Log in

View Full Version : Looking


Johnjr62
05-13-2018, 03:26 PM
I am looking for bananas that will withstand the heat and cold of the Texas Hill Country. N.of San Antonio Texas and S.of Bandera Texas. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

edwmax
05-13-2018, 07:20 PM
Orinoco if you want fruit; otherwise a Basjoo.

Mudturkle
05-17-2018, 11:46 PM
Are you in plant zone 9A? So far I like Dwarf Orinoco. I harvested bananas from it where I live in 8B. With a little protection, I've almost harvested Raja Puri and Dw. Brazilian. I'm still figuring out what works for me, but I think I like dwarfs.

Tytaylor77
05-19-2018, 02:51 PM
I’m direct east of you. Zone 8b. I’d recommend:
Dwarf Orinoco
The real blue java.
Dwarf or tall namwa. (Tall is sold as blue java but it is not)
The real Raja puri

Once you get used to growing them maybe try some harder to grow short cycle Musa like:
Veinte Cohol.
Patupi
Iholena Tigua.
Dwarf Nino.

Mudturkle
05-19-2018, 04:48 PM
I’m direct east of you. Zone 8b. I’d recommend:
Dwarf Orinoco
The real blue java.
Dwarf or tall namwa. (Tall is sold as blue java but it is not)
The real Raja puri

Once you get used to growing them maybe try some harder to grow short cycle Musa like:
Veinte Cohol.
Patupi
Iholena Tigua.
Dwarf Nino.

Ty, why do you say those are harder to grow? More cold sensitive?

Tytaylor77
05-20-2018, 12:54 AM
Yes! Especially for someone just learning to grow Musa. I always recommend to get the namwa, Orinoco, etc. after you learn and even kill a few the first year, then you can move up into the rare and usually more expensive short cycle varieties.

The #1 thing new Musa growers do is over water! I know I did! A lot of those short cycle AA types are very sensitive to overwatering! Like VC and Especially Patupi!

Start easy! Then move up! And learn! Learn! Learn!

Mudturkle
05-20-2018, 10:29 AM
Yes! Especially for someone just learning to grow Musa. I always recommend to get the namwa, Orinoco, etc. after you learn and even kill a few the first year, then you can move up into the rare and usually more expensive short cycle varieties.

The #1 thing new Musa growers do is over water! I know I did! A lot of those short cycle AA types are very sensitive to overwatering! Like VC and Especially Patupi!

Start easy! Then move up! And learn! Learn! Learn!

Really? I didn't know that. How can you tell if you've been overwatering? My VC and Patupi have been somewhat disappointing so far. Also it seems that my tall bananas don't grow fast enough. By the time they are getting big enough that they should fruit soon, winter hits.

Akula
05-20-2018, 12:26 PM
Hey Mudturkle can you elaborate on your experience with your patupi? How long have you had it? When did you plant it? Is it in the ground or a pit? What month planted and how much growth achieved during the season?

I want to get a patupi but have not really heard much about it’s growth whether successful or not successful besides some posts by Ty and PRG and those guys are pros. It would be great to get some info from the backyard and semi-pros! Haha.

Thanks for any info!

Mudturkle
05-21-2018, 01:39 AM
Akula, I'd be more than happy to do that, but it probably wouldn't be a fair representation yet. I got mine from PRGiants June 2016. I grew it a little while in a pot. Then when I thought it was going good I planted it in the ground at my house in zone 8B. It seemed to be growing nicely, but as winter approached I decided that I wouldn't be able to protect it where it was and I potted it up and moved it to my closed-in and heated front porch. Spring 2017 I planted a Patupi pup in the ground at our place in Zone 9B and kept one in a pot at home in zone 8B. Almost all my bananas in the ground at both locations froze to the ground last winter. The Patupi that spent the winter on my porch at 8B wasn't too happy either, but survived. The Patupi in the ground at 9B is re-growing (like all my other bananas). I'll try to add pictures tomorrow.
http://C:\Users\John\Desktop\Patupi\Dec2017.jpghttp://C:\Users\John\Desktop\Patupi\Dec2017.jpg

Akula
05-21-2018, 01:07 PM
Thanks Mudturkle!

How far along did the patupi replanted in 9b in Spring 2017 get by the end of the season? I understand that it is a challenging banana in these zones but was hoping to get it to fruiting in my 9a zone with a bit of hustle. Sounds like it might involve a bit more hustle and luck than I anticipated. Last winter was not kind to bananas in our area that's for sure plus you had Hurricane Harvey too. Very tough year!

Thank you for sharing your experience and look forward to seeing your photos and reports about your patupi!

Tytaylor77
05-24-2018, 03:48 AM
Main signs of overwatering is slow or stopped growth. Roots start dying very fast! Mostly around the cortex area of the corm. If you dig in you will see lots of black nasty roots! Eventually you will see browning of the edges of the leafs! This is one of the last warning signs. They can die faster than you think! On the other hand if you accidentally water too little it’s no big deal!

Go by the growth! Fast growth! Heat! Sand! You can water every day! The scary part is everyone’s environment and soil is different! So it varies a lot. Some areas is almost impossible to over water! Others just the rain can kill them! The major problems is when the pup is small! And when the temps are low! After the pup is 3’ or so it’s hard to mess up.

Things I have found and are my standard practice for every Musa!
- always grow in a pot first! Transplant to the ground only after you have a strong solid rootball! When transplanting be very careful not to disturb the rootball!
- when digging my hole I dig 1 shovel deep wide hole! In the middle under the rootball I dig an extra shovel deep and put my top (wash off) sand that is coarse in that hole. You can buy coarse sand at homedepot. Pool filter sand is best! If you don’t live in sand this step is a must! I would actually even dig more! It just provides better draining and an area to drain! Don’t worry about the roots! Only under the corm! The sand comes up 1/4th Of the lower rootball!

Do all that and you will never have an issue! The potting mix needs to be well draining also! Rice hulls and perlite are a must in my mix! The rootball will support the plant and be forgiving to mistakes until the plant gets larger! The extra sand under the corm/rootball will give plenty of drainage!

If you don’t live in sand or just want to be extra safe look up my bro Hector’s posts! He is an expert planter and grower! Just look at his results from his system! The way he plants I would consider perfect! If I only had a few plants I would do exactly what he does! Basically you want the water to drain through. Not stay! And on top you put all your organics and manure, etc.

HMelendez
05-26-2018, 08:38 AM
Main signs of overwatering is slow or stopped growth. Roots start dying very fast! Mostly around the cortex area of the corm. If you dig in you will see lots of black nasty roots! Eventually you will see browning of the edges of the leafs! This is one of the last warning signs. They can die faster than you think! On the other hand if you accidentally water too little it’s no big deal!

Go by the growth! Fast growth! Heat! Sand! You can water every day! The scary part is everyone’s environment and soil is different! So it varies a lot. Some areas is almost impossible to over water! Others just the rain can kill them! The major problems is when the pup is small! And when the temps are low! After the pup is 3’ or so it’s hard to mess up.

Things I have found and are my standard practice for every Musa!
- always grow in a pot first! Transplant to the ground only after you have a strong solid rootball! When transplanting be very careful not to disturb the rootball!
- when digging my hole I dig 1 shovel deep wide hole! In the middle under the rootball I dig an extra shovel deep and put my top (wash off) sand that is coarse in that hole. You can buy coarse sand at homedepot. Pool filter sand is best! If you don’t live in sand this step is a must! I would actually even dig more! It just provides better draining and an area to drain! Don’t worry about the roots! Only under the corm! The sand comes up 1/4th Of the lower rootball!

Do all that and you will never have an issue! The potting mix needs to be well draining also! Rice hulls and perlite are a must in my mix! The rootball will support the plant and be forgiving to mistakes until the plant gets larger! The extra sand under the corm/rootball will give plenty of drainage!

If you don’t live in sand or just want to be extra safe look up my bro Hector’s posts! He is an expert planter and grower! Just look at his results from his system! The way he plants I would consider perfect! If I only had a few plants I would do exactly what he does! Basically you want the water to drain through. Not stay! And on top you put all your organics and manure, etc.




Thank you bro for the kindly words!....I totally agree with Ty!....Awesome explanation!......




:2723::bananarow::2723: