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View Full Version : New Banana Plantation


theeren
05-12-2013, 06:32 PM
Hi everybody! I've been trolling for a while and decided to finally intro myself. I live in the St Pete FL area and got a couple of apple banana pups about 1 & 1/2 years ago. Hanna and Anna Banana. Hanna didn't make it but Anna is well on her way. Total of 5 children (Banana, Chiquita, Daiquiri, Enana and Fandana).
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/2212/thumbs/Plantation.jpg

My first bunch appeared last week and I have some questions so I thought I had better post.

theo

crazy banana
05-12-2013, 06:40 PM
Welcome to bananas.org. I am sure you will find all your answers here in the forum.
Love the names of your banana plants.

theeren
05-12-2013, 06:54 PM
I just got my first bunch.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/500/thumbs/bunch.jpg

The first 5 hands came in fine but all the flowers below that are dried up and no bananas. Is this normal? Are these the male flowers? Should I cut the flower off?

Thanks!
theo

LilRaverBoi
05-12-2013, 07:21 PM
I've been trolling for a while
I think you mean 'lurking' (viewing/reading but not posting) rather than trolling (making random, off-topic or controversial posts to incite drama on forums).

Either way, welcome! I hope you enjoy the site! Best of luck with your bananas...you've come to the right place to have your questions answered.

Edit....first flowers/'bananas' that show up are female flowers and the fruit should stay. After a while, it switches to male flowers and those 'bananas' attached to them will fall off. Normal. As for cutting the bud off, you can if you want, or you can leave it on (they do look pretty cool). Doesn't make any significant difference in fruit size/quality. Commercial growers remove them because they add extra weight and can attract insects toward the fruit. In the wild, they remain on there and don't affect anything, really, so it's up to you. You can eat them too! You can probably find recipes on the site. If you do choose to remove the bud, make sure you let it go till you have 6-12" of 'stem' after the fruit end (if you cut it short, the stump can dry up and cause lower fruit to be affected).

Hope that helps!

theeren
05-12-2013, 07:34 PM
Thanks for the quick response lilraverboi! Just what I needed to hear. I'll sleep better tonight knowing that Anna is doing just fine.

"Lurking" theo.

Abnshrek
05-12-2013, 08:54 PM
Hello, Welcome & Happy Growing.. If you cut the flower off after the last hand make sure you don't cut it off to close to the last hand. :^)