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View Full Version : Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland!


robguz24
06-16-2016, 05:59 PM
Landed in Reykjavik, Iceland today for a 6 day visit. First stop after sleeping was a visit to the Agricultural University of Iceland in Hveragerđi, where they've been growing bananas since the 50s.

It was fun and interesting. Almost everything they were growing in there was something I see in Hawaii, including coffee.

The guy who showed us around didn't know the cultivar, but I'm guessing Dwarf Cavendish. He had a couple others that he got from a student a couple years ago. One was probably Ice Cream, and the other probably some AAB type.

Wasn't even planning on doing this, but decided yesterday to try emailing and see if there was a way to see them. The head of their program got right back to me and set it up!

They're doing research on growing other kinds of vegetables mostly. Had some fresh tomatoes better than anything I've had in Hawaii!

The banana fruit were interesting looking. Very rounded tips when they filled out properly, but many did not. Didn't get to taste any. Lots of problems with choking but it was nice seeing so many perfect leaves, not torn, no disease.

If you read some articles online, you'll see mention of 600-700 plants but it was nothing like that. Just most of one full greenhouse row. They all get eaten by staff and students. The Ice Cream was already reaching the top and probably won't have room to fruit.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9112_zpszyow2iar.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9112_zpszyow2iar.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9108_zpsghb025sl.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9108_zpsghb025sl.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9114_zpskzag5glc.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9114_zpskzag5glc.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9115_zpsugojyjhx.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9115_zpsugojyjhx.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9119_zpsmdne2ein.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9119_zpsmdne2ein.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9123_zpse5iitbow.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9123_zpse5iitbow.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9128_zpsgxh5eugb.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9128_zpsgxh5eugb.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9132_zpsq45yrbls.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9132_zpsq45yrbls.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9137_zpshsv4kgab.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9137_zpshsv4kgab.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9140_zpsjckrs8hu.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9140_zpsjckrs8hu.jpg.html)

The likely Ice Cream
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9141_zpspwke14bu.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9141_zpspwke14bu.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9146_zpsp8nt4kul.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9146_zpsp8nt4kul.jpg.html)

He said they get almost all water suckers.
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9154_zpsxt3xw372.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9154_zpsxt3xw372.jpg.html)

One of the mystery ones that I guess is some AAB type
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9159_zpslgihwxru.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9159_zpslgihwxru.jpg.html)

DC close up
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9160_zpspjfjk8tw.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9160_zpspjfjk8tw.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9164_zpstl2jddru.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9164_zpstl2jddru.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9166_zpsmx9v608h.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9166_zpsmx9v608h.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9172_zpskbgodbta.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9172_zpskbgodbta.jpg.html)

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/robguz24/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9174_zps23lqfu1t.jpg (http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/robguz24/media/Robs%20bananas/IMG_9174_zps23lqfu1t.jpg.html)

Jamie p
06-16-2016, 06:11 PM
That's really cool. Thanks for sharing. I'm just curious what they use to heat their greenhouse?

Kegas76
06-16-2016, 06:26 PM
hot springs

Jamie p
06-16-2016, 07:24 PM
That's awesome! Nothing like a free heat source !

Kegas76
06-16-2016, 11:06 PM
I saw this clip a few years ago, I can't remember what show it was part of though.

https://vimeo.com/144578786

Hamakua
06-17-2016, 08:36 PM
Looks like fun!

mushtaq86
06-18-2016, 03:15 PM
I would be interested to know what temps the greenhouse is kept at, in winter months.

hdynad
06-18-2016, 04:15 PM
Thanks for sharing, what an incredible trip!

Darla

robguz24
06-18-2016, 07:54 PM
I would be interested to know what temps the greenhouse is kept at, in winter months.
I don't know, it was probably high 70s and humid when I was there. Heated with steam from the local vents so very cheap for them.