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jeffaroo
04-08-2017, 12:33 AM
I'm sure this will get controversial, but I'm just trying to get the new guys pointed in the right direction without making the mistakes I did.

Stay clear of tissue cultures for now. I know it's tempting with the cheap price, combined shipping deals and all. Instead buy large pups from reputable sellers. This gives a huge jump start into the hobby as well as saving a ton of time. Know your climate zone and what has been proven to grow. Ask questions if your unsure. Enjoy and understand your hobby, again ask questions.

Now back to tissue cultures. I've pretty much given up on them due to the time involved and special care the first year. However treat them as a side hobby and you can aquire some pretty cool specimens. Do your homework on tissue culture sellers. Some are good, many are bad.
I've wasted a lot of time and money buy trying to save a couple of bucks. It's not really worth it. Think about it, tc shipping is cheap because you have no weight. Buy a xl pup and you could pay as much as $15 . Bottom line, you get what you pay for

We're all here for the same reasons. If you need help, just ask.

Happy bananaing

druss
04-08-2017, 12:53 AM
Interesting, in Western Australia the only way to get bananas in is in the form of TC. There are import permits, lab certifications, meristem testing requirements etc. I have bought in 120 test tube plantlets in agar of 21 types all through the gene spectrum and only lost 3. Keeping the temp/light and humidity right for the first 3-4 weeks is the most critical. Quite a few people here have failed with tc plants and I'm not sure why. I havent found them harder than seedlings (once germinated). I have taken a few pups for people and sure theyre like an established plant, but I wouldnt write off tc.

jeffaroo
04-08-2017, 01:11 AM
I'm sure you have your system in Australia. I was referring more to the folks in North America

Tytaylor77
04-08-2017, 02:47 AM
I agree I prefer pups greatly over TC. Not because I have loss them but like Jefaroo said the time and care. I am very impatient! Especially if you have limited time to grow. They are harder to get and cost more but pups rooted and shipped in soil (like a cloth pot or even nursery pot) they save even more time! Usually this method is reserved for the variegated types or very rare varieties.

Freshly wrapped rooted pups are the most common and are great also. If done correctly they will push a leaf in 3-4 weeks after arriving. Then you have an established plant!

Then the most important part! By buying from a member or trading you get a verified correctly labeled variety. TC you roll the dice and find out what you get in 2 years.

All this said you can really mess up either method. So do your research and ask questions! One question can save you a month delay or even save from killing a plant. TC or corm.
If you can't get an answer then Private Message someone. I welcome a PM from anyone as I'm sure most others do. We all love talking bananas!!

druss
04-08-2017, 02:56 AM
Pretty sure my varieties are correct as they come from the government research arm that supplies the entire Australian banana industry. Just found it interesting people had that many problems with getting tc going.

Tytaylor77
04-08-2017, 03:19 AM
Pretty sure my varieties are correct as they come from the government research arm that supplies the entire Australian banana industry. Just found it interesting people had that many problems with getting tc going.

Oh yes your fine. As are the ones from our USDA Tars in PR. I'm talking Agristarts or other commercial US TC labs. All about $ and not about making sure they have the correct plant material. Or they get mixed up at the nursery/online nurseries are the worst. I can name several varieties which are not in TC labs anywhere! But there they are for sale on the online nurseries site. I've emailed some of these "nurseries" asking and they even admit they "swap with a dwarf cavendish because DC has better cold hardiness than cali gold"

I still have that email from a major online nursery if anyone doesn't believe me. I put the blame on the whole start to finish of TC. It's all about making $ over supplying collectors or maintaining varieties. It's really sad.

Going bananas in FL is the only that seems good. They TC their own stuff and I've never heard a mismatch or complaint. They are high though.

Narnia
04-08-2017, 11:26 PM
Druss, Did you get your TCs from Nambour Research Station in Qld?

druss
04-09-2017, 07:16 AM
I think so let me check, are you in oz?

Narnia
04-09-2017, 03:53 PM
I think so let me check, are you in oz?

Yes

druss
04-09-2017, 06:33 PM
If your east coast, bluesky would be your best bet, to get bananas.

sputinc7
04-09-2017, 07:44 PM
I think the best info a newbie needs right away is cultivar selection. So many people in Georgia and northern Texas trying to make a go of D cav as their first banana, one of the most cold sensitive varieties when other varieties could do so much better for them, maybe even left in ground and mulched.
Once they know what they should get, then tell them where to get it.

Tytaylor77
04-09-2017, 11:55 PM
Baised in what I grow:

Your first banana if your north of zone 9 should be dwarf Orinoco. They are very easy to grow and hard to kill. Also the most cold hardy edible banana. Not the best tasting to me but you will learn a lot.

For zones 7b and warmer try some short cycle varieties like Veinte Cohol, Patupi, Tigua, fhia-3 sweetheart. Have a 2'-3' pup growing in the house/greenhouse and plant it in ground after last frost. Easy here in 8b but very hard to do in colder areas. They are very cold sensitive and go dormant if the temps drop.

Zones 8b/9a my zone. Any variety can be grown here with winter protection except extremely cold sensitive types like reds and cavendish types. My best performers:
Dwarf Orinoco
Fhia 1 goldfinger
Fhia 3 sweetheart
Tall namwa (sold as Ice Cream)
Real Blue Java ice cream (rare plant)
Brazilians
Manzano
Raja Puri

Short Cycle ones:
VC - I harvest many Veinte Cohol bunches every year.
Patupi I will fruit also (planted too late last year didn't ripen)
Tigua (haven't flowered yet)
Fhia 3 sweetheart flowered (was also planted very late)

I will share more info on my newer varieties and 2nd success with the short cycles later in the year.

jeffaroo
04-19-2017, 01:48 AM
Huge shout out to PR, I just received his order today. Most pup orders are chopped and shipped. PR actually roots them prior to shipment to ensure a strong, healthy plant. He then packages it in a way for zero movement.
At first I thought his prices were high, I totally understand his pricing now and can't recommend highly enough. Well worth the price/wait.
Very nice sir

Little Belle
04-26-2017, 06:55 PM
I'm sure this will get controversial, but I'm just trying to get the new guys pointed in the right direction without making the mistakes I did.

Stay clear of tissue cultures for now. I know it's tempting with the cheap price, combined shipping deals and all. Instead buy large pups from reputable sellers. This gives a huge jump start into the hobby as well as saving a ton of time. Know your climate zone and what has been proven to grow. Ask questions if your unsure. Enjoy and understand your hobby, again ask questions.

Now back to tissue cultures. I've pretty much given up on them due to the time involved and special care the first year. However treat them as a side hobby and you can aquire some pretty cool specimens. Do your homework on tissue culture sellers. Some are good, many are bad.
I've wasted a lot of time and money buy trying to save a couple of bucks. It's not really worth it. Think about it, tc shipping is cheap because you have no weight. Buy a xl pup and you could pay as much as $15 . Bottom line, you get what you pay for

We're all here for the same reasons. If you need help, just ask.

Happy bananaing

Well...since you asked, I could use some help/suggestions. I killed my my Dwarf Lady Finger (Logee's) after growing it for 2-3 years. I would love a dwarf that I can grow in a container outside in Spring/Summer and bring in (either as a house plant if it is not too tall, or let go dormant in my basement). And, of course, I want bananas. I am in Charlotte, zone 8a. I would love to try my hand at growing bananas in the ground, but right now I have my hands full learning to grow stone-fruit trees, figs, mulberries, blueberries and blackberries. I can't take on any more right now.
So which dwarf should I grow in a container that will fruit and has sweet, tasty bananas??? BTW - My Dwarf Lady Finger died during dormancy this past winter - turned to mush.

PR-Giants
04-26-2017, 08:11 PM
Thanks a lot jeffaroo, I'm really happy you were pleased.

I ship the same way I would want to receive plants. Yeah I go a little overboard but if it's worth doing then it's worth doing correctly.

I've received plants before that were completely destroyed because they were packed badly and don't want to see that happen to others. Zero movement is a good description.

I saw that you received a Veinte Cohol brick and a FHIA-03 brick and after reading this thread I hope you didn't make your decision based on anything Tytaylor77 wrote, because the FHIA-03 is definitely not a short cycle even if you stretch the definition.

For your location I would have recommended the Tigua/Kumunamba.

If you read this thread I think there is a person near you growing them successfully. Plus the moderator Harveyc is growing it but don't recall when he received his.

Thanks again for the shout out. :08:

More Kumunamba Pix (http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2740008/more-kumunamba-pix)

Huge shout out to PR, I just received his order today. Most pup orders are chopped and shipped. PR actually roots them prior to shipment to ensure a strong, healthy plant. He then packages it in a way for zero movement.
At first I thought his prices were high, I totally understand his pricing now and can't recommend highly enough. Well worth the price/wait.
Very nice sir



For zones 7b and warmer try some short cycle varieties like Veinte Cohol, Patupi, Tigua, fhia-3 sweetheart.

Short Cycle ones:

Fhia 3 sweetheart

Tytaylor77
04-27-2017, 12:10 AM
PR sorry your sweetheart aren't growing as fast. I thought everything grew faster in the tropics.

I planted mine last year as a 1' tall plant on May 16th and it paused with the flower just poking out in late December. 7 Months for a flower is amazingly fast for me. Most first flowers take around 300days. The sweetheart was planted at the exact same time as my Tigua and patupi. The sweetheart bloomed, the patupi had a flower in the pstem, and the Tigua had nothing. I'm sure it's nothing like a Musa Florida. I can't wait for my Florida to fruit this year. Faster than Tomatoes and Watermelons. Wow. I'm excited. Sweetheart is one of my fastest and best growers. And very cold hardy. It grows while many others goes dormant. My largest is already almost 6' tall. Amazing growth and I have no doubt it will flower this year. Don't take my word for it:

Research done in southern FL. Tigua is first. Sweetheart is 3rd only a few days behind Brazilian (doesn't grow fast for me).
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61398&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61398&ppuser=20917)

Here is one of your sweethearts flowering in 6 months! Faster than mine.
18-20-18-18-18-18-18-18

Planted Jun 7, 14

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57131 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57131)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57116 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57116)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57105 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57105)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57106 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57106)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57101 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57101)

You seem to prefer it and say it's faster than a few other varities (6" a week seems fast for a short plant):
The people I've talked to here that are growing the FHIA-03 have said it's a much better dessert banana than the Namwa, plus it produces heavier bunches, grows faster, and ripens sooner. My 03s have been growing about 6" a week and I'll be harvesting them as cooking bananas but will let a bunch ripen. With all the high quality dessert bananas we can grow here, Raja Puri, Dwarf Brazilian, Namwa, and many others are just not worth growing.

I agree with venturabananas, and would also choose growing a DB over a RP.

gnappi
04-28-2017, 05:56 PM
I know some frown on taking plants from friends and acquaintances but when I started I got two small pups from a friend and have a few more since then.

I think even a nursery bought plant is a crapshoot too so I will take any interesting specimen I can when I can, but only plants not TC's.

Just Joan 2
05-02-2017, 03:33 PM
This is my question too!

Just Joan 2
05-02-2017, 03:40 PM
I am also looking for a variety that can be grown in a container also, that I can grow inside in the winter or go dormant...and outside in the spring and until the fall, any suggestions must be on the shorter side also...thank you:waving:

PR-Giants
05-03-2017, 07:15 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=51446 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51446)

I should have realized from your April 12 email that you were unsure of what a short cycle is, but the good thing is we are all here to help each other.

3 leaves in 15 days isn't bad but it would have performed much better had you not wanted it shipped earlier than what was written in the listing but what's important is that they are doing great and you are very happy.



Here's a thread about a Tigua grown and harvested in Louisiana.

http://www.bananas.org/f12/unknown-quick-fruiting-louisiana-banana-46768.html

Here's a thread about a FHIA-3 grown and flowered in Louisiana.

http://www.bananas.org/f2/monster-fhia03-46586-2.html


PR sorry your sweetheart aren't growing as fast. I thought everything grew faster in the tropics.

I planted mine last year as a 1' tall plant on May 16th and it paused with the flower just poking out in late December. 7 Months for a flower is amazingly fast for me. Most first flowers take around 300days. The sweetheart was planted at the exact same time as my Tigua and patupi. The sweetheart bloomed, the patupi had a flower in the pstem, and the Tigua had nothing. I'm sure it's nothing like a Musa Florida. I can't wait for my Florida to fruit this year. Faster than Tomatoes and Watermelons. Wow. I'm excited. Sweetheart is one of my fastest and best growers. And very cold hardy. It grows while many others goes dormant. My largest is already almost 6' tall. Amazing growth and I have no doubt it will flower this year. Don't take my word for it:

Research done in southern FL. Tigua is first. Sweetheart is 3rd only a few days behind Brazilian (doesn't grow fast for me).
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61398&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61398&ppuser=20917)

Here is one of your sweethearts flowering in 6 months! Faster than mine.


You seem to prefer it and say it's faster than a few other varities (6" a week seems fast for a short plant):

PR-Giants
05-03-2017, 07:18 PM
I sell 4 different sizes, a small pot, large brick, extra large brick, and a jumbo brick, and all are grown in a premium soilless mix.

The SH-3640 was a small pot and Highgate was a large brick for Tytalyor77.

Both of jeffaroo's plants were large bricks.

In the photo below is a jumbo brick that was shipped to a member yesterday.

Shipping one plant costs $12.40

Shipping two small pots or one jumbo brick is $17.05.

Any empty space is then filled with 2 inch thick solid styrofoam boards to prevent movement.

These bricks maximize the space in the box and protect all of the small feeder roots so they make it safely to their destination.

It is much better than shipping bare root with wet paper where some large roots may survive but many large roots get damaged and die and all of their small feeder roots die.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53189 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53189)

Tytaylor77
05-03-2017, 09:20 PM
That's the point I did purchase several from you. The AEAE received in horriable condition almost 2 month as after I ordered. The newest 2 Higate was purchased on March 6th and was received April 8th. Other took over a month as well.

After spending several hundred dollars and waiting patiently! Not even complaining about the month shipping delays or the AEAE. Then that email proves I was still nice and polite. See how I am greeted in return? Your welcome!

Everyone here already knows what you are about. Where was you at teaching everyone all winter? You always leave when it's not banana sales time and every year you show back up with some new idea and change.

I hope anyone can grow roots like that in Puerto Rico. They grow wild like that down there!:ha: show me pics of your bunches when you grew in CA, CO, CT, FL, OH, MA, MI, NH, NY.

I'm done with you and am glad you blocked me. It's really ashamed you could help a lot of people. Instead of just caring about selling new members $150 variegated plants. So go ahead with the childish attacks. It shows your true character and what kind of person you are.

You have inspired me though. I'm expanding like I never have. I have 100 acres so room isn't an issue. The price of short cycle and variegated bananas is about to become very affordable in the next couple years.

Price Match Guantee! Mine are $10 less Puerto Rico prices! :ha::ha:

Still no reply why you take a knife and carve the new pups and nubs from all your corms? What does this help? Why do you do this?

PR-Giants
05-03-2017, 10:50 PM
It seems that you do not read the listings



The AEAE received in horriable condition almost 2 month as after I ordered.


Ordered June 30
Delivered on July 14
Expected delivery date July 19

2 weeks is not 2 months




The newest 2 Higate was purchased on March 6th and was received April 8th.

Ordered March 6
Delivered on April 8
Expected delivery date April 21




Other took over a month as well.

Ordered February 6
Delivered on March 28
Expected delivery date April 12


You really should consider reading the listing before you buy something.

The expected delivery date is there to let you know when to expect the delivery.



The price of short cycle and variegated bananas is about to become very affordable in the next couple years.

Price Match Guantee! Mine are $10 less Puerto Rico prices! :ha::ha:





There are special winter prices for members, the plants are cared for until the member's expected delivery date. It is very simple if you have a calendar.

One of your friends bought that Jumbo brick for $7.95, go ahead and ask.

It was ordered on Feb 24 the same day you purchased the SH-3640.

Expected delivery date is May 15 but it should arrive tomorrow.

Banana plants sell for 30 cents in Puerto Rico. :ha::ha:

The entire bunch of perfect fruit sells between $5 to $7.


:woohoonaner:

Tytaylor77
05-03-2017, 11:01 PM
Still no reply why you take a knife and carve the new pups and nubs from all your corms? What does this help? Why do you do this?

PR-Giants
05-04-2017, 03:24 PM
The price of variegated bananas is about to become very affordable in the next couple years.



Every year there are always members that promise to make variegated bananas very affordable, but the promise is always in future and never comes to fruition.

On July 12, I shipped 3 variegated rhizomes, 2 extra large (one went to another member) and 1 large that went to tytaylor77.

What makes July 12, such a special day is that two members were shipped variegated rhizomes and both members vowed to make variegated bananas very affordable.

This is going to be exciting, we have a race to the bottom between two members who both were shipped variegated rhizomes on July 12.

I wouldn't be surprised that with this competition between these two that one of them or maybe both start to give them away.


There is a large demand for variegated bananas and it is the marketplace that really determines the price.



There is a Zoo botanical garden in the United States that received their Variegated Manini today and they made it very clear that the price will be OK for the Zoo's budget.

I received a very nice text from them this afternoon...

Keith this was the nicest package I have ever seen!
It's already sent up a leaf.

That coming from anybody is great but when it comes from a botanical garden it is very special.

Many people are concerned more about getting quality then the price, but not everyone is the same.
:nanadrink:

cincinnana
05-05-2017, 07:50 PM
I think the moderator had said cut it out...:waving:

druss
05-05-2017, 09:19 PM
Maybe by cutting the eyes off, it forces growth into the roots and main shoot.

PR-Giants
05-07-2017, 01:52 PM
On July 12, I shipped 3 variegated rhizomes, 2 extra large (one went to another member) and 1 large that went to tytaylor77.




Here is the photo of the rhizome that was shipped to the other org member on July 12.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=57205 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=57205)