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View Full Version : What are the rules on collecting bananas in Florida?))


Tywarber
01-25-2014, 01:27 PM
Hi, I live in Michigan and iv been really enjoying growing banana plants over the past couple years but I keep wanting more an more banana plants an I love ocean fishing so I thought what if I could go to florida an dig up some banana plants with permission of someone's property or on state land an do some fishing while I'm down there why not right, but I'm wondering is it legal to take plants from state or public land? An on top of that can I box the rhizomes an ship them home without any legal issues? Any info is appreciated thanks.

Kat2
01-25-2014, 02:15 PM
What are the rules in Michigan? Federal laws will be the same; Florida isn't really into people snatching plants off of our land. I have yet to find a private owner who'd give permission for me to yank pups but I haven't asked. There are several members in FL who probably have available pups; if you have a clue where you plan to fish, post the location and see what happens. BTW, you'll need a fishing license unless you're on licensed boat; I got mine at Walmart.

ETA: To my knowledge bananas aren't quarantined leaving the state. Don't even dream of taking a citrus plant home.

Tywarber
01-25-2014, 02:32 PM
Iv read banana plants spread like wildfire down there an some people don't like them an cut them down every year because they can take up so much space. So I guess I have this image of Florida being over run by these plants an it not being a big deal but then again I don't know the role they play in the environment. Which is why I'm hear asking questions before stepping on anyone's land.

Kat2
01-25-2014, 04:07 PM
Bananas grow like weeds in Costa Rica; they don't here in North Florida. I've visited Central Florida; I haven't seen out of control patches but I haven't driven all over the area. I'm not sure what department you'd call for the State of Florida but they could certainly tell you about invasive bananas they want removed. Seriously, what's good I've found is that you can buy tropical/semi tropical plants at Home Depot, Lowes and even Walmart for a reasonable price; I never found anything but Northern plants when I lived in MD and OH. And again, if you post your intended fishing spot, you might connect with a member and save shipping costs on a transaction.

Worm_Farmer
01-25-2014, 04:33 PM
You have to have premising from the owner of the land or else you are trespassing and may be consider a thief for removing anything with out the property owns permission. This would also for public land use. I got in trouble for randomly planting bananas plants on an empty lot.

As far as I know, you are able to ship corms outside of the state.

sunfish
01-25-2014, 04:57 PM
Iv read banana plants spread like wildfire down there an some people don't like them an cut them down every year because they can take up so much space. So I guess I have this image of Florida being over run by these plants an it not being a big deal but then again I don't know the role they play in the environment. Which is why I'm hear asking questions before stepping on anyone's land.

Melaleuca spread like wildfire

Tywarber
01-25-2014, 05:29 PM
I might have a place to stay around west palm. But I'm still working on when that would be. Honestly until today I didnt realize their was a site like this where people have wheel barrows full of corms or anything other then tissue culture plants so I'm excited to have these kind of contacts for awesome plants at cheap prices because I would probably pay ten times as much at like tyty bananas, florida nursery, or any other big company. But I also want to come down there an do the work myself so it's also about the adventure of going there an just being in the tropics again.

Kat2
01-25-2014, 05:39 PM
I might have a place to stay around west palm. But I'm still working on when that would be. Honestly until today I didnt realize their was a site like this where people have wheel barrows full of corms or anything other then tissue culture plants so I'm excited to have these kind of contacts for awesome plants at cheap prices because I would probably pay ten times as much at like tyty bananas, florida nursery, or any other big company. But I also want to come down there an do the work myself so it's also about the adventure of going there an just being in the tropics again.Choose your vendors wisely; 1 of those you mentioned I've avoided since the 80s. The system is not perfect but Garden Watchdog is a community of other customers reporting their experiences with plant/seed/accoutrement/supplies sellers and, albeit sometimes awkward, a place to search for vendors that sell specific items that a web search may not uncover. Guide to Gardening by Mail, Mail Order Gardening, and Catalogs (http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/) (BTW, I've purchased from the Michigan bulb companies and done fine but know that I'm getting puny sticks I need to baby and not everything will grow.)

Tywarber
01-25-2014, 05:54 PM
Iv checked out Michigan bulb before an they seem like a good company but like u said your getting little sticks an I'm done buying fragile plants that I have to baby an up here it takes forever to get any size to them. So ill either go down an get some myself or buy from a trustable member here.

sirmoebly
01-25-2014, 07:52 PM
I don't think taking plants north shouldn't be a problem. Taking plants south is a bad thing. But that's my thoughts.

bananimal
01-26-2014, 10:23 AM
Ty --- you can come to my place and help me dig out all the corms you want. The mats need thinning bad.

West Palm is a 45 min drive south of me in PSL. And fishing is great now with everything from sails, mahi, snook, gator trout to pompano. Go with a guide and you can't lose.

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 11:12 AM
That is very nice of you I may take you up on that but first I need a job so I can afford to fly down there. I was hoping for spring but hard to say right now. It would be nice if we could help each other out for sure. An I'm definetly due for some fishing, I usually just fish the piers it covers my license an a good variety of fish.

ez
01-26-2014, 01:50 PM
Ty --- you can come to my place and help me dig out all the corms you want. The mats need thinning bad.

West Palm is a 45 min drive south of me in PSL. And fishing is great now with everything from sails, mahi, snook, gator trout to pompano. Go with a guide and you can't lose.

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/1tvg/mit9lou9-Copy_zps133a7613.jpg

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 05:12 PM
Gator trout huh... Lol nice.

cincinnana
01-26-2014, 07:29 PM
Smith and Wesson, however its now AR, Glock, Ak , and any other reason .
FLORIDA has a STAND YOUR BANANA LAW that is not to be messed with .
With that said ....your best bet will be at big box stores.... where the plants will cost a lot less than your life.
Average cost is about 10 bucks a plant.....everywhere here .

Here is my favorite place for planting people in cement shoes whom take my beloved plants............Just kidding ......fave fishing hole.
Look me up and I will hook you up........do you prefer portland or pea gravel.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55621&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55621)

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 09:44 PM
Portland or pea gravel? I'm not firmiliar with either.

Kat2
01-26-2014, 10:00 PM
Portland or pea gravel? I'm not firmiliar with either.Cement or little tiny stones.

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 10:05 PM
Oh the little stones for sure

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 10:23 PM
Haha wow I didn't realize it was such a touchy subject!

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 10:29 PM
And I don't steal

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 10:31 PM
And I don't steal!

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 10:39 PM
And I don't steal!

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 11:26 PM
We'll I appreciate u being a dick that's always a great way to welcome a new member :)

Tywarber
01-26-2014, 11:47 PM
Thanks I will. Everyone has been great so far!

Tywarber
01-27-2014, 12:03 AM
I'm sure Ill have a question or two soon enough. Thanks dick lol.

Funkthulhu
01-27-2014, 12:43 PM
Dicks and Stones aside, I think if you have permission to dig you can go nuts.

The citrus can be touchy if you get caught, but most everything they're more worried about what's coming in than what's going out. There isn't much that hasn't already crossed the borders that would be considered an invasive species in other states. I actually got the stink-eye for packing a tonne of palm seeds/fruit in my bags on my last trip to Floridia. Once I told them I live in Nebraska they just laughed and said, "On your way, then!" (And good luck getting it to grow! *laughing*)

Now, if you want to bring anything into California. . . actually, don't. Just don't, you'll be happier than if you tried.

Tywarber
01-27-2014, 01:26 PM
We'll if I was to go dig up some plants I would probably cut them down to a stub an UPS them back in a box or through the airline but I imagined a box that probably weighs 40 plus lbs an kinda large so carry on wouldn't be an option or comfortable atleast lol. An yeah I'm glad I don't live in CA too many restrictions.

Abnshrek
01-27-2014, 01:46 PM
Here are some of the one's I brought home last fall from Florida.. They travel well in a back seat too.. :^)

http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/Bucko13f/BananasIgotfromMeet101213_zpsef774901.jpg (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/Bucko13f/media/BananasIgotfromMeet101213_zpsef774901.jpg.html)

Tywarber
01-27-2014, 02:12 PM
Very nice! If I could drive there an put them in the back seat I would load it up...but driving isn't really a option :/

Kat2
01-27-2014, 02:42 PM
Very nice! If I could drive there an put them in the back seat I would load it up...but driving isn't really a option :/Too bad. Some of us farther North in FL would chip in gas money if you want to drop by with pups. (I've nothing to send down for trades--yet!)

Nicolas Naranja
01-27-2014, 03:08 PM
Stay out of my yard and no you cannot use your own tools to dig my bananas, I don't know where they have been.

Tywarber
01-27-2014, 03:23 PM
I'm not intending to go door to door asking for your plants, I would prefer to explore land where no houses or businesses are and not on protected land. I'm a respectful person who's loves the outdoors an wildlife an would like to bring a piece of that back with me because I'm not fortunate to live in a climate like Florida.

sunfish
01-27-2014, 04:42 PM
Hi, I live in Michigan and iv been really enjoying growing banana plants over the past couple years but I keep wanting more an more banana plants an I love ocean fishing so I thought what if I could go to florida an dig up some banana plants with permission of someone's property or on state land an do some fishing while I'm down there why not right, but I'm wondering is it legal to take plants from state or public land? An on top of that can I box the rhizomes an ship them home without any legal issues? Any info is appreciated thanks.

Moving Plants From State to State: Gardening (http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/generalgardening/basics/movingplants.aspx)

sunfish
01-27-2014, 04:47 PM
Hi, I live in Michigan and iv been really enjoying growing banana plants over the past couple years but I keep wanting more an more banana plants an I love ocean fishing so I thought what if I could go to florida an dig up some banana plants with permission of someone's property or on state land an do some fishing while I'm down there why not right, but I'm wondering is it legal to take plants from state or public land? An on top of that can I box the rhizomes an ship them home without any legal issues? Any info is appreciated thanks.

National Plant Board - Laws and Regulations (http://www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/)

Tywarber
01-27-2014, 04:57 PM
Thanks that's exactly the info an contact that I was looking for.

bananimal
01-28-2014, 07:49 AM
If you visit central America the woods along the roadways are full of bananas. The naitives don't stop to harvest fruit or pups and the birds and howler monkeys eat the fruit. I've traveled inland in Costa Rica and Panama and was amazed at all the hanging bunches.

Most folks that go on foreign plant hunting trips just mail the stuff home at the post office.

Dangermouse01
01-28-2014, 06:31 PM
I'm not intending to go door to door asking for your plants, I would prefer to explore land where no houses or businesses are and not on protected land. I'm a respectful person who's loves the outdoors an wildlife an would like to bring a piece of that back with me because I'm not fortunate to live in a climate like Florida.

Leave No Trace principle #4, Leave what you find.

"Take only pictures leave only footprints!" John Muir.

If you really need a to have a banana that has been ripped from Florida soil, pretty sure there are members who could set you up with one from their yard. Heck, you could even dig one up from my yard so you can feel like you accomplished something.

DM

cincinnana
01-28-2014, 09:20 PM
This could be helpful also.

Florida Plant Collecting and Transport : Regulations and Permitting (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herbarium/collperm/)