM
I think if I was on vacation and didn't feel like carrying plants in my bag I wouldn't think twice about sending it to myself.. cause I can pack a banana box now.. :^)

shilisha
08-15-2012, 03:53 AM
Thanks for sharing this!
That's really helpful!