Log in

View Full Version : 25-30' and fruiting in Central Tx zone 8b


princessjasmine
09-18-2007, 11:13 AM
I must have at least 8-10 different varieties of bananas growing, but my favorite are these huge ones. Probably at least 25-30' tall now. I planted them in July 06 and they have bloomed 9/07, even though we had a hard freeze this past winter (it got down in the 20s, killed some of my palms). These bananas were cut back to the ground in December 06 and started coming back out in March 07 and have multiplied like crazy. The trunk diameter is probably about 12 inches now and were at least that big or bigger last winter when I had to cut them at the ground. Now we have fruit on them and I have no idea what kind they are. I bought them from a local nursery where the lady didn't speak much english, so she wasn't much help in identifying them.

Other details... I planted them in a slightly elevated bed, covered by several inches of mulch and mixed in some sand in the soil where they are planted. I have never fertilized them, but they may have got some fertilizer from the palm or hibiscus near by. We have had an unusual amount of rain this spring and summer.. we normally get 36 inches per year, but we have had more than that just in May and June, then it continued to flood in July and August thus giving us milder weather than usual.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

Gabe15
09-18-2007, 12:19 PM
welcome to our group!

looks like you got some massive 'Orinoco', never seen them quite that tall but growing conditions can change a lot of "standard" things.

princessjasmine
09-18-2007, 02:04 PM
Cool, thanks so much! I love your site, there's so much here. I wish I knew more so that I could contribute.

MediaHound
09-18-2007, 04:45 PM
Even if you don't know much about them, posting pictures of your banana plants is something everybody can appreciate!

Welcome aboard!

natedogg1026
09-25-2007, 09:58 PM
Good lookin plants!! ook like Orinoco's to me. Media Hound just I.D.'d some for me.:2706:

Dean W.
09-26-2007, 08:33 AM
Welcome to the forum I’m just a newbie here. I do live right down the road from you though. Glad to here you’ve had luck actually growing bananas in Central Texas. :2758:

Dean

princessjasmine
09-26-2007, 12:42 PM
Well like I said.. I probably have 8-10 different kinds of bananas, but these are the only ones that actually have fruit. This one in particular has multiplied like crazy, and the other ones, maybe half have multiplied a little and the other half has not. I originally purchased 3 of these big ones, and I probably have at least two dozen or so now. Check out Whittlesey in RR off of I35.

Dean W.
09-26-2007, 12:48 PM
Thanks for the lead I'll have to swing by there and check them out.

Dean

karunasagar108
10-28-2007, 04:39 PM
Wow! Those are totally awesome. I love big banana plants. Would you possibly consider giving me one of these amazing plants? It would be a great addition to my newly started collection.

MediaHound
10-28-2007, 05:37 PM
If you guys want a huge banana plant, look into Musa 'Saba'.

frog7994
11-02-2007, 01:57 PM
I'm getting the Saba tomarrow. I can't wait.:2197:

MediaHound
11-02-2007, 08:59 PM
Saba in the wiki:
http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musa_Saba

frog7994
11-02-2007, 09:16 PM
those are great pics

karunasagar108
11-03-2007, 06:51 AM
I have a Saba but it is still a baby. MAybe next year I will be looking up at her in amazement, instead of looking down.

frog7994
11-03-2007, 07:17 AM
what is the growth rate of the Saba?:weightliftingnaner:

frog7994
11-03-2007, 01:44 PM
I got my plants A Saba,mysore,pisang raja, and lucatan this is adition to a African rino horn and a Orinco

frog7994
11-03-2007, 04:04 PM
I planted 4 of the 5 I got to day:waving:

modenacart
11-03-2007, 07:26 PM
What it must be like to live in an area that is warm enough year round.

frog7994
11-03-2007, 08:53 PM
well where I live you might not see frost for years and every 10 years or so it gets cool enough to have frost on the ground. But the sun is all ways warm.:dreadlocksnaner:

MediaHound
11-04-2007, 10:35 AM
what is the growth rate of the Saba?:weightliftingnaner:

Pretty fast once they get going a few months after you plant it, and also when Spring comes... Feed it good though so it can sustain the growth. Lots of compost, water, etc.

frog7994
11-04-2007, 08:30 PM
:camelnaner: thank you

MediaHound
11-05-2007, 10:42 AM
frog, are you composting kitchen scraps?
:chefnaner:

frog7994
11-05-2007, 03:20 PM
yes I am but I have been using it for my veg. garden. I have been getting mulch for free from the county. and also hourse manuer from some of the local stables here.:martialartsnaner:

MediaHound
11-05-2007, 04:07 PM
:weightliftingnaner:

frog7994
11-08-2007, 11:48 AM
I can't get the fruit to mature. It will start out good but die out as time goes on. This is my forth flower, does any one have a idea as to what is going wrong or maybe a sugestion?

MediaHound
11-08-2007, 05:39 PM
Are you usually cutting down green leaves? or was that just to take the pic?

frog7994
11-08-2007, 09:30 PM
I cut down the yellow leaves. should have I left them on longer?

MediaHound
11-08-2007, 11:06 PM
Yellow is ok in my book...
Just making sure..

frog7994
11-09-2007, 07:01 AM
I might be taking off to many leaves to soon? I'm a real amateur at this so please feel free to speak you opinion. Thank you