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View Full Version : 'Ice Cream' from Agristarts?


sddarkman619
10-18-2013, 02:16 PM
I'm getting ready to buy a tray and was wondering if agristarts actually did have real ice cream banana plants? I mean the real Blue Java plants? Anyone with experience? I've been buying most of my banana plants I sell from agristarts and they see reputable but it seems the blue java 'ice cream' is a hard to get a real one.

robguz24
10-18-2013, 03:07 PM
It seems like from past discussions there is pretty good consensus that they are all Tall Namwah, while their Misi Luki is also a Tall Namwah, but not quite as tall. If you're going to get Namwah, might as well get the Dwarf Namwah, which they also have.

caliboy1994
10-18-2013, 04:48 PM
Don't you do tissue culturing yourself? You're in Southern California, and I know that there are a few sources of the real Ice Cream in your area. Maybe you can obtain a pup and put it into TC? I'm thinking about doing that with mine.

GreenFin
10-18-2013, 06:20 PM
It is my understanding that Agri-Starts is the tc supplier who has been supplying all the retailers with Fake Ice Cream/aka Namwah, so you shouldn't order from them if you want the real thing.

IMO Agri-Starts is a good company with some good people working for them. They've been friendly and helpful in all of my dealings with them.

I've been talking with one of their VP's about getting them to tc SH-3640, and he seems excited about adding it to their selection. It was on my agenda to help them get the real IC/BJ as well, and I anticipate that they'll be receptive and thankful about getting their IC problem rectified.

Actually, now that I think of it, I think I'll start a thread asking members what varieties they'd most like to see Agri-Starts add to their selection (the main benefit being that any variety that Agri-Starts tc's will become widely available and easily attainable).

sunfish
10-18-2013, 07:04 PM
I'm getting ready to buy a tray and was wondering if agristarts actually did have real ice cream banana plants? I mean the real Blue Java plants? Anyone with experience? I've been buying most of my banana plants I sell from agristarts and they see reputable but it seems the blue java 'ice cream' is a hard to get a real one.

Do not buy Blue Java from them

sunfish
10-18-2013, 07:07 PM
It's funny how people still want Ice cream when all taste reports have been bad.

Kat2
10-18-2013, 07:17 PM
It's funny how people still want Ice cream when all taste reports have been bad.I think the name(s) along with the scarcity fuel the desire or it does for me. Do I really want one? No. Would I like to have one? Sure.

caliboy1994
10-18-2013, 07:26 PM
I'd want it for the attractiveness of the fruit, the size of the plant, and its rarity.

sunfish
10-18-2013, 07:55 PM
I'd want it for the attractiveness of the fruit, the size of the plant, and its rarity.

They are not rare I can pick one up tomorrow.

caliboy1994
10-18-2013, 07:56 PM
They are not rare I can pick one up tomorrow.

Not particularly rare where we are if you know where to look. :woohoonaner:

Kat2
10-18-2013, 08:00 PM
They are not rare I can pick one up tomorrow.Apparently AgriStarts can't.

jbyrd88888
10-18-2013, 08:07 PM
Lucky Cali bros get all the good stuff :( I'm going to find what I want ;) thanks again Larry :p GL

Abnshrek
10-18-2013, 08:13 PM
I think I trust my fellow Amigo's in the Test Taste, and won't bother.. From all accounts people are Happy w/ the Fake Ice Cream / Blue Java.. If it gets fixed people won't be satisfied, and look for something else.. but the sale will be complete and the only sucker will be the buyer from all accounts thus far.. :^)

Kat2
10-18-2013, 08:39 PM
I think I trust my fellow Amigo's in the Test Taste, and won't bother.. From all accounts people are Happy w/ the Fake Ice Cream / Blue Java.. If it gets fixed people won't be satisfied, and look for something else.. but the sale will be complete and the only sucker will be the buyer from all accounts thus far.. :^)But doesn't a little part of you wonder if those who have "the real deal" are hoarding those very special plants and just saying the fruit is awful while they snicker at the peasants who have no access to this sublime treat? ;)

sunfish
10-18-2013, 08:54 PM
Apparently AgriStarts can't.

They don't need to.

Abnshrek
10-18-2013, 08:55 PM
But doesn't a little part of you wonder if those who have "the real deal" are hoarding those very special plants and just saying the fruit is awful while they snicker at the peasants who have no access to this sublime treat? ;)

No, sure don't... kinda like or similar to why I don't grow DC.., but I'm Happy for those that do & Succeed.. I have a threshold once a type hits it I cut slingload. I can grow something better even if it takes a lil more input.. Better is better.. :^)

Kat2
10-18-2013, 09:01 PM
No, sure don't... kinda like or similar to why I don't grow DC.., but I'm Happy for those that do & Succeed.. I have a threshold once a type hits it I cut slingload. I can grow something better even if it takes a lil more input.. Better is better.. :^)Hey, I grow a DC. Why? Because I wanted to treat myself to a plant on Mother's Day when I was at Lowes and that's what they had. I'm having a blast with her and learning a lot. Had I known she was unworthy of garden space, I'd have never found this group. I consider her a bargain even if she never produces at all.

Abnshrek
10-18-2013, 09:34 PM
Hey, I grow a DC. Why? Because I wanted to treat myself to a plant on Mother's Day when I was at Lowes and that's what they had. I'm having a blast with her and learning a lot. Had I known she was unworthy of garden space, I'd have never found this group. I consider her a bargain even if she never produces at all.

When its warm its the 2nd easiest banana to grow next to Orinoco.. :^)

sddarkman619
10-18-2013, 09:52 PM
Well I guess I won't be getting those. I guess I will stick with the tray of Veinte Cohol.. and the Panda Purple Passion Fruit.

robguz24
10-18-2013, 10:00 PM
But doesn't a little part of you wonder if those who have "the real deal" are hoarding those very special plants and just saying the fruit is awful while they snicker at the peasants who have no access to this sublime treat? ;)

If only that were true, lol! I've had a good sized plant for $12 I've been trying to sell at my farmers market for weeks. No takers. People around here tend to rip them out if they have them. I also have trouble selling the fruit when I have it. I'm winnowing them down from 5 plants to 1 after the next few fruit. The namwah fruit and plants sell quickly when I have them.

sunfish
10-18-2013, 10:28 PM
Well I guess I won't be getting those. I guess I will stick with the tray of Veinte Cohol.. and the Panda Purple Passion Fruit.

Pandas are black Possums are purple

crazy banana
10-18-2013, 11:24 PM
They don't need to.

Of course they do.
It has been brought to their attention many times that the BJ they sell is actually just a Namwah. However, it is a matter of (big) money for them to have BJ in their catalog. Otherwise we would not have these discussions about "real" or "unreal" here on the bananas.org over and over again.
As long as people want the "real" one over a Namwah regardless of the taste comparison, they will sell it this way. Otherwise they would have taken the IC/BJ out of their catalog years ago.

crazy banana
10-18-2013, 11:30 PM
They are not rare I can pick one up tomorrow.

I know that you have mentioned in another thread that you do not want one due to limited space. But if you change your mind: yes, you can pick one up tomorrow:nanadrink:

Kat2
10-19-2013, 12:06 AM
I know that you have mentioned in another thread that you do not want one due to limited space. But if you change your mind: yes, you can pick one up tomorrow:nanadrink:I can't pick one up but would you ship? If so, how much to Cocoa, FL? I have a friend who went to dig pups I found on CL for free near him; they were meant for me as he didn't want bananas. (Before I joined the forum, he got to meet WormFarmer and I didn't!)

Well, he decided to keep the "IC" for himself. Except it's not an IC as I've informed him with many giggles. He's fixated on ICs...

ETA: Change in destination. Jacksonville. Holding it hostage and watching him squirm would be justice.

crazy banana
10-19-2013, 12:23 AM
I can't pick one up but would you ship? If so, how much to Cocoa, FL? I have a friend who went to dig pups I found on CL for free near him; they were meant for me as he didn't want bananas. (Before I joined the forum, he got to meet WormFarmer and I didn't!)

Well, he decided to keep the "IC" for himself. Except it's not an IC as I've informed him with many giggles. He's fixated on ICs...

ETA: Change in destination. Jacksonville. Holding it hostage and watching him squirm would be justice.

Sweet revenge :)
I can save you one pup for next spring. The smaller pups are too close to my fruiting plants right now and I do have a waiting list for those.
Local pick up for some taller pups possible.

Brandon
10-19-2013, 12:27 AM
I have a Java Blue/ Icecream that I got years ago from Richard's Seaside Bananas up in La Chonchita, CA .... I'm guessing its the real thing.
I have never been very thrilled about the taste & texture of the fruit. I was going to dig up the clump and toss it into the green bin, but I'm giving it another shot in a new location. I did this with a White Iholena 2 years ago and was shocked that the fruit actually improved with a relocation.

trebor
10-19-2013, 07:31 AM
I think the nickname Ice Cream makes it very popular. Easily recognizable it paints an image in our heads of creamy goodness, add to that they are "BLUE" it stimulates our senses .. I've eaten them! Wasn't very impressed. But when I was presented with the opportunity, I got one :) -- but like so many others my blue java dreams were crushed when the flower bloomed.
My tissue culture was from the show in orlando where my buddy who owned New Turf garden and lawn store attended . As a favor to me he bought a tray of assorted TC's that included "Ice Cream".
Agria starts is a great company that provides an exceptional service to the ag industry. But yes they seem to have been caught up in the nick name game. Also you can lay the blame on retailers who are notorious from name changing or renameing or inventing new more exciting names.
Me personally ! I would only go and dig one from a plant that I've seen produced the "magic blue banana".
Just my .02