View Full Version : Is there any way this post-Ike casualty will actually produce?
TTP, Fred
10-15-2008, 08:13 AM
Prior to Hurricane Ike, I had one Ice Cream banana that I figured was due to put out a flag leaf "any week". Unfortunately, the winds forced this plant to bend in half and split. I chopped the plant at the point where it bent...intending to come back and saw it off at the base, but never did.
See what it looks like now? There's no way this will get enough photosynthesis to be able to actually produce, right?
Thoughts, suggestions?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=13897&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13897&ppuser=3026)
Bananaman88
10-15-2008, 12:16 PM
Mike,
You'd be surprised! I had one this spring that set fruit successfully with only one full leaf and the flag leaf. The thing was, it flowered very, very early. I think the problem you'll encounter is our winter temps here. If you can figure out some way to protect the fruit on cold nights and get them into spring unharmed then they might go ahead and mature in the spring. Good luck!
The Ice Cream you gave me is doing great! It withstood Ike with no problem other than shredded leaves. How is the zebrina?
Gabe15
10-15-2008, 12:22 PM
I suppose you could either leave it and find out what will happen or cut it off and be left wondering what would have happened. Thereʻs no way of fixing it, so just go with it.
TTP, Fred
10-15-2008, 12:25 PM
Thanks Brent, the zebrina is doing just fine.
TTP, Fred
10-15-2008, 12:29 PM
Thanks Gabe, I was already inclined to simply let it be and see what happened. I just wondered if anyone had actually gotten a similarly-damaged banana with only a couple of small leaves to gin up enough energy to produce bananas.
Here's another question: at the rate the flower is going, it will end up flowering pointing away from the rest of the backyard. Is there any way I can "train" it to reverse its tilt and bend the other way so I can at least enjoy looking at the flower?
capthof
10-15-2008, 12:48 PM
I have trained flowers by putting a cord on them and coaching them out in a different direction. Just be gentle.
pitangadiego
10-15-2008, 01:49 PM
You have nothing to lose by letting it be, and you might get something. If you cut it off, you are guaranteed to get nothing. Maybe beats No in my book.
island cassie
10-15-2008, 02:38 PM
Great - go for it - lots of tlc, food, water, and brace it well - and yes you can gently train them. But as this one has suffered so much and is on the edge - I'm not sure I would risk it. I bet you get fruit - perhaps not as big a bunch as you might have got, but what a result!!
Cassie
heynow
11-06-2008, 08:16 PM
I had a plant that got busted off from a fallin tree limb. I cut it off and the next thing that came out was a bloom. The fruit never developed and I cut it down. but the pup next to it shot off and it is in bloom right now. Good luck Glennhttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=9512&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9512)
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