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Mark Hall
07-22-2008, 03:52 PM
Looks like my Ae ae is going to flower for the first time. It was cut in half back last winter to fit in my Polytunnel ,so the top of the stem is not very fat so I am thinking the flower will be small.

Not sure if its a UK first or not ? any other members know of any others?

Here are a couple of pictures in the link
Hardy Tropicals - View topic - Ae ae Flower (http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2165)

I am off on my hols tomorrow so it will be nice to see how its grown in the two weeks away:waving:

Steve L
07-22-2008, 04:17 PM
Congratulations. I'd say it's a flower.

Steve

harveyc
07-22-2008, 04:18 PM
Congratulations, Mark, though it's a bit sad with the story of the lost pups.

Time to have a wake! :nanadrink:

damaclese
07-22-2008, 05:25 PM
way to go Mark i looked at the pics you mite be suprised it could still pup looks like it needs a bit more light! besids cuting it back last year what do you atribut to its not gaining more size they are naturly vary tall Bananas reching up to 20 ft in there native habitate? what do you feed it thers a nice thread on here and i dont rember the tital about Ae Ae growing i think it was in gorga and if i rember rightly the guy had to treat his with and im not sure this was right but AMONIAM NITRAIT
to bring up the viger of the plant made it turn all green for a certing pirod of time but thats all vary sceachy and i wouldint recomend it untill you find the thread im sure its under AE AE or some such noncens i know Meda Hound is familure about it i rember him chating in the thread as if he new the guy well

Dean W.
07-22-2008, 05:36 PM
Congratulations Mark!:woohoonaner:

buzzwinder
07-22-2008, 07:45 PM
Congrats Mark, :woohoonaner: Have found out yet whether your the first in the UK to flower one?:bananas_b

mskitty38583
07-22-2008, 08:10 PM
congrats! if its the first to flower in the uk you might make the garden society and the newspaper.:woohoonaner::goteam::goteam:

island cassie
07-22-2008, 09:18 PM
Wow Mark - nana envy big time!!! How can you bear to leave her - bet you don't see any where you are going!! Enjoy your holiday and keep in touch.

Cassie

Tobi
07-23-2008, 12:05 PM
Congratulation on the flower Marc.

cactus6103
07-23-2008, 12:12 PM
Way to go. Great job. Red

Bananaman88
07-23-2008, 12:23 PM
Congrats! I'd be really surprised if you don't get pups off of this one now.

Mark Hall
08-08-2008, 03:06 PM
Here is a link with some updated pictures of what I saw when I returned from my hols.
Hardy Tropicals - View topic - Ae ae Flower (http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2165)

The pictures are on the second page.

I still don,t know if any other has flowered on in the UK or Europe or not.
They are still quite rare this side of the water.

I am not sure with our colder climate how long it will flower for. It was suggested to try cross pollenating it but the only other banana I have in flower is a Musella Lasiocarpa and I am sure that wouldn,t work:ha:

Sould I continue to feed it while its in bloom or just leave it to see out its days with just water?

Steve L
08-08-2008, 03:11 PM
I've been feeding mine contunually since it flowered in June. It has shot up two more very small pups. That makes 4 and one looks to be solid white.

Steve

CookieCows
08-08-2008, 03:14 PM
That is just beautiful! Big time banana envy here too!!

Deb

Bananaman88
08-08-2008, 06:25 PM
Excellent job, Mark! Now I've got to catch up to you and Steve. Maybe next year if I'm very lucky!

raggedyredhead
08-08-2008, 06:50 PM
I've been feeding mine contunually since it flowered in June. It has shot up two more very small pups. That makes 4 and one looks to be solid white.

Steve

Great pics. Now I know what an AE ae is. Is it a fruiting banana? where do they originate. Never saw them in our garden centers.
Raggedy:waving:

Chironex
08-08-2008, 07:39 PM
Since reading this thread, I joined the UK site just to see the comments. Looks like everyone is as happy for you as we are here. Quite an accomplishment, I am sure that you are proud and deservedly so.
Kudos!

Bananaman88
08-08-2008, 09:10 PM
Great pics. Now I know what an AE ae is. Is it a fruiting banana? where do they originate. Never saw them in our garden centers.
Raggedy:waving:

Raggedy,

Not sure if they originated in Hawaii or not, but the story goes that they were reserved for eating only by Hawaiin royalty "back in the day". They are difficult to propagate and remain rare to this day. Check out the photo gallery and you'll find several pictures under the Variegated section. It is a fruiting banana. It can either be cooked or eaten raw if allowed to fully ripen.

dablo93
08-09-2008, 02:44 AM
I hope for you it will make enough new pups! but congrats with the flower and I think you are the first one in the UK, maybe even the first one in whole north western europe?

Mark Hall
08-09-2008, 04:05 AM
Thanks Guys. I have contacted David Constantine and left a email with him asking if he knows of anyone in the uk who has flowered one.

I will let you all know the outcome.

As its only a small plant I am not expecting much in the way of fruit and I doubt the summer will go on long enough to ripen them.

Dean W.
08-09-2008, 12:42 PM
Looks great, Mark! Congrats on getting one to flower on your side of the pond!

Mark Hall
08-09-2008, 01:48 PM
I have had a reply from David Constantine and he said he had not heard of anyone flowerering one in the UK .

Bananaman88
08-09-2008, 06:16 PM
Better contact Guiness Book of World Records!

island cassie
08-09-2008, 09:45 PM
Great Mark - what an achievement!!
Cassie

natedogg1026
08-09-2008, 11:38 PM
Awesome Mark! Do you need my address to ship me some nana's?

microfarmer
08-10-2008, 12:17 AM
Congrats on the bloom and good luck on the fruits!:lurk:

marksbananas
08-10-2008, 11:43 AM
congratulations, on your growth would it be poss for you to post a picture of the flower as i would be very intersted.

Mark Hall
08-10-2008, 02:22 PM
Thanks again for all the welldones and congrats messages.

Mark I will take a couple of new pictures tomorrow when the light is better.

Nate, I have had a couple of people on HTUK, PM asking for a stripey Banana:ha: I don't think I will get many:waving:

51st state
08-10-2008, 03:59 PM
Nice one Marky Mark. any pups going?
I just picked up a Yangtse from Ashford Middx today.
and QPR have the first 3 points toward promotion in the bag! what a perfect weekend :woohoonaner:

Mark Hall
08-10-2008, 05:38 PM
Kev, It only has one Pup and thats going to Don on HTUK ( if it removes ok this time)

I have to pop round to peters to get a back up Yangtze as I want to plant my Bigger one out and leave it.

With QPR faves to storm the division we may end up playing you next season if your promoted:ha:Unless we go down that is.

Mark Hall
08-12-2008, 02:59 AM
Mark, New pictures just taken . see my Gallery.

marksbananas
08-12-2008, 10:03 AM
Thanks for the pictures its a lovely flower congrates especiaslly for over here cheers