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Deepsleep
10-10-2018, 03:27 PM
Well, I harvested my first bunch a couple weeks ago (Namwa labeled IC) and it was awesome! I figured that was it for the year, but thanks to the advice of people on this forum, my plants went crazy this year. Over the last 2 weeks, that same Namwa has put out a flag leaf on another p-stem, another "Ice Cream" which is also Tall Namwa has a pre-flag, a Dwarf Orinoco and Dwarf Red each have a flower, and a Manzano now has finished putting out male flowers. I have been reading a bunch, and plan on pruning the flowers and perhaps the smallest of the hands. I am also loading them up with SOP. Two of the aforementioned plants are fairly tight to the south side of my garage which is 15' to the roofline. The others are much more exposed. I am in in Central Florida, and for reference, my Tall Namwa matured its fruit in just over 2 months from flower appearance. That being said, it was during a much warmer time of the year. We generally don't get a significant frost until after Christmas. I am trying to figure out a strategy to maximize my odds of maturing fruit. I'm guessing something like Dw. Red will take far too long, but my Namwas may finish. Thank you for any advice!

pitangadiego
10-10-2018, 04:35 PM
Let nature take its course. If you stay above freezing and frost, the Namwah (IC) will be fine. The red ones will probably fade out before fruit matures, as they are cold sensitive. DO is a toss up.

Other option is to build a "greenhouse" from PVC and plastic sheeting (or some such stuff) and add some heat.

You either take the weather nature gives you or you provide an artificial environment. It is as simple as that.

Akula
10-10-2018, 05:48 PM
I am in in Central Florida, and for reference, my Tall Namwa matured its fruit in just over 2 months from flower appearance. That being said, it was during a much warmer time of the year. advice!

That's incredible and gives me hope that my namwa bunches that flowered in September will be harvestable by our first frost taking into account declining temps and sunlight over the next two months.

Deepsleep
10-10-2018, 06:03 PM
That's incredible and gives me hope that my namwa bunches that flowered in September will be harvestable by our first frost taking into account declining temps and sunlight over the next two months.

You are correct, that would be incredible (if true). I just checked dates and it was a little over 2.5 months. Interestingly, the reason I harvested them is because the stem broke off--it was a pretty weak p-stem that suffered damage from Irma followed by multiple frosts. The bananas had been filled out for several weeks, however. I hung them in the pantry and they were perfectly ripe in 7 or 8 days. I think you should be very close, especially if we have a warm fall. I believe you and I both have the JFE "IC".

Deepsleep
10-10-2018, 06:08 PM
Let nature take its course. If you stay above freezing and frost, the Namwah (IC) will be fine. The red ones will probably fade out before fruit matures, as they are cold sensitive. DO is a toss up.

Other option is to build a "greenhouse" from PVC and plastic sheeting (or some such stuff) and add some heat.

You either take the weather nature gives you or you provide an artificial environment. It is as simple as that.

Thank you for the reply, and I agree on many levels. I moved out to a larger piece of property a year and a half ago, and have planted tons of fruits/vegetables. Some things grow easily, others don't. Those that don't will be eliminated over time and replaced with new stuff. I honestly didn't know if I could get any ripe fruit here as I see very few banana plants around. I absolutely love bananas but not enough to build a greenhouse. We will see what Ma Nature has in store.

Deepsleep
10-10-2018, 06:15 PM
And, Akula, I just looked at your last Namwa update (9-28, I think). My bananas were at that stage roughly 71 days before I harvested. My bunch was much smaller, as was the p-stem.

Akula
10-10-2018, 06:21 PM
I believe you and I both have the JFE "IC".

Haha. Those guys even confirmed to me by email that it was a Blue Java. Its a very strong, good looking plant so not really a big deal.

Did you get their 13.5' Raja Puri? Haha. I'm okay with the ice cream but the RP drives me crazy. Trying to get it identified on another thread.

sputinc7
10-10-2018, 08:41 PM
If a hard freeze is coming, wrap the bunch and peduncle in a sheet then again in painter's plastic. I kept a bunch alive thru a 26 degree freeze last winter here in Palm Bay. Even though the plant was without leaves the fruit filled in pretty good and ripened...

Akula
10-11-2018, 01:32 PM
And, Akula, I just looked at your last Namwa update (9-28, I think). My bananas were at that stage roughly 71 days before I harvested. My bunch was much smaller, as was the p-stem.

I missed this post. Thanks for the info!

I cut the bell and pruned the bunches in half. It was painful but hopefully that will help them to fill out before temps drop in my area. I'll update at the end of the month. The bananas seem to be filling out pretty well so far.

bananaT
10-11-2018, 02:42 PM
I have most of my bananas in west Polk county and most of them are putting out bells right now.
Here in central FL we still have around 2 months before we normally get frost. That's enough time to get most varieties to fill in the fruit pretty well.

Or if the fruit is worth it, I've had really good luck spraying water on the bananas on nights when we're do to freeze.
You can set up a sprinkler or do it by hand a couple times during the night.

pitangadiego
10-11-2018, 04:09 PM
http://webebananas.com/bpix/BP002-06.jpg

If they don't look obviously blue/gray then it isn't Ice Cream. I have purchased several "Ice Cream" from local nurseries and ALL have actually been Namwah. My real IC is from a local enthusiast who had the real deal.

Akula
10-11-2018, 07:52 PM
The heat looks to be over in our area with temps over the next ten days between 60F (night) to 85 (day) so I bagged my bunches this evening. I bought some clear 50 gallon trashbags at HD tonight for $15 for 50 bags. I think they worked pretty good. Cut a hole in the top of the bag and pulled it up around the bunch. Tied it off at the top around the peduncle and the below the bunch using the corners of the bag. Maybe it helps.