View Full Version : Interested in the following rhizomes (plus suggestions!)
lloydy
09-12-2012, 03:08 PM
Hi guys
Enjoying the community so far. Great fun reading about all your different plants and projects. I have a small project of my own which is only in its very early stages. Basically I'm looking into growing hydroponically and in the most environmentally friendly way possible, with the addition of some environmental control in an attempt to produce the fruit in southern Sweden.
Anyways, I'm currently interested in rhizomes of the following varieties and am certainly open to suggestions if you have information on others that produce unusual/tasty fruit:
Musa sikkimensis / Musa hookeri (Darjeeling Banana)
Musa velutina (Velvet Banana)
Musa "Ice Cream" / Blue Java
Let me know your terms. If it's trade you're after, I only have one variety, which is Musa "Cheeka", a variety of Dwarf Cavendish.
Cheers,
Lloyd
pmurphy
09-12-2012, 04:30 PM
Hi,
I live in Vancouver Canada (zone 8B) and I see you are looking for the Musa velutina (velvet banana). Unfortunately I do not know of any source but was hoping that if you found one that shipped internationally you would let me know as I too would like to get a hold of a plant or two because they will survive the winters here:03:.
Thanks
Pam
lloydy
09-12-2012, 05:06 PM
Sure Pam. Will see how I go here, otherwise I may resort to buying seeds - seem quite cheap and easy to get hold of. Though I hear banana seed propagation is rather difficult...
blownz281
09-12-2012, 07:55 PM
How would one ship to you?
Abnshrek
09-12-2012, 07:58 PM
How would one ship to you?
That's not the problem, its the shipping charge.. I bet a decent pup would run $50-60 US alone for shipping ( and that's not express, just priority) It would take a week just to get there.. that sucks but is reality.. :^)
blownz281
09-12-2012, 08:00 PM
Wouldn't we or him have to have a permit?
Abnshrek
09-12-2012, 08:07 PM
Wouldn't we or him have to have a permit?
The bigger concern is the weather up there and where a package may have to spend the night and freeze to death, for this reason I'd look around but not get anything till may of next year. :^)
pmurphy
09-12-2012, 09:20 PM
I have done some previous research and it is not just the international shipping costs that gets you but a certificate is required to bring them into the country and that can run upwards of $250CAN - only good thing is that the certificate will allow about 100 or so plants so if you order enough it is only costing a couple of dollars per plant....
lloydy
09-13-2012, 02:36 AM
Thanks for the info guys. Quite an eye-opener. I'll have to hope some of the European members will sell/trade, or otherwise I'll be giving seeds a go. Wish me luck!
pmurphy
09-13-2012, 09:35 AM
"Pink Banana, Pink-fruited Banana, Hairy Banana, Pink velvet Banana
Musa velutina"
There is a dealer located in Montreal, Canada with the website "Flora Exotica" and he lists the velutina starting at $25 CAN. I did try to order some from him a couple of months ago but the plants were not available at that time (I also dealt with him about 2 years ago when I ordered a Sapodilla and that plant arrived healthy).
He does say that he ships around the world so you might want to try him
lloydy
09-13-2012, 11:08 AM
Thanks Pam. I found a few guys in Europe on the forum who have the plants so I'll try with them, but I've decided to try seeds if I have no luck there. All the best with yours! Keep us updated :2738:
Arachnotron
09-13-2012, 02:20 PM
Sure Pam. Will see how I go here, otherwise I may resort to buying seeds - seem quite cheap and easy to get hold of. Though I hear banana seed propagation is rather difficult...
I remember reading somewhere that Velutina seeds are easier than other banana seeds to germinate. My plant was from seed off of ebay. I had 15 seeds and 12 germinated. It was a bit too cold outside and I managed to kill all but 3 when I put them out though. I would give the seeds a try.
Tristan
natej740
09-14-2012, 08:25 AM
I've grown velutina from seed to flower and it took 6 months to sprout then 1 year to flower.
lloydy
09-14-2012, 09:06 AM
Hey Nate, thanks for the info. Wow, 6 months seems like an amazingly long time :O) I guess it's hard to know if it's going well at that rate. Do you have any tips? I've read that you should soak the seed for 24 hours before planting and then keep at a fairly constant and warm temperature, but that's about all.
jmoore
09-14-2012, 11:22 AM
Lloyd that one year to flowering is in a different climate, in your climate it may take about 2 years. You'll have to bring it in the winter when it will stop growing.
sverrirb
09-14-2012, 09:17 PM
There is a guy here on bananas wich have the thread called over 200 species he is shipping from thailand , phytosanitary certification will be included and shipping cost from20-50 dollars i have bought from him and he is really safe, i live in Iceland and it ia tough to get plants her but it all worked out and i have my pup safe and secure inside my garage with artificial lights.
lloydy
09-14-2012, 09:44 PM
Thanks for the info J. I'm hoping to speed up the process with the use of hydroponics and some climate control. I have a feeling it's somewhat naive, but there are some advantages to this mindset :O). Wish me luck!
And cheers for the tips Sverrirb! Will look into that.
gibberelic acid aids germination
search for GA3
jmoore
09-15-2012, 01:32 PM
Not for banana seeds
sunfish
09-15-2012, 02:50 PM
gibberelic acid aids germination
search for GA3
Don't waste your money
lloydy
09-15-2012, 07:06 PM
Thanks for the tip G.W. but I'm trying to grow them using locally produced and eco-friendly means. Have a lot of ideas that I have to try out.
natej740
09-16-2012, 11:48 AM
Lloyd that one year to flowering is in a different climate, in your climate it may take about 2 years. You'll have to bring it in the winter when it will stop growing.
He's a zone higher than me so the results should be the same or better.
Banana seeds are weird sometimes they will sprout faster. I just recently tried Musa sikkimensis-red tiger and was expecting them to sprout in about 6 months and they sprouted in a little over a week! I only ordered 10 and have 3 so far!
lloydy
09-16-2012, 01:51 PM
Thanks Nate, that's great to know!
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