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View Full Version : Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!


Blake09
08-31-2012, 10:34 PM
I discovered the flag leaf when I was watering the mat on Aug 28; I was thinking that there is way too many pups on this 2 year old plant to not have a flag leaf yet. But yet sure enough I looked up and saw a flag leaf. The picture was taken on Aug 30. The banana is at least 20 ft high from the tallest leaf but I will measure everything tomorrow.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/052.jpg

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/051.jpg




I don’t think we will get bananas because the frost will kill them at the end of the year but at least I can show off and 100% identify my bananas that I have a true Ice Cream 'Blue Java'.

G.W.
08-31-2012, 10:46 PM
cutting off most of the hands will speed maturation of whatever you leave

maybe remove 2/3 of hands

it can't hurt if you're expecting to loose them to frost anyway

Blake09
08-31-2012, 10:53 PM
Oh and to give you a size comparison here is another older pic. That is a M. Basjoo up front. The Ice cream plants are in the back towering over.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/photo4.jpg

bananaT
09-01-2012, 01:16 AM
Sweet!

Id hold off as long as you can, before taking them down.
Where did you acquire your Ice cream from?
When is your average first frost date?

Blake09
09-02-2012, 12:54 PM
Sweet!

Id hold off as long as you can, before taking them down.
Where did you acquire your Ice cream from?
When is your average first frost date?

I got it from here: 100% Free Ice Cream 'Blue Java' Contest!!! - Page 7 - Bananas.org (http://www.bananas.org/showthread.php?p=203887#post203887)

Our last frost date is November 4

bananaT
09-02-2012, 01:16 PM
That should be plenty of time for the fruit to ripen up. At the very least fill out nicely.

I'm very interested in pictures, if you're willing to keep them posted. :)

Blake09
09-02-2012, 01:59 PM
That should be plenty of time for the fruit to ripen up. At the very least fill out nicely.

I'm very interested in pictures, if you're willing to keep them posted. :)

Thats awsome, I just didnt know how long it will take for an Ice Cream.

Oh i will keep yall posted with pics. Im in a camera class and I use their SLR camera, which is a Canon EOS Rebel T2i and i can bring it home once a week or so. Which means once a week I will get a good HD picture and the other part of the week is a point and shoot canon camera, which has good quality ((12.1MP)) but nothing compared to the SLR. lol

I love the SLR cameras, they are just so much better for me then the point and shoot. :nanadrink:

Blake09
09-02-2012, 10:39 PM
The top of the flower is almost 10ft 6in as of today…

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/002.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/003.jpg




Should I be concerned about it leaning? It has just recently started leaning to the side since the flag leaf appeared. It was straight like the other Ice Cream beside it.

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/005.jpg

caliboy1994
09-02-2012, 11:00 PM
That's normal due to flowering. If it starts leaning too much, you might want to support it.

kaczercat
09-02-2012, 11:44 PM
If it starts leaning too much, you might want to support it.
yes especially if you get a large amount of fruit and is heavy.

PR-Giants
09-03-2012, 08:54 AM
That's normal due to flowering. If it starts leaning too much, you might want to support it.

That might be normal for a Blue Java, maybe the unopened flower is extraordinarily heavy. I do not have any experience with Blue Javas, but if it was my plant I would try to keep it more verticle now by simply putting a strap around the entire mat and later support the bunch. There is no reason to stretch or stress your roots at this time.

You have a beautiful plant,
Good Luck

2woodensticks
09-03-2012, 11:07 AM
congrats!!!i am expecting my Ice Cream to throw a spike next year..well done..hope the frost holds off for ya..

Blake09
09-04-2012, 09:28 PM
:woohoonaner: Its comin along! :woohoonaner:





http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/003-1.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/002-1.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/001-1.jpg




Support:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/004.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/005-1.jpg

Blake09
09-18-2012, 07:40 PM
9/17/2012



http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/001_zps6df1df9c.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/002_zps55ebc01d.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/003_zps6999a4a7.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/004_zps48d17fcd.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/005_zpscc04cd0a.jpg




9/18/2012


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/008_zps471bff7c.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/007_zps106de38a.jpg

Jose263
09-18-2012, 09:08 PM
Thanks Blake: Really nice pics and nice nana bunch - that photo class is paying off :goteam:
Is this the elusive blue java?

Blake09
09-18-2012, 10:43 PM
Thanks Blake: Really nice pics and nice nana bunch - that photo class is paying off :goteam:

Thanks :08:


Is this the elusive blue java?

Yes it is :bananas_b



( edit 9/19/12 ) ...A little more research and I don’t think it is the real Ice cream blue java






.

caliboy1994
09-19-2012, 01:40 AM
It looks more like a Namwah type to me....

RAINFOREZT
09-19-2012, 04:37 AM
It looks more like a Namwah type to me....

Have you seen the photo of the mother plant...?

http://www.bananas.org/f211/100-free-ice-cream-blue-java-9102.html

hydroid
09-19-2012, 07:59 AM
Blake.....are you sure that's an Ice Cream? Sure looks like a Namwah to me.
Bo

venturabananas
09-19-2012, 10:23 AM
Is this the elusive blue java?

No, it is definitely not. It is a "Namwah" (a Pisang Awak cultivar) for sure. There are several giveaways, but a really obvious one from the photos is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.

Great photos and a great plant. Congrats.

Blake09
09-19-2012, 08:22 PM
I took some new pics today with the good camera:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/010_zps2aaff095.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/011_zps098a64eb.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/012_zps126f6ae3.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/013_zpsbdc69a44.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/015_zps97dcfe52.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/016_zps44fdac64.jpg

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/014_zps77f93096.jpg

GreenFin
09-19-2012, 08:41 PM
Gorgeous

Blake09
09-19-2012, 08:49 PM
This is the banana in the contest:


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=21652&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21652)




This is my banana in the dark (along with other pics above) with a flash on:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/061_zps0be78ceb.jpg



And heres I think what is a real ice cream blue java:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=49499&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=49499)




There is definitely a difference in the real Ice Cream Blue Java from mine. So I guess yall are right, I might have a Pisang Awak cultivar. :2732:






.

Jose263
09-19-2012, 09:12 PM
Whatever variety it is , that is a nice looking plant and fruit - where can I get a pup?
What size are the nanas - they appear larger than lady finger - and ow tall is the plant?
Wiki doesn't list pisang Awak - googling indicates it is AABB but some of the names include Namwa - I read somewhere that NamWah indicates ladyfinger type.
Can some of our experts chim-in as to the real identity of Blake's blue java?
Thanks - trying to learn

hydroid
09-19-2012, 09:44 PM
TJ... I would think that Blake's naner is the same as the one I gave you when we thought we had Ice Cream but Namwah instead.
Bo

Blake09
09-19-2012, 10:22 PM
His looks like mine in a way...

http://www.bananas.org/f12/pisang-awak-10574.html

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24212&size=1

His kinda has the purplish/pink band of color on the banana pedicels. But his is still different from mine.


Some other threads:

1) http://www.bananas.org/f12/blue-java-13016.html


2) http://www.bananas.org/f2/musa-ducasse-pisang-awak-1334.html


3) http://www.bananas.org/f12/another-ice-cream-identification-question-14566.html










Here are the key features that distinguish "Pseudo-Ice Cream" from "Blue Java" that I notice and that Gabe has commented on:

Blue Java: fruit are usually quite blue, a little angular, not normally packed really tight on the bunch; bracts sort of a normal dark purple.

Pseudo-Ice Cream (Pisang Awak): fruit are not really blue (maybe a slight tinge) though very powdery, completed rounded in cross section when ripe, and densely packed on the bunch; bracts are more pink than dark purple.


There's been talk about whether the pink borders on the leaves and petioles can distinguish the two (pink on Pseudo Ice Cream). I know Tony's observations of his plants are correct since I've seen them, but since I got my true Blue Java from him, new leaves they've put out have initially had pink borders. It could have to do with the light environment, temperature, or who knows? So, I don't think the presence of a pink border is a definitive characteristic.

Gabe also says the blue color of the fruit is not definitive, though I think it is safe to say that if the fruit are really blue, they are Blue Java; but you can also have fruit that aren't all the blue that are also Blue Java.

I've only eaten the Pseudo Ice Cream and they are very good. Not sure if the true Blue Java is worth all the hype, but I hope to find out eventually. Based on how it fares at Quail Gardens in Encinitas, it is a tough, reliable plant.






.

Dangermouse01
09-21-2012, 08:12 AM
It is a "Namwah" (a Pisang Awak cultivar) for sure. There are several giveaways, but a really obvious one from the photos is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.
How long does it take for the "purplish band" to show? The bunch on my D Namwa, which seems farther along than the pictures referenced in this thread, does not have the purple bands.

Here is my D Namwa from a week ago.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/banana%20stuff/DNamwa-1.jpg
There was questions as to whether mine is a Dwarf Namwa (which was what the tag stated) or a regular Namwa since it is pretty tall. Should I start to wonder if it is something else?

Namwah and Namwa are just different spellings of the same thing, right?

DM

Jose263
09-21-2012, 09:00 AM
TJ... I would think that Blake's naner is the same as the one I gave you when we thought we had Ice Cream but Namwah instead.
Bo

Hydroid - Bo - Thanks - I'm thinking mine is namwah - however Blake's nana bunch appears to have full-size nanas and no pink outline?- The aka IC from you has lady finger size (stubby looking)- only 3-4 inches long regular diameter and the pstem height is at 10 ' when the bloom emerges. The leaves and petoles have a pink edge are closed and mid stems underneath are pink.
My limited knowledge - Real BJ-IC is said to grow 15', full size fruit? with blue shading and fruit?
Consensus was ours ( you, me, Darkman) are Tall Namwah mislabeled as IC -
The pup you gave me bloomed in June and has about 40 little nanas waiting to ripen - :0517::0517:
I think ours are Namwah (Tall?) Not IC - still hoping for a real IC - BJ :ha: :ha:

venturabananas
09-22-2012, 02:03 AM
How long does it take for the "purplish band" to show? The bunch on my D Namwa, which seems farther along than the pictures referenced in this thread, does not have the purple bands.

There was questions as to whether mine is a Dwarf Namwa (which was what the tag stated) or a regular Namwa since it is pretty tall. Should I start to wonder if it is something else?

Namwah and Namwa are just different spellings of the same thing, right?

DM

The purplish band at the base of the hand is only present when the bunch is young. It disappears later. Unless I'm imagining it, I still see it faintly in your photo.

Yours is definitely a Namwah (=Namwa), but at that height and with that appearance, I'd say your is not a dwarf. But post a picture of the entire plant. Dwarf Namwah is characteristically a very stout looking plant.

Dalmatiansoap
09-22-2012, 06:16 AM
... is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.

Great information!
Thanks
:nanadrink:

Dangermouse01
09-22-2012, 10:14 AM
The purplish band at the base of the hand is only present when the bunch is young. It disappears later. Unless I'm imagining it, I still see it faintly in your photo.

Yours is definitely a Namwah (=Namwa), but at that height and with that appearance, I'd say your is not a dwarf. But post a picture of the entire plant. Dwarf Namwah is characteristically a very stout looking plant.

They are growing on the East Coast of central Florida, zone 9B.
Here is the mat.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/banana%20stuff/DNamwa-2_zps0b952a01.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/banana%20stuff/DNamwa-3_zpsb50f354e.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n200/dangermouse2006/banana%20stuff/DNamwa-4_zpsb581c06f.jpg

DM

venturabananas
09-22-2012, 11:06 AM
DM, yours is Tall Namwah, not Dwarf. Here are a couple of photos from the gallery of Dwarf Namwah. Notice the really thick pseudostems, unlike yours.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=14932&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=14932&si=dwarf namwah&what=allfields)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20631&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20631&si=dwarf namwah&what=allfields)

Blake09
09-23-2012, 09:09 PM
Thanks for all the great info on the thread yall!! :08: :D







The purplish band at the base of the hand is only present when the bunch is young. It disappears later. Unless I'm imagining it, I still see it faintly in your photo.


Purple color fading on oldest hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/002_zps0d3f413b.jpg



Newer hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/001_zps80638536.jpg




mid hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/003_zpsd08a3b65.jpg





- however Blake's nana bunch appears to have full-size nanas and no pink outline?- The aka IC from you has lady finger size (stubby looking)- only 3-4 inches long regular diameter and the pstem height is at 10 ' when the bloom emerges. The leaves and petoles have a pink edge are closed and mid stems underneath are pink.
My limited knowledge - Real BJ-IC is said to grow 15', full size fruit? with blue shading and fruit?
Consensus was ours ( you, me, Darkman) are Tall Namwah mislabeled as IC -
BJ



http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/005_zpscee575f9.jpg






Heres a few young leaf shots of my "not ice cream"

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/006_zpsece41df6.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/007_zps9a7033bb.jpg





Very waxy pup:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/010_zps7add1b9a.jpg





Older leaf:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/008_zps7d8444aa.jpg















EDIT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………



I got my first all male blooms today also:





http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/004_zps35c81547.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/033_zps043b5cfe.jpg

sunfish
09-23-2012, 09:18 PM
Thanks for all the great info on the thread yall!! :08: :D










Purple color fading on oldest hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/002_zps0d3f413b.jpg



Newer hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/001_zps80638536.jpg




mid hand:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/003_zpsd08a3b65.jpg









http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/005_zpscee575f9.jpg






Heres a few young leaf shots of my "not ice cream"

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/006_zpsece41df6.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/007_zps9a7033bb.jpg





Very waxy pup:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/010_zps7add1b9a.jpg





Older leaf:

http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/008_zps7d8444aa.jpg















EDIT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………



I got my first all male blooms today also:





http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/004_zps35c81547.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/033_zps043b5cfe.jpg


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=43990&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=43990&ppuser=2868)

venturabananas
09-24-2012, 12:15 AM
My limited knowledge - Real BJ-IC is said to grow 15', full size fruit? with blue shading and fruit?

The real Blue Java plants I've seen have been more like 10' of pseudostem and the fruit have been the same size as Namwah, though I understand that under good conditions they can get bigger, though never "full size" if by that you mean the same size as the average Cavendish at the supermarket.

Jose263
09-24-2012, 08:38 AM
The real Blue Java plants I've seen have been more like 10' of pseudostem and the fruit have been the same size as Namwah, though I understand that under good conditions they can get bigger, though never "full size" if by that you mean the same size as the average Cavendish at the supermarket.

Blake - another group of really beautiful pics - thanks for including the tape measure for comparasion - my T Namwah nanas are similar size

Ventura - Thanks for your experience- I already have a spot reserved for a IC-BJ pup and the hunt continues - yes- I was using store bought nanas as "full size" but even my orinocos are longer than the namwah

It is a wonderful day and I am looking forward to tasting and sharing home grown nanas in a few more weeks :woohoonaner:
Jose

venturabananas
09-24-2012, 10:00 AM
Ventura - Thanks for your experience- I already have a spot reserved for a IC-BJ pup and the hunt continues - yes- I was using store bought nanas as "full size" but even my orinocos are longer than the namwah


Yes, Namwah fruits are not big, but the exact variety and the growing conditions can make a big difference in their size. If you are as good as Nick at growing them, you can get them up to a similar weight (if not length) as some of the Cavendish you might see in the supermarket. I'm not as good as Nick! :ha:

Blake09
09-29-2012, 11:58 PM
Should I discard the rest of the flower now, its only throwing male flowers...



http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/230.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/231.jpg


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/234.jpg




The little ones are growing little by little:


http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz333/Plants_2010/My%20Plants/Banana%20plants%202012/232.jpg

Hammocked Banana
12-02-2012, 04:25 PM
Did this bunch meet its demise?

Blake09
06-26-2014, 04:13 PM
Did this bunch meet its demise?

Yes. The frost got to it :(

GreenFin
06-26-2014, 04:58 PM
It was pretty awesome while it lasted, though!

You are close to pulling off some real magic there in 7b, I wouldn't bet against you being able to grow a harvestable DN bunch sometime in the coming seasons.