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vaindioux
05-16-2007, 04:52 PM
Hi

Here is what I currently have in ground here in Atlanta.
(Into parenthesis the year I have owned them, a slash means I got 2 of that species.)

-Tall orinoco (2sd year/1st year)
-Musa velutina (1st year)
-Dwarf cavendish (3rd year)
-Zebrina (3rd year/2sd year)
-Chinese yellow (2sd year/1st year)
-Musa Basjoo (1st year)
-Ensete Ventricosum maurelii (1st year/1 st year)

I water a lot, have manure in the ground and fertilize with something high in K (21).
What else do I need to do to see bananas this year?

Thanks a bunch ! (No pun intended) :2738:

Patrick

STEELVIPER
05-16-2007, 05:20 PM
Pray for a long hot Sunny summer. And a warm winter. All you can do is water, fertilize, and hope your area gets the heat and sun. The rest is up to the banana.:bananas_b

MediaHound
05-16-2007, 09:22 PM
Yep.. hard to say.
Were any of them actually cut off a mother plant as a sucker?

vaindioux
05-17-2007, 04:06 PM
Hi

I haven't cut any pups myself. Who knows about the ones I got, maybe some were, I don't know.
I forgot Musa Rajapuri on my list and Saturday I will get a 6 feet tall dwarf orinoco from my local nursery.
It's my 3rd year with at least 1 banana in the ground, a flower actually would thrill me already.

Thanks for the answers

Patrick

bigdog
05-17-2007, 05:40 PM
Patrick, if you take care of that Musa velutina well, and it doesn't die for some unexplainable reason, I can all but guarantee that you will see a flower and some small, pink, fuzzy bananas this year (provided it's not a 2-inch tall, 1-leaf seedling)!

:2766:

MediaHound
05-17-2007, 06:28 PM
They would have had a 6" caliper pseudostem or so, not as thick as a quarter or a penny, etc. They wuold have weighed in at a pound or two at least. Chances are, if they all basically look the same when you get them, is that your getting tissue cultured plants and you'll be waiting a bit longer.

Your Zebrina at three years should bloom soon, too. Velutina is on it's way, too, start checking that one more often, like bigdog said..

bigdog
05-17-2007, 09:47 PM
Hey Patrick, why don't you take a few pics and upload them into your gallery? Then it would be easier to tell how close you are to fruiting size.

vaindioux
05-19-2007, 01:10 PM
Bigdog and mediahound

Thanks for the answers.

The Musa Velutina I have are actually seedlings, I kept them all winter potted inside and just transplanted outside, I lost a few, 3 are left.
My zebrinas are corms that I store in my basement.1 has spent 2 winters down there already and the other 1 winter.I planted them both 2 weeks ago, along with my dwarf cavendish corm, no signs of life yet but it's been on the cool side here.
My biggest tall orinoco (6 feet tall) was given to me late last fall and I put it straight in my basement. I planted it 2 weeks ago, it is starting slowly, this is going to be my masterpiece this summer. My other tall orinoco spent the winter outside burried under some mulch, as recommended to me, it is not out yet either.
My maurellii, Musa Rajapuri and the latest a Musa grand nain I got last night are all brand new, each around 5-6 feet tall.
Musa Basjoo was also given to me last fall and I kept it alive in a pot all winter, it is now inground and is taking off quickly along with my 2 Chinese yellows, both taking off nicely.
I am going to give a little time for everyone to take off and I will post some pics here.

Thanks again

Patrick