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View Full Version : Lots of room for more bananas!


robguz24
08-05-2014, 05:35 PM
Just purchased this lot which borders my home! Another 1/5 acre to grow more bananas. Already have 7 bananas waiting to be planted. Now I just need 150' of garden hose.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/IMG_4388_zps6bc2fb2a.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/IMG_4388_zps6bc2fb2a.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/IMG_4386_zps9c97ddd7.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/IMG_4386_zps9c97ddd7.jpg.html)

bananimal
08-05-2014, 07:50 PM
Did you get it for a good price? I have been thinking of doing the same thing about the vacant lot next door.

robguz24
08-05-2014, 07:58 PM
Not as good a price as I'd hoped, but probably a lot less than it will be worth in a year. You can get 3 acres in some places for $20K but that wouldn't do me any good since my home wouldn't be near it.

Abnshrek
08-05-2014, 08:02 PM
Now you are the corner lot + ? You putting up a fence? :^)

Dplaza
08-05-2014, 09:06 PM
Very nice congrats! I wish I had that kind of room, land is at a premium here and they drop houses right next to one another.

robguz24
08-05-2014, 11:55 PM
No fence. My house is on the left in the first picture and this new lot touches my home lot on the left corner.

from the sea
08-06-2014, 05:40 AM
nice buy! now you just need to fill it with trees.

robguz24
08-06-2014, 11:52 AM
nice buy! now you just need to fill it with trees.
It's going to be a mix of raised beds, pineapple, bananas, and some trees at the edge so it doesn't block ocean views of the house behind it. For bananas it's going to be Vundi, Mysore, Gros Michel, Common Plantain, Iholena, 'Upehupehu, Ele Ele, Hapai, Maoli, Kru, Veinte Cohol, Mona Lisa, A'ea'e, Tu'u Ghia, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Nang Phaya, Fe'i, Hua Moa, and whatever else I can get my hands on!

Other trees waiting to go in are Kahulu'u avocado, Z-2 Abiu, Buddha's Hand Citron, Eureka Lemon, and Fremont Tangerine.

crazy banana
08-06-2014, 12:56 PM
It's going to be a mix of raised beds, pineapple, bananas, and some trees at the edge so it doesn't block ocean views of the house behind it. For bananas it's going to be Vundi, Mysore, Gros Michel, Common Plantain, Iholena, 'Upehupehu, Ele Ele, Hapai, Maoli, Kru, Veinte Cohol, Mona Lisa, A'ea'e, Tu'u Ghia, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Nang Phaya, Fe'i, Hua Moa, and whatever else I can get my hands on!

Other trees waiting to go in are Kahulu'u avocado, Z-2 Abiu, Buddha's Hand Citron, Eureka Lemon, and Fremont Tangerine.

Congratulations.
Sounds like heaven - looks like heaven.

verndoc50
08-06-2014, 05:30 PM
Congratulations, Rob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know you're excited about this!

Happy growing!

Iunepeace
08-07-2014, 07:00 PM
Looks great! Always a good thing to have more space to grow bananas! I'm starting to dabble into fruit trees a bit myself, although with more container-manageable things like citrus. What's the soil on the lot like; can you just plant straight in ground or do you have to cultivate/backhoe it first? Also terribly interested to know how you're going to get rid of all those weeds; mine have been driving me crazy :)

robguz24
08-08-2014, 08:16 PM
It is all lava rock, no soil. I spot plant with a cinder soil Mac nut mix and will weed whack and cover with tarps until ready to plant. Then cover with free mulch from our county. Not doing much else for now. Just had a small hurricane last night and am without power. Lost only 3 bunches and a dozen or so bananas were broken in half.

Brian_Banana
08-08-2014, 09:21 PM
Just had a small hurricane last night and am without power. Lost only 3 bunches and a dozen or so bananas were broken in half.

Rob, looks like another on the way. Hunker down.

Brian:eek:

siege2050
08-09-2014, 12:57 AM
Probably fertile though being volcanic

bananimal
08-09-2014, 09:21 AM
The NWS just reported the track of the 2nd storm has moved more northward. Good news.

lukem5
10-30-2015, 10:45 AM
Lets see a 1 year progress report!

robguz24
10-30-2015, 04:50 PM
15 month update. I get something starting to flower every few days lately.

I planted at the edges first and am working my way towards the middle. This is from the west edge looking towards my house. Some of the more recent plants from the past 6 months. Mona Lisa is the closest plant.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7922_zpssbmf06gw.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7922_zpssbmf06gw.jpg.html)

mid lot looking west. These taller ones were mostly planted between last August and January.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7905_zps0c0pgkws.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7905_zps0c0pgkws.jpg.html)

Looking towards the year old plantings on the east side of the lot. Also a small pineapple patch and some newer bananas.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7906_zpsvs0jygcz.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7906_zpsvs0jygcz.jpg.html)

View from my other new lot towards the east edge of the corner lot. Most of these were planted in August 2014. Cardboarded area awaiting delivery of cinder soil. http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7903_zpsfez9azmw.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7903_zpsfez9azmw.jpg.html)

street view of west edge.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7909_zpssad6leo8.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7909_zpssad6leo8.jpg.html)

street view of west corner. Most of these are 9-15 months old now.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7910_zps6ny7u2no.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7910_zps6ny7u2no.jpg.html)

Within the west edge, Eureka lemon, Buddha's hand citron, A'ea'e between some Gros Michel. San Miguel Avocado.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7911_zps62uwkyd6.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7911_zps62uwkyd6.jpg.html)

west edge with my house in the distance. Empty lot I want to buy someday too!
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7912_zpsph8uwgrg.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7912_zpsph8uwgrg.jpg.html)

Mysore.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7913_zps1pqqvrze.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7913_zps1pqqvrze.jpg.html)

Staghorn fern. Always loved these and my house lot has no mature trees to grow one on. This is growing on a native Ohia tree.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7914_zpsc9avoudo.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7914_zpsc9avoudo.jpg.html)

Maoli Hai
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7915_zpsda1qg4ht.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7915_zpsda1qg4ht.jpg.html)

Putalinga Kula
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7916_zps8u7t4sv4.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7916_zps8u7t4sv4.jpg.html)

My first Pisang Raja. Looking like 10-12 hands.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7918_zpsiohuh2tq.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7918_zpsiohuh2tq.jpg.html)

Beautiful unknown type of Iholena. Interesting pattern on the underside of the leaves.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7920_zpscunispwm.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7920_zpscunispwm.jpg.html)

Most mature Ele Ele. More black on the side away from the sun.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7921_zps6jo6owzr.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7921_zps6jo6owzr.jpg.html)


Veggie beds waiting for soil and mulch waiting to be spread. Have to spread this every 6 months since it breaks down so quickly.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7923_zpsnhdnoweu.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7923_zpsnhdnoweu.jpg.html)

street view from east edge
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7904_zps1pfxxsyy.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7904_zps1pfxxsyy.jpg.html)

Giant Plantain
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7908_zpseigtrpgl.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7908_zpseigtrpgl.jpg.html)

Dwarf "Ladyfinger" and Dwarf Plantain.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7907_zpsyzxwdq64.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_7907_zpsyzxwdq64.jpg.html)

luisport
10-30-2015, 05:23 PM
WOW! I'm very impressed. Congratulations! :bananas_b

buddyguygreen
10-30-2015, 07:25 PM
Good Job, they all look great.

lukem5
10-30-2015, 09:50 PM
Wow what a dream. It's amazing how much you can grow with so little soil, how many inches of soil was there originally and how many inches do you grow on?

I can see the (hours of) labor of love you have put into your plot it must be gratifying to see all that new growth!

robguz24
10-31-2015, 12:07 AM
Zero soil then and zero soil now. Keeping all the plants mulched seems to be good enough for the roots to have something to grow into without drying out. Much of the lot was also covered with pieces of drywall, and now cardboard and more mulch.

lukem5
10-31-2015, 12:26 AM
No soil?! do all the micronutrients come from fertilizer you apply?

from the sea
10-31-2015, 05:17 AM
Most probably come from the mulch, good looking banana farm you got there. I know how the mulching goes, It is the same here, apply a foot of mulch and it is gone in what feels like a week. Here in the Florida Keys we also have no soil, but instead of a base of lava rock I have limestone.

HMelendez
10-31-2015, 06:24 AM
Congrats Rob!




looking awesome!.....very good job!.....well rewarded!....

robguz24
10-31-2015, 11:38 AM
I'm guessing the micronutrients come from the fertilizer and mulch. Some of the lava rock is crushed so it is more like sand. I also use dolomite lime, boron, epsom salts, iron & zinc, occasional seaweed concentrate, along with my main monthly fertilizer which is a mix of 13-3-37 (slow release) and 10-5-40. With over 100" per year I don't really have to worry about build up of anything too much in the "soil."