View Full Version : How to get largest-tallest plant
pjkfarm
07-14-2019, 01:00 PM
All, I saw some great pictures of Basjoo on Hostafarian's site - BIG question - there were on one picture (with red walk behind zero turn mower in it) 4 pstems maybe 12 feet tall with leaves, all leaves from bottom cut off. NO PUPS (maybe 1). Anyway, our Basjoo have dozens and dozens of pups - literally cheek to jowl - touching each other. maybe 7 nice pstems and 40 pups. Is this why the big pstems do not get very big say 10 feet max to tip of leaves and pstem maybe 5 feet?
We have never watered but now are doing so (and fertilising which we never did before either). Should we remove some of (all?) of the pups, like just cut them off with as few roots as possible or no roots? We did thin this mat this year (first time) and took off like 15 or 20 "pups" - basically smaller plants as no idea of what is a "mother" plant.
AND is the explosion of pups due to having chopped in and removed all the small stuff this spring?
Love the form of the plants in the picture, so guess we will have to start chopping lower leaves. Always thought this would slow them down as less surface to produce food. BUT IS THIS TRUE? In our tree nursery, we will prune lower branches to get better height and if not overdone (25-30% of leaf area removed), this works. Is that the same for bananas??
edwmax
07-14-2019, 07:38 PM
AH ... What was the question????? .... OH Height ... Maximum height is achieved if there is no winter die back or the pstem is not cut back. ... There are old forum threads that discuss 'number of leaves' a nana plant grows. Basically, a nana variety is predetermined to grow a set amount of leaves to gain its natural height and pastem girth. While this isn't an exact science there does seem to be merit to number of leaves and shooting (flower) time. ... So shorter pstems allow the inter leaves to push out at a lower height. ... The corm doesn't know the pstem was cut (or died back; as long as the stem doesn't to the top of the corm). ... Most nana varieties of 8 to 12 ft height the leaf count is about 15 leaves (plus or minus).
Yes, ... lack of fertilizer or water can cause a nana plants to be shorter due to lack of vegetative vertical growth and slow growth. The leaves are closer together.
Pup explosion ... Yes ... Unless I need the pups for other purposes, I leave them alone. They are the next year's main stem as the current largest pstems are likely not coming back after the winter dominance.
cincinnana
07-16-2019, 07:34 PM
Pick a large plant and grow it out.
In the zone it grows in it will now become the largest tallest plant you can grow.
Basjoos will only get so tall... with die back or not.
The ONLY advantage of not trimming them at the end of season is the plant will achieve max height sooner in warmers zones.
These plants are not predictable.
For instance a plant that was 8 feet could be shorter the following year...but with a pup just as tall as the original plant.
Awesome robust plant.
cincinnana
07-18-2019, 06:40 PM
So what are gardeners willing to do(spend) for the largest tallest plant they can grow in five months.
The question is asked all the time....
Basjoos,Orinoco,Saba.
In zone 5,6,7,8,.....plants will only get so large.
The plant is limited to the local grow cycle.
Often the tropical the mature height is half of what you will achieve in lesser zones.
Me...... would like a Saba to see how I can grow it out.
SOOOO. what are willing to invest for larger plant.
pjkfarm
07-18-2019, 07:35 PM
Thanks! Your photo of basjoos and what you said about their height in your zone, says we should be able to get same as we are in similar zone (if not a bit warmer).
We will cut lower leaves and remove pups (actually took 41 from mat today, leaving 8 largest pstems. We took like 20 earlier this year leaving what we thought would be 6 of the largest pstems. - so over 40 pups removed from what had been maybe 10 pstems last year.
Hopefully we have not messed up things for next year on this mat (but we now have started like 20 other plants and have half a dozen in pots just in case!
cincinnana
07-18-2019, 07:54 PM
[QUOTE=pjkfarm;325133]Thanks! Your photo of basjoos and what you said about their height in your zone, says we should be able to get same as we are in similar zone (if not a bit warmer).
QUOTE]
Thanks ,
Pkjfarm, your plants will reach max about 60 -+days sooner in a grow season compared our zone 5/6 gardens.
Your plants will never be larger.
They will only get to max size faster in your almost low country zone.
This is only a guess.
Now a mustard based BBQ sauce will kick them up a bit:08:
cincinnana
07-19-2019, 06:29 PM
Max..https://live.staticflickr.com/732/21548856526_0f703ae107_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/yQcwi5)
max size (https://flic.kr/p/yQcwi5)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr
edwmax
07-19-2019, 06:48 PM
Max..https://live.staticflickr.com/732/21548856526_0f703ae107_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/yQcwi5)
max size (https://flic.kr/p/yQcwi5)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr
Yes I'm down to 226 lbs dripping wet, from 265. Thanks for asking about my size.
:nanadrink:OH nice nanas, they need a little nitrogen they are slightly pale looking. And pull out those weeds. they detract from the Nanas.
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