View Full Version : My Canadian Bananas and Tropicals
Hammocked Banana
04-07-2014, 01:59 PM
I figured it was time I started a diary type thread to help me keep track of things and document different things I'm going to be trying in the coming seasons. Guess I should start with some nanners!
Grand Naine - July 15, 2012
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Bananas/today2898_zps345af2d9.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Bananas/today2898_zps345af2d9.jpg.html)
Aug 17, 2013
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Bananas/20130815_120940_zps7554e811.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Bananas/20130815_120940_zps7554e811.jpg.html)
April 16, 2014 - Hoping for fruit from this one this year, hopefully it will get warm here soon so it can get it outside for some sun and things can get going.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140043_zpsmyu7ngbc.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140043_zpsmyu7ngbc.jpg.html)
Notice the christmas ornament...this is to keep the emerging leave from jamming into the roof, the last leaf did and it got all jammed up and choked a bit. It'll grow out of it once its outside and that lowest leaf falls off, but I'll see if this helps. Some leaves are also droppy on mom and pups because of xmas ornaments hung too close to the end of the leaves...this was intentional as it made an funky xmas tree for us this year!
April 6, 2014 - Under lights: GN #2 on the right, Zebrinia on the left. Also can you spot 1 papaya, 4 dragon fruit, 3 pineapples, agave. false dracaena, european fan palm seedling, avocado, napenthes and black magic elephant ear?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_164253_zpsnpmwuohw.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_164253_zpsnpmwuohw.jpg.html)
Ensete maurelii - April 16, 2013. Just purchased and garden show, transplanted and showered. Handsome fellas supervising.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Bananas/20130416_152903_zpscbbdc9d2.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Bananas/20130416_152903_zpscbbdc9d2.jpg.html)
Sept 18, 2013 - Was grown in the garden all year and was just dug up. GN in the background.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20131018_181240_zps990973e6.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20131018_181240_zps990973e6.jpg.html)
Initially planned to to try to keep it growing all winter but it was too big and I didn't have the space once everything came in so it was put in a window that didn't get as much sun. It got laggy and was leaning pretty bad to I wacked the ma'.
Jan 15, 2014
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_190610_zpsrw39d1zo.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_190610_zpsrw39d1zo.jpg.html)
My mom posing with a leaf since its impossible to teach her to use a camera lol.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_191023_zpses3stqai.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_191023_zpses3stqai.jpg.html)
Ok maybe I shouldn't have fed the WHOLE thing to the worms, they were busy for a while ater this.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_191637_zps6hhdskz3.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140114_191637_zps6hhdskz3.jpg.html)
April 6, 2014 - Here we are 2.5 months later and she's aching to get back outside.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140759_zpsg50gn5c1.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140759_zpsg50gn5c1.jpg.html)
Gunna have to wait another few weeks to update the basjoos since they're all still tucked in for the winter as were still getting lows around freezing at night.
Hammocked Banana
04-07-2014, 02:33 PM
Some more plants waiting to go out after a winter that was way too long. All these pics were taken yesterday.
Giant Birds of paradise
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_135624_zps9coj9b2p.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_135624_zps9coj9b2p.jpg.html)
1 Year old BOP, this guy may look little but its unreal whats underground. This thing has roots as thick as my thumb!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140200_zps8oy9bv5j.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140200_zps8oy9bv5j.jpg.html)
Moro blood orange
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_135929_zpsj72dugzn.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_135929_zpsj72dugzn.jpg.html)
My favourite EE. This will be the only EE that I overwinter indoors from now on, the rest will be stored dry in the basement.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150213_zps6gtdb9ld.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150213_zps6gtdb9ld.jpg.html)
My momma Jade tree, starting to look nice. I'm training it as a bonsai-esc tree shape with a trunk and round canopy area. I recently transplanted into this pot, it had been in a little 6" pot for too long. Wanted to show the pot a little bit, was just a regular terracotta pot that my gf painted up and now looks much nicer in the house. All of my other jade plants have been started from this one as either a cutting when pruning, or more commonly just a leaf that falls off I will root in a random container and give away once it gets to an ok size.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140118_zpsltthf00s.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140118_zpsltthf00s.jpg.html)
3.5 year old dwarf pomegranate, has flowered the last 2 years but fruit never held. Should do good this year now that I finally up potted it. Other 2 year old pom is in a similar sized pot also so we'll see if it'll catch up. I've pruned both pretty heavily their whole life.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140335_zps5b1vwz5x.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140335_zps5b1vwz5x.jpg.html)
Spring must be around the corner bc plumeria is firing up!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150234_zpspjvvwuxz.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150234_zpspjvvwuxz.jpg.html)
Lastly some disappointment...my big papaya looking hideous after being sprayed for mites. I find papayas and EEs are the worst for attracting mites, can never get rid of them. Bad thing with papayas is they don't like to be sprayed, even with soapy water, especially when they are inside and growth is weak. I usually spray them in the shower and then spray them off with water after a few mins, however I only do this with the small ones. I actually dragged this big bugger all the way to the bathroom and managed to get it into the shower (my back was not happy about this) and washed it off after spraying. My efforts were not good enough for it however and its dropped half its leaves with the other half completely damaged from the spray. Its new growth is still ok however so I'll see if I can still get some fruit off of her. I may ground plant this one this year as it has flowered the last year and a half but set no fruits, the flowers drop before they open. It is a heri. I bought a bunch of new varieties recently from aloha seeds so I'm gunna try to find a good variety for my situation. My plan is to transplant them early to a big pot like this and push growth this year to the point of flowering and ground plant next year. This plan may change ;-)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140647_zps6nksaz3x.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140647_zps6nksaz3x.jpg.html)
More to come...
Hammocked Banana
04-07-2014, 03:12 PM
I also got some hardy plants that will be planted outside eventually. I do plan on moving to a new place soon so palms will probably stay in pots until the move.
Hardy Cacti - All are hardy in my zone, except for the snowball cactus which I will probably keep in a pot, or plant and dig up each winter. The rest of the cacti are of the Opuntia genus. I believe the one with the big round pads is the edible prickly pear, but I'm not sure as the fruit did not fill in last year.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_143928_zpss6vc9ypy.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_143928_zpss6vc9ypy.jpg.html)
A better look at some from last summer.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20130723_150308_zpsd461de34.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20130723_150308_zpsd461de34.jpg.html)
Prickly Pear bloom from last summer. So beautiful!!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20130706_105119_zps6a75e211.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20130706_105119_zps6a75e211.jpg.html)
Snowball cactus starting to grow!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150344_zps0zhmjnoi.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140402_150344_zps0zhmjnoi.jpg.html)
Cold Hardy Palms - Most of these will be planted outside and protected with styrofoam boxes and xmas lights and heat cables. At least one favourite seedling from each variety was up-potted earlier than the rest and kept under the bigger grow light. Most seedlings are still in solo cups for the time being until I can find some tall tree pots this year. Current types I have sprouted are tachycarpus fortunei, t. wagnerianus, nannorrhops ritchiana, n. ritchiana var. kashmir, chamaerops humilis, c. humilis var. certifera, butia odorata, b. eriospatha, jubaea chilensis, and washintonia filfera. Waiting to germ still: rhapidophyllum hystrix, sabal minor (Cape Hatteras Giant), sabal tamaulipas and brahea armata.
Washy - hopefully get some real leaves on this guy this year. There's a little bit of fungus on some leaves because I left all the palm seedlings outside for a few good frosts to toughen them up a bit. Washy don't particularly like my climate ;-)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140216_zps9q5lyjj2.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_140216_zps9q5lyjj2.jpg.html)
T. fortunei far left, waggy back left, butia eriospatha in the front with the wierd curly strap leaf, tall nannorrhops kasmir in the center, and twin butia odorata on the right.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_164150_zpsx9cbxzv2.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140406_164150_zpsx9cbxzv2.jpg.html)
Twin b. odorata
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140203_120339_zpszcmwuxwx.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140203_120339_zpszcmwuxwx.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
04-07-2014, 03:20 PM
Now that were caught up, it's time to boil down some maple syrup!! If you don't like spider dogs, you're no friend of mine!! (lol just kidding)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140403_211028_zpsnqgfun7y.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140403_211028_zpsnqgfun7y.jpg.html)
Funkthulhu
04-07-2014, 03:31 PM
Brady, you look like you've got my problem times 5. I really wish my basement had more than 7 foot ceilings, or that these bananas wouldn't grow so fast. . .
Here's to hoping we both have very productive summers!
Hammocked Banana
04-07-2014, 03:45 PM
Brady, you look like you've got my problem times 5. I really wish my basement had more than 7 foot ceilings, or that these bananas wouldn't grow so fast. . .
Here's to hoping we both have very productive summers!
I hear ya! Its an addicting hobby, problem is the collection just keeps growing. Gunna be real interesting this fall with more nanners, lots of papaya and once the big dragon fruit trellis is built. I'll deal with that problem when I get there though...:woohoonaner:
Funkthulhu
04-07-2014, 04:46 PM
I already made a promise to the better half that this fall I would bring back in only the healthy palms and trees under 7 feet, and the bananas will get cut down to the Pstem and put in storage. . .
Still, that's going to be a lot of pots in the 25-50+ kg range. . . (and I don't know where I'll store the Pstems/corms that they won't grow anyway)
cannasrus
04-07-2014, 08:17 PM
Great Pics, we have it bad too. I have a 2 car gurge full of lights, plants, bulbs, germination chamber...an old refrigerator, a small green house se up indoors for seedlings with more lights, and best of all about 25 bananna plants I.
subsonicdrone
04-08-2014, 05:21 AM
youre overwintered plants look healthier than mine! nice and green
looking forward to getting mine into some real sun soon too...
should be in about 2 months at the rate things are melting here!
Hammocked Banana
04-08-2014, 10:23 AM
Where are you located? What zone?
subsonicdrone
04-08-2014, 11:43 AM
toronto
i work outdoors and in peoples backyards so i have seen bananas scattered across the city.. but none as big in the beaches neighbourhood of toronto with 2 huge bananas in a front yard
ive gone through 2 winters so far... this winter i kept the plants in containers and put them under lights.. spider mites wreaked havoc on my lasiocarpa.. DC seem stunted but ok..
last winter i washed all soil off the corms and stored dry rolled in newspaper but a flood in the basement caused half of my varieties to die
bought my first banana at a supermarket in niagara and the rest at rice road nuseries...
bought other tropicals from flora exotica once i was hooked!
ever had fruit?
Hammocked Banana
04-08-2014, 12:10 PM
Ah another Torontonian, excellent! Unfortunately I have never had an edible banana flower, but expect one from my main GN this year, hopefully by the end of July if I will ever be able to get it outside! If we have a good season I also expect some flowers on my basjoos. I will have to drive through the beaches to investigate these nanners this year, my gf lives right on the water on Queens Quay. It would be hard to keep all my plants in Toronto, the gf and I have been looking at some places and she doesn't like it when I say "this place is no good, where will all the plants go?" Haha some people will never understand.
Unfortunately I have never had an edible banana flower, but expect one from my main GN this year, hopefully by the end of July if I will ever be able to get it outside!
Do you want to see Grand Nain female flowers? :waving:
Sting_stong
04-09-2014, 01:13 PM
Thanks for posting all your plants, Brady. It's nice to see other Ontarians here who are just as crazy as I am. I'm in Ottawa.
I've been growing musa basjoo, musa zebrina, pineapples, citrus, and I've now got papaya, cinnamon, and quats coming up (thanks Olaf!).
Subsonic, where exactly in the Beaches are those bananas located? My sister lives there and I wouldn't mind taking a walk through the area this summer.
Hammocked Banana
04-09-2014, 02:32 PM
Thanks for posting all your plants, Brady. It's nice to see other Ontarians here who are just as crazy as I am.
Well that's not all of them haha, just some favourites or ones I baby. I'll do a dragon fruit post once I get them on their new trellis, love them too.
It is great to see other's like me near by. I appreciate all the responses, and I welcome Ed or anyone else who wants to post pics for comparison or whatever. Ed maybe throw in a male flower shot also. I'm 95% sure on its ID based on it being cavendish (leaf ratios/open petioles and colouring), red on the p-stem and dwarf nature. It was also sold as grand naine, but that doesn't mean anything to me around here. I really don't want to jinx myself too much talking about it flowing but would be nice to have a certain id if it did.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/today2903_zpsba107340.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/today2903_zpsba107340.jpg.html)
I appreciate all the responses, and I welcome Ed or anyone else who wants to post pics for comparison or whatever. Ed maybe throw in a male flower shot also. I'm 95% sure on its ID based on it being cavendish (leaf ratios/open petioles and colouring), red on the p-stem and dwarf nature. It was also sold as grand naine, but that doesn't mean anything to me around here. I really don't want to jinx myself too much talking about it flowing but would be nice to have a certain id if it did.
:2738: From what I can see and by reading your detailed description I would say it's Grand Nain, more advanced members might see something different.
The only reason why I wanted to share an image of GN flowers is because I like to share photos, I wasn't trying to say you're not growing GN.
I don't have pics of the male flower only female, banana flowers represent a small part of the puzzle, you've seen photos of my plants and even if they don't look exactly the same as yours it's only because their growing in different microclimates. If you have any doubt the only way to know if it's the real deal is to wait until it's has fruit.
Grand Nain
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/13726800634_25da8c3434_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/mUZrAs)
:woohoonaner:
subsonicdrone
04-09-2014, 08:22 PM
apparently there are good deals on banana plants at the food terminal in the west end on queensway
its probably close to the right time to check it out, i have not yet been there personally
Hammocked Banana
04-09-2014, 08:49 PM
Thanks for the pic ed, those baby nanners look pretty big already at that point! Hopefully I will have some someday close to that.
Subsonicdrone do you have any idea what type of plants they have? Its just a short skip west for me, maybe I'll check it out. Looking for an indigo berry haskap and the only place I've seen one was for sale a farmers market in Toronto (but couldn't take it home then). Maybe I could find one there, you are right it is the season...
subsonicdrone
04-09-2014, 09:05 PM
i dont know
i was at work and saw a banana plant in a big window and asked the gardener about it..we got to chatting and i mentioned that i had seen banana plants for sale at a convenience store on gerrard that were at least 3 feet tall...thats when he mentioned the food terminal.. he said it is where all the convenience stores get their stock
Hammocked Banana
04-11-2014, 11:32 PM
Finally we had a warm day where I was home and could put the plants outside.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_155603_zpspo1zio3k.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_155603_zpspo1zio3k.jpg.html)
Unwrapped the rhotodendrons a few weeks ago. Pics from today, not looking great but hopefully should bounce back, even the middle one, you can see a little green near the bottom. Don't mind all the crap in the background, there was so much snow we lost access to the shed and storage space.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_144434_zpsjvya7atv.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_144434_zpsjvya7atv.jpg.html)
Even worse news (is there any good news after last winter?)...uncovered one of my basjoo mats, it was a first year mat, but I had a lot of confidence it would make it through the winter with a decent amount of p-stem because of its sheltered south-facing location location next to the house. Anyways I was super disappointed to see that the whole thing was mush as far down as I could feel. I'm just hoping that I remembered to plant this guy really deep.
Basjoo Mat #2 - Oct 1, 2013
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20131001_190758_zps6b7c1f76.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20131001_190758_zps6b7c1f76.jpg.html)
Today
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_143941_zpsn3irak4n.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_143941_zpsn3irak4n.jpg.html)
The little yucca sailed through the winter though... Weird.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_144103_zpsjn5y4q3n.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140411_144103_zpsjn5y4q3n.jpg.html)
One potential issue with this mat is that it didn't always have a lot of snow piled up around it bc it would melt quick from the sun. This extra insulation might have made some difference, but I doubt it because this protection was (i thought) bulletproof. Hopefully I don't have to replace this mat, but I would say my chances are actually kinda high. Hopefully the other mats held out better, but one is still under 2 feet of snow so I'm gunna wait to uncover them.
Sting_stong
04-12-2014, 06:42 AM
Hopefully those basjoos bounce back. They're pretty remarkable things so nothing would surprise me. Just to give you an idea of what might have been going on in there, I had a first year plant with a 4" thick pstem 4" up, and it was kept in a styrofoam box with straw. The temperature got down to -10c inside the box (near the edge) and everything seems to have come through okay, except the pstem.
So fingers crossed that yours will come back okay.
Hammocked Banana
04-19-2014, 09:28 PM
Basjoo mat #1 uncovered today. All p-stems are toast but main stem is semi-solid underground, so corms gotta be good, she's burried two feet deep. Time will tell.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140419_135215_zps64dujssp.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140419_135215_zps64dujssp.jpg.html)
Funkthulhu
04-21-2014, 12:19 PM
Mine are all completely trashed. I need to bury them deeper when I pull the pots of insurance plants out of the basement this week.
Hammocked Banana
04-21-2014, 01:13 PM
Ya this has been a super discouraging spring uncovering shelters and all the nanners have litterally exploded from the cold. There is little that can be done however so just hope some pups to take off and that next winter isn't quite so bad. The spring process is slowly starting though so will be lots to do soon which will distract me from the sad basjoo scenes.
Hammocked Banana
04-27-2014, 05:09 PM
Basjoo #3 - Oct 29, 2013 after first frost, time to wrap it up.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20131029_172842_zps5f201380.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20131029_172842_zps5f201380.jpg.html)
Stuffed with dry leaves and tarped.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20131029_181012_zpsdd45c3c6.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/20131029_181012_zpsdd45c3c6.jpg.html)
Uncovered, stem is toast with rot in the centre, but corm is hard so should be some pups from this one for sure.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140423_104647_zpsmknzyvwf.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140423_104647_zpsmknzyvwf.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
04-27-2014, 05:13 PM
Went for a hell of a road trip on Wednesday. Had to get some IBC totes to build an aquaponics garden. I drove 350km (>200 miles) like this hahah! Yes I made it safely, now the long process of cleaning the totes and gravel. I will probably make a separate thread on my system in the hydroponics forum when I get it up and running.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140423_164553_zps6bipkwej.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140423_164553_zps6bipkwej.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
05-18-2014, 10:04 PM
Well here's an catch-up post on my dragon fruit, since I got 2 of the biggest 4 into their final pot/trellis. These are physical graffiti and american beauty.
July 10, 2013 - Just arrived and planted, thanks Dangermouse01! L to R: Physical Graffiti, Purple Haze, American Beauty. Front: Vietnamese Jaina.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Dragon%20Fruit/20130710_133837_zpsf6135ea0.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Dragon%20Fruit/20130710_133837_zpsf6135ea0.jpg.html)
Feb 4, 2014 - Summer growth, plus winter skinnys.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140204_174658_zpskz48s6pm.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140204_174658_zpskz48s6pm.jpg.html)
May 13, 2014 - Planted in their final pot and trellis with 2 elite gold (dole) pineapples. Thicker DF is the PG and thinner one is the AB.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200943_zpsbcvg0xnc.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200943_zpsbcvg0xnc.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200825_zpsuvv1gu1d.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140513_200825_zpsuvv1gu1d.jpg.html)
Still need to build a trellis for PH and VJ, but VJ still hasn't grown at all.
Hammocked Banana
05-18-2014, 10:07 PM
May 11, 2014 - Planted my Ensete Maurelii in the ground. Plant is quite sun burned and wind beaten but it will take off soon. Apple tree garden behind it needs some work, don't judge me haha.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140511_203130_zpshehpz6ad.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140511_203130_zpshehpz6ad.jpg.html)
PR-Giants
05-19-2014, 06:52 AM
Where do u grow your Canadian Bacon Roses.
It makes sense y u Canadians add salt to the soil, it's preseasoning.
Bacon Roses!!!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/20130309_011317_zps9f98f651.jpg
Hammocked Banana
05-19-2014, 10:21 AM
Haha that's one of the only things the girlfriend has ever "grown." U can see the one the cat got to before I did! Best Valentine's day present I've ever got.
Iunepeace
06-12-2014, 01:31 PM
Great pictures Brady; keep up the good work! How're the plants faring now? :D
Hammocked Banana
06-12-2014, 07:41 PM
Thanks. To be honest though, the plants are not doing as good as I would have hoped. I've recently took a job in Toronto, 1.5-2 hours from my house, so im staying in an appartment in the city and just going home when I can. I've also been working most weekends so I don't get much time with them and I have family/friends/neighbours/whoever watering them for me when they can. They are not doing bad or anything, but they are just starting to take off now, so there's lots of sun burn and wind damage still. I didn't take pics last weekend bc I wasn't too impressed and had a lot of work to do in the one day I was home. It looks like my GN/DC might be pushing a pre preflag but we'll see, could just be a short leaf after a loonnnnnggg winter. I will take pics tomorrow when I get back, my blood orange is looking fantastic, and hopefully a week has made some others look a little prettier.
Funkthulhu
06-13-2014, 09:55 AM
Good luck on the new job!
I hope you can get your schedule to open up for more garden work this summer. We can compare basjoo at the end of the season!
Hammocked Banana
06-13-2014, 11:24 AM
Ya I hope I can get some time too. Gunna try to plant some of my potted nanners in the ground tonight when I stop in on my way to the cottage. Jobs not bad though, get to grow plants all day! I dont think ill be winning any basjoos races this year, last weekend I still didn't have any pups, I may have lost them all.
Hammocked Banana
06-23-2014, 09:00 PM
Things just seem to be starting to take off now, was hoping for better but there's still time. Seems like its just finally getting hot. Also once I get my new place Aug 1, I will be able to move a lot of the plants to Toronto where I am going to be spending most of my time in the near future, then the will get the attention they deserve.
June 13, 2014 - GN/DC, still has droopy leaves from the xmas ornaments. Got a good feeding and watering.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_172524_zps2lp2bybm.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_172524_zps2lp2bybm.jpg.html)
GN/DC #2, planted in the ground with all 3 pups, will separate later.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164848_zpsg2g389c6.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164848_zpsg2g389c6.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164902_zpsrxdiilnf.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164902_zpsrxdiilnf.jpg.html)
In the ground where the one basjoo was last year. RIP
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_171445_zpss3cuow0b.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_171445_zpss3cuow0b.jpg.html)
Blood Orange tons of new growth!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_160951_zpsvnqwoxdp.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_160951_zpsvnqwoxdp.jpg.html)
Papayas are eff'ed! Biggest one is toast from sun burn, IMO this one has been a gonner since I sprayed it in winter and it lost its leaves.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161054_zps8dktb7s5.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161054_zps8dktb7s5.jpg.html)
Big taproot, got a little tangled.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_110300_zps7lvlimvm.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_110300_zps7lvlimvm.jpg.html)
Supposed to be replacement plant is also burnt, this one actually had leaves but apparently they burned off, and now its going super wonky. Growing lots of branches. Transplanted it up just to see what happens, I don't see me getting anything off it, although it does have a weird flower.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161003_zpsin2jc9u2.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161003_zpsin2jc9u2.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161020_zpsqdqg1fsg.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161020_zpsqdqg1fsg.jpg.html)
Dragon Fruit starting to branch
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161250_zpsxf9rorxr.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161250_zpsxf9rorxr.jpg.html)
Some volunteer cukes, of which I may leave one ;-)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161305_zpsy9uo1o80.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_161305_zpsy9uo1o80.jpg.html)
A lot of peony blooms this year.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164010_zpsunemyhly.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_164010_zpsunemyhly.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
06-25-2014, 05:46 PM
June 20 - AB
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175101_zpsvkecsokh.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175101_zpsvkecsokh.jpg.html)
PG
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175003_zpsox3hbvfi.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175003_zpsox3hbvfi.jpg.html)
Blood Orange up potted with my new basjoo I just bought and potted, all 3 mats overwintered are toast, sad.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175204_zpsoakiq5ec.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140622_175204_zpsoakiq5ec.jpg.html)
Iunepeace
06-26-2014, 09:41 AM
Looks good! (I see somebody's little white feet on the side lol) How old is the orange? And I'm on the fence about the cold tolerance of Basjoos; they seem to work great for some growers and for others they just die off in the winter. Are there any other varieties that have better cold-hardiness than they do? :)
Hammocked Banana
06-26-2014, 01:47 PM
Thanks. Im not sure how old the blood orange is, I bought it just over a year ago. It has grown a lot since I got it, and I pruned it down pretty good. I think basjoos are as hardy as they come. I have never lost one before, which is why I didnt keep any pups last winter...lesson learned. We had at least 3 weeks last winter where everyday was -25C or colder, so its not surprising TBH. Pretty sad time to start this thread but what can ya do?
Pancrazio
06-26-2014, 07:48 PM
Hats to you for trying to grow a papaya. I gave up two winters ago. They simply can't stand to remain stationary during winter. Usually it does begin with some leaf loss and its a downhill from there. It's a pity because during summer they do grow well, and if they were somehow earlier in bearing they could be grown as veggies. But so far i haven't heard of anything so precocious to be fruited in a single season, and as i said, they are almost impossible to overwinter.
PR-Giants
06-27-2014, 03:22 PM
Every time I see this thread I think
"My Canadian Bacon and Tapas"
bacon tapas - Bing Images (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bacon+tapas&qpvt=bacon+tapas&FORM=IGRE)
Hammocked Banana
06-27-2014, 03:36 PM
I didnt know what tapas were, had to google it, who uses Bing ;-)
Technically that wasn't canadian bacon, these are:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=canadian+bacon&client=ms-android-samsung&hl=en-CA&source=android-browser-type&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n9OtU-mNKMWvyATIuYDABw&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=360&bih=615&rlz=1Y1XIUG_enCA562CA562
Although canadian bacon (pemeal bacon) is absolutely fantastic, the movie is also a classic, I prefer good old fashioned bacon.
Hammocked Banana
06-27-2014, 03:47 PM
Hats to you for trying to grow a papaya. I gave up two winters ago. They simply can't stand to remain stationary during winter. Usually it does begin with some leaf loss and its a downhill from there. It's a pity because during summer they do grow well, and if they were somehow earlier in bearing they could be grown as veggies. But so far i haven't heard of anything so precocious to be fruited in a single season, and as i said, they are almost impossible to overwinter.
Ya this round of papayas were mostly experiments to figure out timing and if I could get them to flower shorter in a smaller pot (answer=no). I think I got it figured out now, but also want to try and start some seedlings in tall tree seedling nursery pots. I think for me I need about 10 months in a 15 gal pot, then transplant to the biggest pot avaialble at the start of the summer and I should be able to get some fruit set around the end of the second summer. The dream lives on :08:
Edit: I keep short plants under my t5 lights but they are going to have to be segregated in winter now to keep mites under control (papaya plants bring them from miles around).
Hammocked Banana
07-10-2014, 07:04 PM
Spending most of my time in the city is bumming me out, thankfully its off to the cottage this weekend. There are some neat things in the city though.
View from the rooftop patio. Another quarter inch to the left and you would be able to see the CN tower.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_200057_zpsisuhwyum.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140421_200057_zpsisuhwyum.jpg.html)
World pride was hosted in Toronto the other weekend. The CN tower lit up for the festivities.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140629_211627_zpsbrctbxfm.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140629_211627_zpsbrctbxfm.jpg.html)
Plants in the window, mostly herbs plus a DC and a pup seperated and rooting for the brother in-law. Left 3 leaves and it still didn't miss a beat. Notice the Gardener Express in the background, Ugh I HATE traffic!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140710_171522_zpsrnbsmtoh.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140710_171522_zpsrnbsmtoh.jpg.html)
Iunepeace
07-11-2014, 03:54 PM
I know how hard it can be to live away from your plants; five months of the year I'm over 800 miles away from them in school. Still working to repair the damage done by neglect now that I'm back...
What is World Pride? I'm unfamiliar with the term sorry. And great to see you with plants in the city! Those bananas look great; I was given a small aloe plant from a church friend to put in my dorm room and it really helped fill a bit of the void not being around my plants left :)
Hammocked Banana
07-11-2014, 06:13 PM
Each year one city in the world is selected to hold world pride, which is just a bigger global version of gay pride, where people celebrate the right to be gay/lesbian/transsexual/transgender.....I am straight but apparently am now classified as "accepting." Honestly I believe nobody should have a label, but I guess that take a time...
Hammocked Banana
07-25-2014, 06:31 PM
Hats to you for trying to grow a papaya. I gave up two winters ago. They simply can't stand to remain stationary during winter. Usually it does begin with some leaf loss and its a downhill from there. It's a pity because during summer they do grow well, and if they were somehow earlier in bearing they could be grown as veggies. But so far i haven't heard of anything so precocious to be fruited in a single season, and as i said, they are almost impossible to overwinter.
Yes the papayas are difficult to overwinter. Like you said, they cant stand to remain dormant, so the trick is to not let them. You have to keep them warm and allow them to at least grow some. I'm going to start some more seeds from a store bought fruit soon, I think the trick is to start them in the heat of summer so they don't dampen off, overwinter them under lights so they're maybe 3 feet tall by spring, then transplant up and hope things work out, they really grow a tremendous amount even during our short summers, just have to make sure the tap root doesn't get bound/tangled. If tap root is stunted, so is the whole plant. Look into abnshrek's threads on his red lady papaya, he's almost got it dialed in perfectly now. My growing season is 2 months less here though so I have to have a bit more growth before the second year. This last wave of papayas I had tried to get shorter plants by keeping them root bound but it just stunted the plants and so I didn't get much from anything except the one in the largest pot, which got killed by sun burn this year. The two kept in smaller pots that got scorched by the sun also are doing some neat things since I transplanted them. They won't be anything, and I'll toss them at the end of this season but neat none the less.
Smallest one decided to branch into two.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_164219_zps7qbgiv0m.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_164219_zps7qbgiv0m.jpg.html)
Other one is jumping into gear.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163743_zps5esrkez2.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163743_zps5esrkez2.jpg.html)
Hermi?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163723_zpsqn9taafk.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163723_zpsqn9taafk.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
07-25-2014, 06:49 PM
Finally made the other dragon fruit trellis. Spur of the moment, I decided to try another style of trellis, just to see how it works. Unfortunately the purple haze split a bit when trying to get it in there, so I had to chop it and plant as a second plant.
PH before transplant.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162714_zpsz5s6cpsp.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162714_zpsz5s6cpsp.jpg.html)
Good News, after a full year my Vietnamese Jaina has finally decided to grow.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162839_zps9ioe5aga.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162839_zps9ioe5aga.jpg.html)
In their new trellis. Top: PH (2 pieces), Right: VJ, Left: Physical Graffiti
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193431_zpsl65admnu.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193431_zpsl65admnu.jpg.html)
Comparison of the two trellises
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193439_zpspzyngrhr.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193439_zpspzyngrhr.jpg.html)
Closer shot of other DF. AB has some significant bug damage, they ate the growing tips. We'll see what happens, I let a few more branches grow lower down also just in case.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162950_zpsonlasecf.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162950_zpsonlasecf.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
07-25-2014, 06:58 PM
More updates from last weekend. Biggest GN/DC not getting enough water and showing a K deficiency. Pups growing well but mother is only growing a leaf every 2 weeks or so.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162605_zpsideoufgc.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162605_zpsideoufgc.jpg.html)
Unknown/DC
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_171957_zpscw3gu27h.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_171957_zpscw3gu27h.jpg.html)
Ensete maurelii. Some rodent or something burrowed into the corm of this one and there was basically only like 1/4 of it left. Recovering well considering, you can see the stem of an old leaf, which grew from the full corm, is much larger than the new growth. All other leaves are new and post-damage.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_172011_zpsvg3ldbbn.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_172011_zpsvg3ldbbn.jpg.html)
Washy finally has real leaves :08: Something was eating a lot of the plants early in the summer, you can see the damage on this one too, but it will soon grow out of it now I think.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162622_zpsui9dytcb.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_162622_zpsui9dytcb.jpg.html)
Blood orange, this is probably max size for this guy for a while, but I always have trouble pruning nice new growth.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163202_zpsn1qrdmxn.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140719_163202_zpsn1qrdmxn.jpg.html)
Some figs, a big white fleshed one I had just gotten, and a hardy one on the right which I will probably plant outside next year.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193418_zpsagfjt8tq.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_193418_zpsagfjt8tq.jpg.html)
Added a new agave too. One on the left has grown quite fast this year, working on its 5th new leaf.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_194325_zpsp4jpa15y.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140720_194325_zpsp4jpa15y.jpg.html)
Hmmm seems like a lot of my blueberries are missing!?! Hahaha small price to pay to have my family come and water my plants all week when I'm in the city. I'm very thankful to them, but soon Ill have some yard space to have my plants in the city, so I can give them the love they need (the plants that is).
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140718_185409_zpszl5fyzpz.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140718_185409_zpszl5fyzpz.jpg.html)
Jeff_Ajax
07-25-2014, 11:34 PM
We should start a Tropical Plant Society of Ontario.
Hammocked Banana
07-26-2014, 10:35 AM
If would definitely be a good way to get/trade plants. All my gardens are sad this year though, they never got planted. I just stuck some plants in the ground to ensure their survival with my fam coming to take care of them for me. Im sure there are enough crazy Ontarians like us to do it though, I'm sure Matt would be in!
Iunepeace
08-01-2014, 06:56 PM
Gorgeous plants Brady; what could you do about the K deficiency of that banana in the container setting?
Hammocked Banana
08-02-2014, 07:55 PM
Gorgeous plants Brady; what could you do about the K deficiency of that banana in the container setting?
That plant is showing a K def because its not getting enough water, which is why it hadn't grown that much by that point. It has actually started to take off since and now has 2 nice sword pups too. Im moving it to the city on tuesday so I will be able to give it the care it needs to nurse it back to health before the winter.
Jeff_Ajax
08-02-2014, 08:28 PM
If would definitely be a good way to get/trade plants. All my gardens are sad this year though, they never got planted. I just stuck some plants in the ground to ensure their survival with my fam coming to take care of them for me. Im sure there are enough crazy Ontarians like us to do it though, I'm sure Matt would be in!
Ok, We'll work on this for sure.
Iunepeace
08-02-2014, 08:37 PM
That plant is showing a K def because its not getting enough water, which is why it hadn't grown that much by that point. It has actually started to take off since and now has 2 nice sword pups too. Im moving it to the city on tuesday so I will be able to give it the care it needs to nurse it back to health before the winter.
How interesting; I didn't know plants could exhibit mineral deficiencies due to insufficient watering. Are its underwatering symptoms the same as the K deficiency symptoms?
Hammocked Banana
08-03-2014, 02:08 AM
It simply isn't getting enough water to allow it to absorb the amount of K it needs. Actually I have been pounding it with K this year but my inability to water it enough, being in the city, has led to this def.
Iunepeace
08-07-2014, 07:38 PM
So it's just staying dry to long between waterings to absorb enough K? That's a very interesting problem. Have you tried repotting it into something with a wetting agent/moisture control that dries out slower, or maybe covering the soil surface with a cheap heavy mulch to reduce evaporation?
I'm not sure what soil medium I was using at the time but a few years ago I remember when gardening my containers would dry out before I got home that evening if soaked with water that morning. I know how annoying that can be :)
Hammocked Banana
08-07-2014, 09:04 PM
I feel like I got the perfect soil mix figured out, for me anyways. Drains well, absorbs when really dry, dries out at the right rate in summer and in winter here in Canada. The problem was just that I wasn't there enough to give it all the water it needs/wants. I've been hammering the water to it now that I have it with me in the city :-)
Hammocked Banana
08-12-2014, 10:35 PM
The moving truck last Tuesday. Its twice as deep, but you get the idea, couldn't get a good pic.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140805_121805_zpsyj5zcciw.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140805_121805_zpsyj5zcciw.jpg.html)
Some flowers:
Papaya
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140811_174431_zpsw3j1zx7u.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140811_174431_zpsw3j1zx7u.jpg.html)
Dwarf Pom
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140807_191857_zpskad7uydk.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140807_191857_zpskad7uydk.jpg.html)
New arrivals, Raja Puri on the left and Cali Gold on the right. With most of the palm collection.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140812_175516_zpssevk4iwu.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140812_175516_zpssevk4iwu.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
08-16-2014, 01:26 PM
Some updates of stuff in the ground still in Peterborough. Crappy day so pics suck but had to take pics while I could. Is this a Dwarf Cav?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140816_123427_zpsoiemp9ox.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140816_123427_zpsoiemp9ox.jpg.html)
E. Maurelii bulkin'
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140816_123421_zpspyp08zff.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140816_123421_zpspyp08zff.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
09-14-2014, 10:42 PM
Some things going on at the new place.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140903_191120_zpsav0ygzgk.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140903_191120_zpsav0ygzgk.jpg.html)
Papaya flowers opening
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140903_191202_zpszquwcc9w.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140903_191202_zpszquwcc9w.jpg.html)
Quite possibly the best thing I have ever smelled
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140909_173617_zps19vxqzib.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140909_173617_zps19vxqzib.jpg.html)
Ok I got another DF question. My american beauty flopped over in the move and took some damage in the narrow connection between segments. It kind of cracked halfway through this narrow section, and I am worried it isn't sending enough nutrients to the segments up top. Here is a pic of the whole plant and a close-up of the damage. Please ignore all the tying tape, I'm training the limbs so I will have a manageable structure long term. The damage is at the top of the segment which is planted in the pot. It has recently been sending out a lot of new growth below the damage so I feel like it might be telling me its connection to the upper portion has been interrupted. The top pods are still growing but I'm not sure if this is because of reserves stored in the pods, it doesn't have that many aerial roots yet. What should I do?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140904_185409_zpsiqtq9fdo.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140904_185409_zpsiqtq9fdo.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140904_185424_zps5dwyyko8.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140904_185424_zps5dwyyko8.jpg.html)
Nothing worse than a chorded lawnmower.
Hammocked Banana
09-21-2014, 08:52 PM
Sadly it's starting to get cold here and season is winding down. Here's how things are coming along. Back in Peterborough:
May 11, 2014
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140511_203130_zpshehpz6ad.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140511_203130_zpshehpz6ad.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140921_162011_zps6ktbkl4p.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140921_162011_zps6ktbkl4p.jpg.html)
June 13, 2014
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_171445_zpss3cuow0b.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140613_171445_zpss3cuow0b.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140921_162020_zpsbfjkjouc.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140921_162020_zpsbfjkjouc.jpg.html)
In the city...Do these fruit look like they are gunna hold or is it still too early to tell?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20140917_192147_zpshjhczzvg.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140917_192147_zpshjhczzvg.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
01-13-2015, 12:12 AM
Well winter's almost half over and plant depression is at a maximum. Plants are at their ugliest, but some are showing signs of swinging back. Figured I would post some pics just to keep track.
My big DC/GN. Mother stem hasn't grown all winter and only has 2.5 leaves. The one pup is quickly catching up. The cigar on both of these stems hit the roof and need to be chopped a bit.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_190631_zpslzbe6yj1.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_190631_zpslzbe6yj1.jpg.html)
Some things in the grow space, under t5s, just maintaining.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171905_zpsze25x2dc.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171905_zpsze25x2dc.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171921_zpsaqeum0an.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171921_zpsaqeum0an.jpg.html)
Moro Blood Orange, was looking real bad, lost over half its leaves. Several branches on top turned brown, do you guys think they will leaf out again, or are they toast? Good news though...
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184734_zpsrinlcyir.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184734_zpsrinlcyir.jpg.html)
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184741_zpsiihqowrf.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184741_zpsiihqowrf.jpg.html)
Cali Gold (left) and Raja Puri (right) I got from Shrek in the fall, establishing well.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184720_zpssro4vwhk.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/20150111_184720_zpssro4vwhk.jpg.html)
I got another question...My Ensete Maurelii that is bare root in the basement has been growing a bit because it was a little hot at first due to an open duct I was unaware of. Since then it has continued growing slowly. Seeing as it gets no water, has no soil, gets no light and has almost 4 months of winter to go, I'm worried this growth is just wasting resources. Should I chop it down or leave it? Any advice?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171950_zpsqzz0eycw.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_171950_zpsqzz0eycw.jpg.html)
Lastly my poor papaya, it's hanging in there. Only one of the 6 fruits is still hanging but it seems to be pushing out some new growth now at least.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_172106_zpsrmyhs2jy.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150112_172106_zpsrmyhs2jy.jpg.html)
Jeff_Ajax
01-13-2015, 09:10 AM
I had a rough time with my Pups, I didn't water them and they got incredibly dry and then I over watered to make up (I know) and I have some rot going on. I cleaned most of the rot off, potted in some new lose soil and watering sparingly. I also lifted them off the ground which I found was extremely cold and was the reason they weren't using the water I was giving them.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10888606_10155225477515001_5104946979105143334_n.jpg?oh=6f29ec09 1b953d449d9e28713a8261fc&oe=556F8C9D&__gda__=1428292296_3581028fd73e567119040a5fe5e9a0da
A quick shot of my temporary greenhouse.
kaczercat
01-13-2015, 10:03 AM
It's been way too cold don't ya think? lol my greenhouse had to be shut down this winter due to the rain/wind storms we had in the past month. broke the roof:( everything looks pretty good for mid Jan!
Jeff_Ajax
01-13-2015, 12:27 PM
I never actually took my temp greenhouse down this summer but we built it pretty strong so it's not going anywhere.
Jeff
Hammocked Banana
01-13-2015, 02:37 PM
I feel for ya Matt, how are your plants fairing this winter so far?
Jeff, what kind of temps do u maintain in your greenhouse over winter? Do u do an inflatable double poly? Are the IBCs just there as a heat sink?
Jeff_Ajax
01-13-2015, 02:48 PM
I feel for ya Matt, how are your plants fairing this winter so far?
Jeff, what kind of temps do u maintain in your greenhouse over winter? Do u do an inflatable double poly? Are the IBCs just there as a heat sink?
My Temporary Greenhouse is attached to the front of my Garage (Garage Door Removed), I have a gas fired furnace hanging from the ceiling and its orientated towards the front of the garage 2/3 towards the front. If that make sense lol.
I keep the thermostat set at 60 during the day and 65 at night. When the sun shines, the temps get a lot higher inside. I was running a small humidifier as well but it seems to have konked out the other day.
I also have 3 fans circulating air inside the greenhouse, we'll say one brings in fresh air only because one of the corners came un-taped.
Since it is only temporary, I've built it all out of 2x4 SPF and used a 6 mil poly wrapped on both sides of the wall. It works very well although the temperature on the ground is pretty cool since I don't have a perfect seal around the bottom edge. That's why everything is on shelves or tables (new edition 2 weeks ago).
I'm ordering in some new gingers to pot up and grow and in the end of March I always re-pot my Canna tubers that I store in bags in the basement and grow them in time for the spring.
I'll take some pictures of my Enesete Maurelli's that I dug up, having problems with them growing to fast lol.
Not this year but next year, I plan on taking down most of my garage (14'x25') and putting up a greenhouse in its place.
Hammocked Banana
01-14-2015, 07:33 AM
That's a pretty sweet set-up. Im looking to build a ghouse as well, just concerned about heating costs. What does it run you to heat your garage if you don't mind me asking?
Pancrazio
01-14-2015, 09:55 PM
Well winter's almost half over and plant depression is at a maximum. Plants are at their ugliest, but some are showing signs of swinging back. Figured I would post some pics just to keep track.
[cut]
Lastly my poor papaya, it's hanging in there. Only one of the 6 fruits is still hanging but it seems to be pushing out some new growth now at least.
Nice pics! I like your efforts. Very similar to mine.
My plant however, are far from their uglies. They reach that point usually around March, so far they are just running quickly downhill.
I just wanted to congratulate with you for your nice papayas, i have tried last winter in getting a papaya to overwinter in my house, but failed miserably. Yours seems in a really good shape, I want to know your secret!
If you are willing to build a greenhouse and you are worried about heating costs, take a look around to permaculture solutions. I did find a lot of inspiration in that stuff. As for now, I have a little inefficient enclouse for my mango built with permaculture techniques that works pretty well. Not even 1 cent of heating bill and i get consistently 16F more (that 10°C) than outside.
Jeff_Ajax
01-14-2015, 10:37 PM
That's a pretty sweet set-up. Im looking to build a ghouse as well, just concerned about heating costs. What does it run you to heat your garage if you don't mind me asking?
I wouldn't really know how much extra it costs to heat the Garage in the winter. I don't run a inline meter to track my gas usage. I also have a inefficient hot water tank and an old house severely lacking insulation so it doesn't help either with the bill.
kaczercat
01-15-2015, 08:08 PM
I feel for ya Matt, how are your plants fairing this winter so far?
Jeff, what kind of temps do u maintain in your greenhouse over winter? Do u do an inflatable double poly? Are the IBCs just there as a heat sink?
bubble wrap might help. there's numerous videos of people using it on youtube:P and half my plants died in the greenhouse the other half all cut back and slowly coming
Hammocked Banana
01-16-2015, 07:34 AM
I have been looking into greenhouse various techniques for heating etc. My problem is that I'm renting this house right now so it would have to be a "temporary" greenhouse, so basically I wouldn't be able to put a rocket stove in it or anything, plus I don't really have the time for wood. Would I ever love to give my plants some real sun over the winter though!
Im sorry to hear about your loss Matt, you got first dibbs on the first pups off my CG and RP still.
Hammocked Banana
08-14-2015, 12:09 AM
I've been pretty busy this spring/summer but I'm looking to get this thread caught back up so hears a late spring update of what things looked like after the snow had all melted.
June 6, 2015 - Just finished the banana garden and planted pups. From closest to farthest - Raja Puri, Cali Gold, DC, DC.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150602_180459_zps4yfxndyz.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150602_180459_zps4yfxndyz.jpg.html)
July 5, 2015
The big DC, new basjoo and some Hydroponics (RDWC) in the makings.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203216_zpsu2j22xg5.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203216_zpsu2j22xg5.jpg.html)
Maurelii and the white fig starting to take off.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_202823_zpsncpghscl.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_202823_zpsncpghscl.jpg.html)
Banana garden must be getting some roots down
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203147_zpsq2phpnmg.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203147_zpsq2phpnmg.jpg.html)
Some new growth on the DF also. New limbs only started one week before, but swelling quickly.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203333_zpsgid3z8vj.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150705_203333_zpsgid3z8vj.jpg.html)
Hammocked Banana
08-14-2015, 12:57 AM
Aug 9, 2015
The big Dwarf Cav. Expecting a flower any day now. Bigger stem on the left is 68" tall, 22" circumference at the base, and 14" circumference at the Puerto Rican standard of 1m. The other stem on right is 60" tall, 17" circumference at the base and 13" @ 1m.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195341_zpsf0uaaakl.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195341_zpsf0uaaakl.jpg.html)
The banana garden keepin on. Hoping to reach at least 4' of pstem this year. I believe this would allow me to get flowers next year once replanted.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195212_zpsihxxtchz.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195212_zpsihxxtchz.jpg.html)
Maurelii starting to look good.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195633_zpsvzl1iasy.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195633_zpsvzl1iasy.jpg.html)
Basjoo is growing pretty slow, but that's kinda expected as a first year plant. Also you can see the leaves are a little miscoloured, I don't think it likes the full sun, but this is its spot so it better learn to deal.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195413_zpszxomllix.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195413_zpszxomllix.jpg.html)
Zebrenia starting to do its job of disguising the RDWC rez.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195313_zpsdag8czsu.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195313_zpsdag8czsu.jpg.html)
Dragon Fruit with some really good growth this year so far. I did tie it up after this pic as some limbs were getting a little out of control.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195428_zpsqfpe7yhh.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195428_zpsqfpe7yhh.jpg.html)
Finally (kinda) done the hardy cactus garden.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195324_zps66paexf9.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195324_zps66paexf9.jpg.html)
My seed grown Washingtonia filfera.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195547_zpseiy4uwih.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195547_zpseiy4uwih.jpg.html)
The white fig has over a dozen fruit!
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195709_zpsmdr9eetb.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150809_195709_zpsmdr9eetb.jpg.html)
A nice shot of a volunteer morning glory about to open.
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150807_174515_zps5w7k7rqj.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150807_174515_zps5w7k7rqj.jpg.html)
Great job! You've been working hard to get these results with that crappy weather...
Hammocked Banana
08-14-2015, 08:21 AM
Ya we had one week of heat which was way too hot, and now I'm just waiting patiently for a bit more heat to return, and hopefully push that first DC flower out ;-) Looking good for the weekend though.
Nate74
08-14-2015, 08:50 AM
looks great
I'm competing with you for the first flower! But I think you'll win; yours is bigger than mine... That being said, it's not always about size! Lol! I got my new nanner yesterday. I'll post a new thread today. Do you need more figs? I love your large pots by the way.
Jeff_Ajax
08-14-2015, 10:53 AM
I have two DC's in the garden as well, total height about 6' right now. Don't think they'll push a flower this year. when I put them in the greenhouse, I won't cut them back at all.
subsonicdrone
08-15-2015, 06:31 AM
and i thought my biggest might be ready to push out a flower being 5" diameter at the base of the pstem!
looks great
all i have is DC
if you have any pups for sale ill buy some
I've got somme little unknown ones if you want. They look canvendish cultivar but wich one (cd,sdc...or just something else). You just need to pay shipping. They're about 6 inches tall.
Hammocked Banana
08-21-2015, 10:16 PM
Another leaf and no flag. I'm starting to think this DC is a grand naine after all; measuring in at 6'1" today. Do others have DC flower taller than 6'?
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s548/Hammocked_Banana/Mobile%20Uploads/20150820_194157_zpsinvkddyt.jpg (http://s1305.photobucket.com/user/Hammocked_Banana/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150820_194157_zpsinvkddyt.jpg.html)
subsonicdrone
10-18-2015, 04:27 PM
did you put everything inside for the winter?
it was more work than i anticipated
Hammocked Banana
10-18-2015, 05:41 PM
Yes I just brought most of the plants in on friday night. It was quite the challenge getting the big momma in, even after cutting it down significantly. Both stems were right around 7' with no flower. Good news tho, didn't cut a flower stalk when I cut it down either! I'll post pics soon, my house is a jungle!
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