View Full Version : How to predict a flag leaf coming?
Hi
i have been growing bananas for several years here in Dallas, TX. However only this season am I noticing that two of my bananas that I was hoping would bloom soon have more or less stopped growing in height. Is that a sign that flag leaf will soon show up or is that possibly a cause of me digging them up in the fall and replacing in spring in order to get banana fruit?
Thanks
siege2050
07-14-2015, 07:59 PM
The lack of growth could be due to high temperatures, when mine bloom the leaves start getting smaller a leaf or two before the flag leaf. What variety are they?
Richard
07-14-2015, 08:20 PM
... a sign that flag leaf will soon show up ...
A flag leaf is a sign that a bud is coming. The only precursor to that is a slight fattening of the pstem in the top 3/4 of the plant; i.e., a bud is on its way. If you've never seen this before then its difficult to recognize. If you are really hoping for a bud, then do the usual stuff like: wear mismatched socks for a couple weeks, only shave half your face every other day, etc.
robguz24
07-14-2015, 09:58 PM
There's usually a pre-flag leaf that is a normal leaf but not as big as the one before it.
PR-Giants
07-15-2015, 10:03 AM
Leaves get progressively shorter, in some cultivars it's easier to notice.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51799 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51799)
siege2050
07-15-2015, 02:02 PM
That is how I knew this was going to bloom a few weeks ago, the last leaf before the flag leaf was much smaller.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=58310&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58310)
It makes sense what you all write. The last lead was smaller than the rest so hopefully. It is a Sweetheart and it has only been hot for a few weeks.
Richard
07-15-2015, 08:15 PM
It makes sense what you all write. The last lead was smaller than the rest so hopefully. It is a Sweetheart and it has only been hot for a few weeks.
Hopefully you water more frequently in hotter weather.
pitangadiego
07-15-2015, 11:20 PM
The best indicator of flowering is height. If you have consistent culture, each plant will flower at the same height. By experience you should have a idea of the correct height for your variety at you location.
For Nam wah I do but this is the only the second year with Sweetheart so this is the first time it will flower.
PR-Giants
07-16-2015, 07:19 AM
After the harvest measure and record leaf blade lengths, there will be a pattern useful in the future.
As far as height, expect an additional 3 to 5 feet on the ratoon crop of the Sweetheart (in the tropics), but the reduction of leaf blade length will remain consistent.
Height is too dependent on the environment to be consistently useful.
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