View Full Version : Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
Dplaza
09-16-2014, 07:28 PM
The latest leaf I noticed looks quite a bit smaller than the rest, maybe 2/3 the size of the leaf before it. It's kind of hard to tell from the photo, but more obvious in person. The stem is only a little above 9 ft, a little short for a supposed Namwah. What do you think, is it going to be sending up the flag leaf soon? I have never had a plant fruit yet so this would be a first.
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Abnshrek
09-16-2014, 07:41 PM
Its called a Pre.. :^)
Dplaza
09-16-2014, 07:43 PM
Its called a Pre.. :^)
LOL how pre? Several leaves away or only a few?
Abnshrek
09-16-2014, 07:45 PM
LOL how pre? Several leaves away or only a few?
Its the leaf before the flag pops up.. :^)
Dplaza
09-16-2014, 08:04 PM
Really?! Unbelievable! I feel like a kid getting ready for Christmas, just wish it wasn't getting near the end of the growing season. I want to be able to taste my own naners, never had anything but Cavendish from the grocery store.
Abnshrek
09-16-2014, 08:10 PM
Can always hope for a late freeze.. You can cover up for frosts.. :^)
JCA433
09-16-2014, 09:06 PM
The bananas may fill out just enough before freeze if the temperature is warm. What I would do is cover the bunch with frost cloth to increase temperature. Namwah bananas here in Homestead, Florida fill out very quickly.
When is your average first frost?
Dplaza
09-16-2014, 09:42 PM
The bananas may fill out just enough before freeze if the temperature is warm. What I would do is cover the bunch with frost cloth to increase temperature. Namwah bananas here in Homestead, Florida fill out very quickly.
When is your average first frost?
Last year in November we had our first frost, maybe it will hit December before the first frost if I'm lucky.
Dplaza
09-16-2014, 09:45 PM
The bananas may fill out just enough before freeze if the temperature is warm. What I would do is cover the bunch with frost cloth to increase temperature. Namwah bananas here in Homestead, Florida fill out very quickly.
When is your average first frost?
Are you saying to wrap the bunch as soon as they develop even if the temp is warm or once there's danger for frost?
Abnshrek
09-16-2014, 09:59 PM
Are you saying to wrap the bunch as soon as they develop even if the temp is warm or once there's danger for frost?
Wrap the bunch in black weed barrier so it draws heat during the day when it starts to cool off.. your best off to cover the whole plant when frost is imminent.. Blanket King sized.. :^)
JCA433
09-16-2014, 10:02 PM
Cover the bunch when the average temperature is below 65 F. Maybe October for your area.
PR-Giants
09-17-2014, 09:50 AM
Namwah bananas here in Homestead, Florida fill out very quickly.
Approximately how many days?
In the tropics it's about 135 to 140 days.
@Dplaza, you probably should have postponed the shooting until spring.
Dplaza
09-17-2014, 05:56 PM
Approximately how many days?
In the tropics it's about 135 to 140 days.
@Dplaza, you probably should have postponed the shooting until spring.
I didn't think it was anywhere near fruiting since the height is a few feet short of typical Namwahs. I haven't fertilized in weeks so I was trying to slow it down. What else do you do to postpone?
blownz281
09-17-2014, 06:24 PM
He was kidding. Mine bloomed late August last year with 88 bananas. Bad winter last year as you know. So I cut the bunch after several frost an being wrapped. They never did color up inside and got moldy.
JCA433
09-17-2014, 07:18 PM
Approximately how many days?
In the tropics it's about 135 to 140 days.
@Dplaza, you probably should have postponed the shooting until spring.
3.5 to 4 months from first hand to harvest.
PR-Giants
09-17-2014, 08:06 PM
3.5 to 4 months from first hand to harvest.
Approximately how many days from shooting to first hand?
I think in his area it would be much longer.
PR-Giants
09-17-2014, 08:24 PM
I didn't think it was anywhere near fruiting since the height is a few feet short of typical Namwahs. I haven't fertilized in weeks so I was trying to slow it down. What else do you do to postpone?
My Namwah plant crops shoot at 8'-9', and yours was at 9'.
I have no experience with cold weather but I would have started slowing it down at 6' expecting to go into Winter at 7', produce some leaves in the Spring and then shoot. Slowing leaf production is an easy way to postpone it.
Dplaza
09-17-2014, 09:28 PM
My Namwah plant crops shoot at 8'-9', and yours was at 9'.
I have no experience with cold weather but I would have started slowing it down at 6' expecting to go into Winter at 7', produce some leaves in the Spring and then shoot. Slowing leaf production is an easy way to postpone it.
I appreciate this advice, now I know for my future plants. My target was to be around 9 ft or so before winter thinking it wouldn't fruit until around 12 feet or so, based on what others were saying when their Namwah fruited. Half of me is saying wrap it but I don't think it will make it through nights when it gets in the 20s-30s. The other half of me is telling me to dig it up - anyone ever do this while the plant is fruiting? What affect does this have on the bunch?
austinl01
09-17-2014, 10:09 PM
I harvest velutina in three months from when the bloom opens.
JCA433
09-17-2014, 11:40 PM
Approximately how many days from shooting to first hand?
I think in his area it would be much longer.
The time between pup emergence from ground and inflorescence is about 12 to 13 months. The time from inflorescence emergence to first hand is 11 to 14 days.
blownz281
09-18-2014, 05:54 PM
I read one time someone dug a fruiting plant up. No idea on outcome. You would want to do it on a cool morning and dig a big hole around it making sure not to cut many roots. Worth a try. I have pups I can sell you if it died and didn't pup. I'm in NC an your an hr an change from me give of take.
Dplaza
09-18-2014, 06:15 PM
I read one time someone dug a fruiting plant up. No idea on outcome. You would want to do it on a cool morning and dig a big hole around it making sure not to cut many roots. Worth a try. I have pups I can sell you if it died and didn't pup. I'm in NC an your an hr an change from me give of take.
I have a half dozen pups planted in the backyard from this plant and a few more that I gave away. Thanks for the offer though, I do need something besides Namwah. The mother was a pup from a local nursery last July, so it took 14 months to get to this point. Still waiting on the flag leaf, nothing seems to be happening - I don't know what to expect, I'm used to seeing another leaf furled inside the petiole.
blownz281
09-18-2014, 06:23 PM
My profile shows all I grow here in ground.
blownz281
09-18-2014, 06:24 PM
Have you happen to go by Pirates Voyage at all this year yet?
Dplaza
09-18-2014, 08:00 PM
Have you happen to go by Pirates Voyage at all this year yet?
I haven't been on business 17 all year, I avoid it because of the traffic. I need to get up there.
Dplaza
09-23-2014, 04:25 PM
There it is, the flag leaf I assume!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56812&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56812)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56812&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56812)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56810 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56810)
Dplaza
09-30-2014, 04:31 PM
Almost there! It seems like it's slowing down with cooler temps, were now in the 60s-70s F, I thought I would be able to see the flower by now. Call me crazy, but this a little like watching birth!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56854&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56854)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56855&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56855)
Dplaza
10-03-2014, 10:07 PM
When is the flower coming out of this thing?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56865&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56865)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56866&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56866)
Hammocked Banana
10-03-2014, 10:43 PM
That is the flower! Just sit back and watch.
Dplaza
10-04-2014, 08:30 AM
That is the flower! Just sit back and watch.
I'm impatient and just want to see it open to a red/purple flower, when does that happen? Very curious to see what it will look like in the next few days, once its all the way out.
cincinnana
10-04-2014, 11:12 AM
I'm impatient and just want to see it open to a red/purple flower, when does that happen? Very curious to see what it will look like in the next few days, once its all the way out.
It is like a present that you want to open sooooo bad.:lurk:
Dplaza
10-11-2014, 09:45 AM
It's out now!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56878&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56878)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56877&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56877)
Dplaza
10-11-2014, 09:53 AM
So does this flower confirm that it's a Namwah? I bought it labeled from a nursery as ice cream/blue java.
What happens next, the hands form?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56892&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56892)
Dplaza
10-15-2014, 09:48 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56917&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56917&ppuser=16788)
Dplaza
10-15-2014, 09:50 PM
Got home from work today, and the first bananas appeared! 2 rows of 9 or ten under each of the first two petals.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56916&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56916&ppuser=16788)
Dplaza
10-18-2014, 12:09 PM
Can't believe how fast it got to this point! I can now see 6 hands.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56931&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56931)
Dplaza
10-28-2014, 07:46 PM
The fruit is growing quickly! Too bad we are supposed to get our first frost on Halloween night, upper 30s F. Don't know what I am going to do :(
Dplaza
10-28-2014, 07:47 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56975&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56975)
blownz281
10-29-2014, 05:10 PM
How are you going to get a frost? High 68 for us an low 50. Nov 11-20 is when we are expected to get our first frost somewhere in those dates.
Dplaza
10-29-2014, 07:40 PM
How are you going to get a frost? High 68 for us an low 50. Nov 11-20 is when we are expected to get our first frost somewhere in those dates.
That's what I thought, but according to our local WMBF news a cold front is pushing through and there's the possibility of patchy frost in areas. It's crazy because we have had 80 degree days, and now it will get down into the 30s this weekend. Check your forecast for this weekend, maybe the cold front misses you?
JCA433
10-29-2014, 07:47 PM
Patchy frost with lows in the upper 30s F is no problem for Nawah bananas. We had those weather conditions here in January and the bananas were not damaged.
siege2050
10-29-2014, 07:48 PM
That's what I thought, but according to our local WMBF news a cold front is pushing through and there's the possibility of patchy frost in areas. It's crazy because we have had 80 degree days, and now it will get down into the 30s this weekend. Check your forecast for this weekend, maybe the cold front misses you?
They said it was going to be in the 50's halloween here, but not now, now its supposed to be a low of 29, had to dig bananas all day, been in the 80's.
Dplaza
10-29-2014, 08:25 PM
I see tiny yellowish fingers on the bottom of the latest brachts, are those the male parts of the flower?
Dplaza
10-29-2014, 08:29 PM
Patchy frost with lows in the upper 30s F is no problem for Nawah bananas. We had those weather conditions here in January and the bananas were not damaged.
Even for the flower and bananas? I have already covered the trunk in burlap as you can see from the pic. Maybe I need to put a bag over the bloom? I appreciate all your help, this weather has me nervous and cautious.
Dplaza
10-29-2014, 08:42 PM
They said it was going to be in the 50's halloween here, but not now, now its supposed to be a low of 29, had to dig bananas all day, been in the 80's.
That's going to be me soon. I have a 4 and 6 ft pup I'm digging up before winter. A few other pups I'm going to leave planted in the ground and see how they do. And of course, this one that is a month into flowering, that I am playing by ear on what to do.
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