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View Full Version : The amazing Musa Basjoo


austinl01
03-02-2008, 07:03 PM
In the spirit of Randy's post, let's look at musa basjoo for a minute.

It starts as just little stumps in early spring. Musa basjoo starts growing quite early for a banana. It seems to like the cool weather. In just a few weeks, it will look like the following.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/austinl01/Bananas/March2006014.jpg

It grows about 12 feet high by November and looks like this:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/austinl01/Bananas/EarlyNovember2007062.jpg

And, if you treat this banana right, it will reward you with beautiful flowers.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/austinl01/Bananas/MidNovember003a.jpg

I consider this banana a gift from heaven for gardeners north of Zone 7. Let's all rejoice for the awesome musa basjoo!

the flying dutchman
03-02-2008, 07:56 PM
yeah, it's really amazing, and what a beautiful flower too.

Thanks for the pics.

Ron

Randy4ut
03-02-2008, 09:18 PM
I agree 100%, Austin. To start off with this at the end of March:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202007/100_1621.jpg

And end up with this by the end of September (20+'), is truly amazing:
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202007/100_2260.jpg

They are a God send for us northern nanner lovers!!!

Good thread...

austinl01
03-02-2008, 09:52 PM
Randy, what kind of soil are you using in that basjoo bed? I think mine would grow better if the clay wasn't so hard around them.

Randy4ut
03-03-2008, 07:59 AM
Austin,
The soil before I prepped the bed was fairly decent mix with quite a bit of clay. After I turn a bed to about 12", I add what is called "landscape mix". Turn it under and top dress with a good 4" or so of landscape mix. The landscape mix is a combination of pine fines, mushroom compost, sand, perlite, trace elements. I buy it from a fertilizer company that is about 1/4 mile from my house. They sell this, as well as mulches, ferts, sand, gravel. It sure makes it nice to be able to run over and grab a scoop or stop by on the way home from work....