View Full Version : Puerto Rican bananas?
wolfyhound
07-01-2013, 07:42 AM
I got five big banana corms that are supposed to be from Puerto Rico. I was 'told' that they are the same as they've been growing there for the past 50 years etc etc.
The corms looked a lot like black coconuts when I planted them. But all but one are growing now. The best one is growing very fast!
So a thread is useless without pictures.
And I'll have to edit and add in pictures. Sigh. Stupid iPhone.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53548&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53548&ppuser=15189)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53549&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53549&ppuser=15189)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53550&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53550&ppuser=15189)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53551&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53551&ppuser=15189)
So any ideas? I'm really pleased they're growing well. So far I've only lost one banana(my Gros Michal Zeke *sad*) and I guess one corm since one never grew. I've given them all fertilizer. They get plenty of water, either from rain or me watering them. Well drained, somewhat sandy soil, with added compost. LOTS of sun.
sunfish
07-01-2013, 10:31 AM
They look Puerto Rican
wolfyhound
07-01-2013, 11:10 AM
*facepalms*
Thank you sunfish.
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 12:11 PM
Not Puerto Rican, not even Spanish.
They look French, probably Haitian.
wolfyhound
07-01-2013, 12:56 PM
French-Haitian bananas from Puerto Rico living in Florida.
Got it.
Sounds like something from an AfterSchool special.
sunfish
07-01-2013, 02:46 PM
http://www.bananas.org/f12/puerto-rico-banana-3192.html#post25256
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 03:35 PM
wolfyhound,
That one does look like Puertorican bananas aka (Maricongo) aka Musa Puerto Rican "Cuerno de Alce"
I have 3 certified Musa Puerto Rican "Cuerno de Alce" I personally brought from P.R and mine look very similar. Look at the pics below so you can compare the plants.
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/black.png
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/black3.png
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/week4_1.png
NOTE:
This last one is Hawaiian (Musa Hua Moa) but yours is definitvly not a Hua Moa. Hua Moa plants do not have any red on the leaves.
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/Hua-Moa-by-Noel-Ramos.jpg
wolfyhound
07-01-2013, 04:20 PM
Thank you! I think these look very similar.
These came from Puerto Rico, just not certain what kind. I found a lot of pictures of the bananas from Cuerno de Alce but not as many pictures of the plants.
At any rate, I'm super pleased with the growth so far!
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 04:20 PM
Definitely not a Maricongo which is a False Horn Plantain,
not a Cuerno de Alce which is a Horn Plantain,
it's not a French Horn Plantain or even a French Plantain.
vitin6039, Who did the certification?
wolfyhound,
That one does look like Puertorican bananas aka (Maricongo) aka Musa Puerto Rican "Cuerno de Alce"
I have 3 certified Musa Puerto Rican "Cuerno de Alce" I personally brought from P.R and mine look very similar. Look at the pics below so you can compare the plants.
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/black.png
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/black3.png
http://www.homegardeningworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/week4_1.png
NOTE:
This last one is Hawaiian (Musa Hua Moa) but yours is definitvly not a Hua Moa. Hua Moa plants do not have any red on the leaves.
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/Hua-Moa-by-Noel-Ramos.jpg
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 04:31 PM
Definitely not a Maricongo which is a False Horn Plantain,
not a Cuerno de Alce which is a Horn Plantain,
it's not a French Horn Plantain or even a French Plantain.
vitin6039, Who did the certification?
By certified I mean my family been growing this variety for many years and I literary dug the corms from a Maricongo plant that have bananas on it, boxed then and shipped to my self before I left.
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 04:36 PM
Maricongo Pup
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51635&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51635&ppuser=12081)
Maricongo Pup
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51634&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51634&ppuser=12081)
Cuerno de Alce Pups
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52403 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51849)
Cuerno de Alce Pup
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52837 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52837)
French Plantain Pup
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51631&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51631)
French Plantain Pup
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51630&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51630)
sunfish
07-01-2013, 04:38 PM
By certified I mean my family been growing this variety for many years and I literary dug the corms from a Maricongo plant that have bananas on it, boxed then and shipped to my self before I left.
Wouldn't it have been safer to bring them in your baggage ? :woohoonaner:
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 04:39 PM
What is the proper Scientific name for Maricongo if not "Cuerno de Alce"?
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 04:43 PM
I was not sure if the department of agriculture will allowed to happen so I mailed priority mail. They got home in great condition because well developed before I dug them up.
Here is how they arrived:(See the picture below)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53213&size=1
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 04:51 PM
By certified I mean my family been growing this variety for many years and I literary dug the corms from a Maricongo plant that have bananas on it, boxed then and shipped to my self before I left.
Here are some photos to show the difference between a Maricongo and a Cuerno de Alce, it is almost impossible to get them confused with each other.
Maricongo Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51775 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51775)
Cuerno de Alce Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52105 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52105)
Cuerno de Alce Fruit
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51290 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51290)
sunfish
07-01-2013, 04:56 PM
So these plants originated in PR ? They are native ?
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 05:06 PM
So these plants originated in PR ? They are native ?
These plants originated in Xandu and are referenced in Kubla Khan.
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 05:20 PM
Here are some photos to show the difference between a Maricongo and a Cuerno de Alce, it is almost impossible to get them confused with each other.
Maricongo Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51775 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51775)
Cueno de Alce Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52105 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52105)
Cueno de Alce Fruit
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51290 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51290)
Ok, Mines are 100% Maricongo wonder whats the correct name for the Maricongo cultivar.
sunfish
07-01-2013, 05:41 PM
cool beans
sunfish
07-01-2013, 05:47 PM
So is this a good banana tree for zone 8a ?
Abnshrek
07-01-2013, 05:59 PM
So is this a good banana tree for zone 8a ?
I think Wolfy is in zone 9.. A or B.. who knows?.. :^)
PR-Giants
07-01-2013, 07:48 PM
Ok, Mines are 100% Maricongo wonder whats the correct name for the Maricongo cultivar.
Maricongo is the correct name for the Maricongo, but that doesn't mean your plant is a Maricongo.
If you plant came from Puerto Rico and was referred to as a Maricongo or a Congo, then you probably have an unknown plantain.
Almost everyone in PR calls every plantain either a Maricongo or a Congo, most farmers don't know the difference between the two, even though one is a False Horn Plantain and the other a French Plantain.
It's difficult to go from a certified Rhino Horn to a 100% Maricongo to an unknown plantain in a few hours, but you are already narrowing down the possibilities.
wolfyhound
07-01-2013, 08:01 PM
According to the "what zone are you in" I'm in zone 9.
I've lost track... what are mine? LOL. I think I'm gonna call them Swahili.
vitin6039
07-01-2013, 10:04 PM
Maricongo is the correct name for the Maricongo, but that doesn't mean your plant is a Maricongo.
If you plant came from Puerto Rico and was referred to as a Maricongo or a Congo, then you probably have an unknown plantain.
Almost everyone in PR calls every plantain either a Maricongo or a Congo, most farmers don't know the difference between the two, even though one is a False Horn Plantain and the other a French Plantain.
It's difficult to go from a certified Rhino Horn to a 100% Maricongo to an unknown plantain in a few hours, but you are already narrowing down the possibilities.
I think you are correct, in P.R we called a name and we stick to it for ever regardless of evidence to the contrary. The only thing I know is that they are what is call Maricongo in P.R. What's the correct cultivar? nobody knows but they are very similar to the original Maricongo. I know the other variety I brought is unmistakable Musa 'hua moa'. I saw the fruits on that one also and those has a very particular fruit shape, but again I been wrong before.
Update:
Just called the friend who gave me the corms and he toll he got the initial corms a few years ago from Agricultural Experiment Station in Adjuntas as part of a training he attended while in college. So maybe it is a Maricongo, we will see when and if it fruit here in Texas.
http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/NicolasNaranja/2011-09-18134327.jpg
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