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bananaT
09-15-2018, 09:35 PM
I haven't posted pictures, or anything much, in a while, so I thought I'd share.
Here are a few Patupi pictures.
This is a very fast fruiting/ripening banana.
I have 5 fruiting right now, all from suckers that where pushed out this year around march. They where all new growth after they all where frozen to the ground this past winter.
They are various size plants fruiting, from 5-9 foot stalks.
This variety is the fastest fruiting banana I have, and one that is in my top 5 for the best tasting banana! They have very orange flesh with a spiciness to them that is very unique, and on the drier side(unlike, say, a nam wah with more moist flesh.

The fruits are around 5-7in long, but can get as large as a Cavendish if you trim hands. The bunches are usually 5-10 hands and around 30 pounds.

I have 30 in the ground right now.
The plants are cold tolerant, and bounce back well, right down to 32 degrees. Though the fruit get damaged and die very easily with frost on them. They are thin skinned peels.

Over all they are Very good bananas. They are still very hard to find, and There are people out there selling PATUPI that are not the real thing. There are some on the forums here that do not ship what they say they are. And there are NONE, ZERO online nursery's that have this plant as true to type.
But there are some others that will deal with you straight.
I got mine around 4 years ago off the forums here and am very pleased I did.
(I like to buy from as many sources as I can when I find something new(or I like), especially bananas, with tissue cultures rampant, so are mutations)


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=63644&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=63644)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=63643&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=63643)

They are light green bananas that can still have greenish yellow peels when they're ripe. They turn more yellow if they ripen on the plant. Harvested green they do not seem to color up much.
These will be ready in a week or so, they are pretty much full; this bunch is exactly 30 days old when picture taken, starting to yellow some. This is a small bunch on a 5 foot plant, with 4 hands
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=63645&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=63645)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=63646&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=63646)

AZMelissa
09-15-2018, 09:38 PM
Sounds like a very cool banana. Also when your next ones are ripe, will you post a picture of the fruit?

Akula
09-16-2018, 12:01 AM
Congratulations!

I read through a few threads from a few years back and a lot of people were hot for this banana but not much after. Seems like it was a bit more difficult banana to grow then people thought.

Thanks for sharing your results.

Botanical_Bryce
09-16-2018, 02:02 AM
Congratulations!

I read through a few threads from a few years back and a lot of people were hot for this banana but not much after. Seems like it was a bit more difficult banana to grow then people thought.

Thanks for sharing your results.
Grows great for me and throws off suckers like crazy. Admittedly no fruit this year.

hdynad
09-16-2018, 07:36 AM
Glad to see this post, I grow Patupi I've been growing it for 2yrs now. It was slow to grow in the beginning and very picky with overwatering however it is quick to pup. It did freeze back last winter but came back with no problem. After the 1st 3 ft it has really taken off and I expect next year it will go crazy.
Happy growing,
Darla

Botanical_Bryce
09-16-2018, 08:25 AM
Glad to see this post, I grow Patupi I've been growing it for 21yrs now. It was slow to grow in the beginning and very picky with overwatering however it is quick to pup. It did freeze back last winter but came back with no problem. After the 1st 3 ft it has really taken off and I expect next year it will go crazy.
Happy growing,
Darla
Mine got a little sick from the flooding rains this year. Had to dig it up and move it.

imclumbi
09-16-2018, 09:52 AM
Awesome! Thank you for the great pics too!
John

bananaT
09-16-2018, 03:38 PM
Mine got a little sick from the flooding rains this year. Had to dig it up and move it.

Yes, these guys like drier soil, but still rich as it can be with tons of organic matter.
I have talked to some people with them, and that seems to be the only issue.
Everybody thinks all bananas need tons of water, but that's not true at all.

scottu
09-16-2018, 07:12 PM
If you have any interest in sending some of those ripe bananas up north, I would gladly pay for your troubles please pm if so.

I had great hopes for Patupi as we had a few good springs and falls and they seemed a great short cycle banana.
No longer self employed and don't have the time

to baby them like i did. Still think Patupi and vc are the best short cycle bananas I grew in zone 6

George Webster
09-16-2018, 08:23 PM
Can they be dug in the fall and stored dormant?

Is there a chance to get a pup in the spring and fruit it in Zone 6??

thanks
George

bananaT
09-16-2018, 08:56 PM
Can they be dug in the fall and stored dormant?

Is there a chance to get a pup in the spring and fruit it in Zone 6??

thanks
George

You likely could if you put it in a large pot and then planted out when it warms up.

scottu
09-16-2018, 09:19 PM
only tried bare root once with no luck.
if you get an early spring and you have a bigger pup ready to go and get a late winter chances are, you will have time to grow some fruit. timing is everything. one of those variables throws it all off

is well worth the effort. So good when it works!

cincinnana
09-17-2018, 03:46 AM
Can they be dug in the fall and stored dormant?

Is there a chance to get a pup in the spring and fruit it in Zone 6??

thanks
George

Save your money!!

You will be hard pressed to get the plant to flower in zone 6 with the short 170 day grow window we have.
A greenhouse is needed to prolong the grow season for possible flower to edible fruit.

This warmth loving plant tolerates a pot indoors for the winter though and has nice foiliage.

This plant performs best in the southern warmer zones such as bananaT's.

bananaT
09-17-2018, 07:49 AM
Save your money!!

You will be hard pressed to get the plant to flower in zone 6 with the short 170 day grow window we have.
A greenhouse is needed to prolong the grow season for possible flower to edible fruit.

This warmth loving plant tolerates a pot indoors for the winter though and has nice foiliage.

This plant performs best in the southern warmer zones such as bananaT's.

Actually, I have noticed that Patupi do like it on the cooler side; 80's seem to be the sweet spot.
They struggle some when we get in the 90's.
But when you think about it the tropics are not that "hot". Most places are fairly stable temp wise. Not 40 one day, and than 98 the next.... Florida...

Another thing; the Patupi stress fruit real easily. Cut them back, stick them in a large pot and they will most likely fruit.

geissene
09-17-2018, 07:25 PM
I do like this plant even though it has been the most difficult banana that I've grown.

I can imagine that it is probably for all the reasons mentioned. In the summer, some weeks are extremely rainy and other weeks I have temperatures that are above 90F during the day. Not to mention, I have the dormant / low light winter to deal with.

I am going to keep trying for another season or so, but at some point this one may end up on the "kill list".....


Erik