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View Full Version : Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest


mesquite
12-13-2018, 06:23 PM
Can anyone tell me how many months it takes a Sweetheart to flower after planting? And how many months to harvest after flowering?

Richard
12-13-2018, 07:17 PM
Can anyone tell me how many months it takes a Sweetheart to flower after planting? And how many months to harvest after flowering?

Depends greatly on location and growing conditions; full or part sun, in the ground vs. potted, outdoor all year or indoor & outdoor.

mesquite
12-13-2018, 09:01 PM
Granted, this is true for all bananas. HOWEVER, it would be nice if we could pick a location, perhaps south Florida where no freezes occur(?), and create a table of months to flower and months from flower to harvest for all cultivars. Then we would have an idea of the RELATIVE differences between the cultivars. Some fruit mature faster than others, and some pseudostems have flowers pop out before others.

For example, what is the difference between Sweetheart and Namwah in the same location without winter freezes?

Richard
12-13-2018, 09:12 PM
Granted, this is true for all bananas. HOWEVER, it would be nice if we could pick a location, perhaps south Florida where no freezes occur(?), and create a table of months to flower and months from flower to harvest for all cultivars. Then we would have an idea of the RELATIVE differences between the cultivars. Some fruit mature faster than others, and some pseudostems have flowers pop out before others.

Such tables already exist for the tropics (latitudes +10 to -10 at moderate elevations). But this idea of "relative" to a freeze-less place unfortunately has problems.

In my experience in Sweetheart is slightly less cool-tolerant than Namwa -- unless of course your Sweetheart is really Namwa!

mesquite
12-14-2018, 12:48 AM
Please - give me the links to those tables. One is never enough.

Richard
12-14-2018, 01:27 AM
Please - give me the links to those tables. One is never enough.

The tables I'm familiar with have been absorbed by this quasi-research organization somewhere in their site: ProMusa | ProMusa - the banana knowledge platform (http://www.promusa.org)

There's also an encyclopedia of banana varieties developed by member pitangadiego at this site: ENCANTO FARMS (http://webebananas.com/bvar-A-B.html)

beam2050
12-14-2018, 07:08 AM
my sweetheart has been relatively slow growing when compared to some of the other varieties I have. way slower growing when compared to namwa.

HMelendez
12-14-2018, 09:46 AM
My FHIA-3 Sweetheart (first crop) took approx. 11 months to flower after planting and approx. 3 1/2 months to harvest the bunch after flowering in South Florida!.....Currently, the FHIA-3 Sweetheart second crop it's growing even in a faster rate than the first FHIA-3 Sweetheart main/mother plant!....FHIA-3 it's definitely one of my best Nana growers, a monster grower!....


Check thru the threads!.....Everything is here!.....

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-latest-nana-plants-47210-2.html

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-latest-nana-plants-2018-a-48141.html





:2723::bananarow::2723:

beam2050
12-14-2018, 12:03 PM
My FHIA-3 Sweetheart (first crop) took approx. 11 months to flower after planting and approx. 3 1/2 months to harvest the bunch after flowering in South Florida!.....Currently, the FHIA-3 Sweetheart second crop it's growing even in a faster rate than the first FHIA-3 Sweetheart main/mother plant!....FHIA-3 it's definitely one of my best Nana growers, a monster grower!....


Check thru the threads!.....Everything is here!.....

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-latest-nana-plants-47210-2.html

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-latest-nana-plants-2018-a-48141.html





:2723::bananarow::2723:

wish mine would grow faster. might have something to do with the freeze last winter. know the draughts I experienced affected all my plants. about killed my variegated florida. even with the sprinklers. got her potted up for the winter will have a different spot in the yard next year.

nph
12-14-2018, 06:29 PM
In a Dallas TX it took 5 months from flower to fruit ripe

LeoBuss
12-14-2018, 09:35 PM
Planted mine in May (as a 3' pup) and it is flowering now.

Richard
12-14-2018, 10:36 PM
Planted mine in May (as a 3' pup) and it is flowering now.

Whereabouts are you located? Please add it to your profile :)

LeoBuss
12-15-2018, 06:52 AM
Merritt Island FL

HMelendez
12-15-2018, 08:55 AM
That's about right, 5 to 7 1/2 months for FHIA-3 Sweetheart, as Richard mentioned, everything depends greatly on location and growing conditions!.....


As most of my Nanas, my main/motherplant FHIA-3 Sweetheart had a big setback, thanks to the 2017 hurricane Irma, but recovered flawlessly and put out one of my biggest Nana bunch ever!.....


FHIA-3 Sweetheart pup (second crop) was approx. 2 1/2 ft. tall in August, 2018.....Right now is approx. 11 ft. tall and keeps growing in an amazing rate!.....Looks like is stacking the leaves, it might be flowering soon!.....




FHIA-3 Sweetheart pup (second crop) picture approx. 9 ft. tall from 10/03/2018.....

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1958/31210876758_122836a65f_k.jpg








:2723::bananarow::2723:

beam2050
12-15-2018, 10:24 AM
thanks hector really is a sweetheart. but your picture brings a question to mind. do they make a banana plant shredder. :ha:

actually I am serious! your compost at the bottom of your plants. pieces of banana plant, stems and such. do they make a machine to shred it up into compost. much like a wood chipper?

sorry had to pick on you again hector, cant help it. I am bad I know.

Richard
12-15-2018, 10:30 AM
... do they make a banana plant shredder..

No, but if you cut the pstem into roughly 18" sections and let them dry completely then a typical log shredder can handle it.

mesquite
12-15-2018, 10:43 AM
I'm getting the impression that Sweetheart roots are slower growing than those of Namwah. The Sweetheart plant takes off only when the roots are finally long enough.

beam2050
12-15-2018, 11:28 AM
No, but if you cut the pstem into roughly 18" sections and left them dry completely then a typical log shredder can handle it.

wood chippers are pretty powerful, but would the fibers from the plant clog up the machine especially if they were wet? my curiosity is up.

I am thinking more of a machine that might squash it first, capture the juices and pulp, and then shred it.

Richard
12-15-2018, 02:29 PM
wood chippers are pretty powerful, but would the fibers from the plant clog up the machine especially if they were wet? my curiosity is up.

How can the fibers be wet if the 18" pstem sections are completely dry?

beam2050
12-15-2018, 02:51 PM
How can the fibers be wet if the 18" pstem sections are completely dry?
I was thinking as soon as you cut it down, green leaves, etc.

HMelendez
12-15-2018, 06:52 PM
thanks hector really is a sweetheart. but your picture brings a question to mind. do they make a banana plant shredder. :ha:

actually I am serious! your compost at the bottom of your plants. pieces of banana plant, stems and such. do they make a machine to shred it up into compost. much like a wood chipper?

sorry had to pick on you again hector, cant help it. I am bad I know.



Wooohoooo!......Master Beam strike again!.....LMAO!.....:ha:
Thanks for the advice!....I really appreciate it!.....


I used to cut everything in really small pieces, not anymore!....Trust me, even they are kind of big pieces, they de-compost quickly!....Also, provides excellent shelter to Nanas best friends!.....The millipedes love them!.....
*****Such a valuable milli-compost!*****




:2723::bananarow::2723:

robguz24
12-20-2018, 12:16 PM
Where I am in Hawaii, I recently had 2 on the same mat fruit one month apart. One took a few days over 4 months, the other a few days over 5 months. Was surprised by the 4 monther.

Tytaylor77
12-21-2018, 03:28 AM
As I have said many times on here! Fhia 03 sweetheart. The real one! Is one of the fastest fruiting Musa I grow! Filling still takes 3+ months though! I have harvested fruit in one season! I’m talking from an established corm in zone 8b! I would say 75% filled. They have a lemon taste and are ok. I’m just not crazy about them. I wish they were a bit sweeter!

Thanks Rob! 4 months is amazing! Sweetheart is a speed demon for sure!

HMelendez
12-21-2018, 04:54 AM
Rob,




Thank you for posting, sharing it!....Approx. 4 months is pretty dam fast!.....FHIA-3 Sweetheart is definitely it's one of my best growers!....







:2723::bananarow::2723:

Richard
12-21-2018, 01:16 PM
Remember this photo?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=64216 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=64207&ppuser=1558)