View Full Version : Tallest largest Banana plant personaly grown
lt_eggbeater
01-19-2009, 11:35 PM
Just curious, whats the largest banana plant that anyone on here has personaly grown? I would imagine its a Saba, but maybe someone else has some suprises. I only have one growing season on the sabas so my largest ones are only about 12 feet tall and about 10 inches in diameter.
Gabe15
01-20-2009, 01:32 AM
I haven't grown any in the ground yet, but hope to have one of my M. peekelii in the ground if I can find a good spot. The plants I collected from were about 25-30ft tall or so.
The tallest plant I have personally grown isn't that impressive, it was my M. muluensis which got about 8ft in a container indoors. Though my 'Williams' bananas are about full grown now, but maybe only 7ft pseudostem right now.
Musa peekelii
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=4802&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4802&perpage=12&ppuser=5)
lorax
01-20-2009, 02:19 AM
About 20 feet, a mature Ecuadorian variety plantain.
MediaHound
01-20-2009, 07:58 AM
Saba -
http://www.bananas.org/f2/my-saba-harvest-2008-a-5534.html
I cut the plant and dug it up entirely for my move shortly after the pictures were taken, it would have been larger the next season had I not cut it. I would peg that one that bloomed at +- 11' of pseudostem. I do wish I measured it! I did weigh the bunch though and it was 65lbs.
lt_eggbeater
01-20-2009, 09:32 AM
That Musa peekelii is a pretty cool looking tree. Looks like it would be pretty cold sensitve though.
sandy0225
01-20-2009, 05:07 PM
My largest ice cream banana in the driveway was 14 feet tall to the top of the leaves, this fall we had to chop it to 6' to get it into the greenhouse this fall. It's growing back though.
The funny thing is that it's potted and that tall. We have to tie it to the garage to keep it standing because we get so much wind. That's my personal biggest so far.
lt_eggbeater
01-20-2009, 05:28 PM
My ice creams are about 10ft at the moment, we will see what happens in the spring.
MediaHound
01-20-2009, 05:46 PM
10' to the tip of the crown or pseudostem?
lt_eggbeater
01-20-2009, 05:58 PM
The tops of the stems range from about 7 to 9 feet and the tops of the plants probably about 9 to 11 feet, depending on the plant. The leaves are pretty tore up right now due to the winter and the windy conditions lately. So they are not as high above the stem as they would normaly be.
buffy
01-20-2009, 09:01 PM
My "Dwarf" Brazilian reached 10' of pseudostem before Hurricane Rita snapped 7' off of it. It didn't even suggest it was ready to flower. I guess we just grow them bigger down here in Texas. ;)
This is a picture from earlier in this past Summer:
http://www.ranchorelaxo.info/dwarfbrazilian.jpg
JCDerrick
01-21-2009, 02:53 PM
Only 7' here with a Basjoo. So I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'm putting some Sabas, Ice Creams, and a Praying Hands in the ground this coming spring though. The Ice Cream have really taken off indoors in their pots. So I'm hoping I'll get several feet off them before next winter. Will likely dig them up and pot with no leaves - this cold spell we've had this last week scares me and I don't want to risk them outdoors.
lt_eggbeater
01-22-2009, 10:17 PM
Only 7' here with a Basjoo. So I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'm putting some Sabas, Ice Creams, and a Praying Hands in the ground this coming spring though. The Ice Cream have really taken off indoors in their pots. So I'm hoping I'll get several feet off them before next winter. Will likely dig them up and pot with no leaves - this cold spell we've had this last week scares me and I don't want to risk them outdoors.
That's pretty good seeing as you are getting iced out where you are at.
island cassie
01-22-2009, 10:46 PM
Both my Orinocos and Ice Creams have about 19ft of pstem and are huge around the bottom, the IC's being bigger around the base - it is hssing down with rain atm so I won't go out to measure them. They are so big it is difficult to photograph them as I can't get far enough away without things getting in the way. Lately I have started to think fondly of the dwarf varieties after getting the gardeners to cut down the last bunch of Orinocos from about 12ft up - they caught them ok - I think the bunch only weighs about 60lbs so much smaller than usual. It is the rainy season and in the last week we have had 4 inches of rain - last year we had 96 inches which was the equivalent of a dry year - the year before was 112 inches! All this heat and water makes the nanas grow well.
lt_eggbeater
01-22-2009, 11:00 PM
Both my Orinocos and Ice Creams have about 19ft of pstem and are huge around the bottom, the IC's being bigger around the base - it is hssing down with rain atm so I won't go out to measure them. They are so big it is difficult to photograph them as I can't get far enough away without things getting in the way. Lately I have started to think fondly of the dwarf varieties after getting the gardeners to cut down the last bunch of Orinocos from about 12ft up - they caught them ok - I think the bunch only weighs about 60lbs so much smaller than usual. It is the rainy season and in the last week we have had 4 inches of rain - last year we had 96 inches which was the equivalent of a dry year - the year before was 112 inches! All this heat and water makes the nanas grow well.
Wow! I wonder if its the water or the heat or the relative humidity. I have a pretty much unlimited supply of water here as I have my own well, and tons of heat except for about 2 and a half months a year. I have been afraid of over watering but I guess during the summer it would be almost impossible given the type of rainfall you are getting. If it's the humidity I may try misters this summer.
island cassie
01-22-2009, 11:23 PM
lt - they are monsters - when it stops raining I will get some measurements around the bases of the plants. I think the humidity plays a big part but they do suck up the water too - I wouldn't be afraid of watering them too much if you have the high temperatures to go with it - mine love water and hot weather - i am just waiting for the hot weather to start to make the plants put on a spurt of growth - cold here atm at about 73f/22c - the dogs are curled up on their beds and won't move!
JCDerrick
01-22-2009, 11:28 PM
That's pretty good seeing as you are getting iced out where you are at.
I had to wrap that big one up a lot - man I just hope it doesn't loose much off the top. This cold (for this long) is just unusual for us. Thankfully it's getting a little warmer again - back to near normal.
I envy you guys in the warmer spots with the huge bananas. I doubt I'll ever get one over 12' here without hibernation. I've got A LOT of reading to do here about the various species and how they hibernate (I wish that was included in the Wiki for each banana).
Reading the above, can you even possibly over water a banana in the ground (so long as it's not sitting in a bog like setting)? I often think I'm not giving mine enough, but don't want to over do it in the summer. We have NO clay here in Lexington, SC - turns to sand mostly if you dig down enough, luckily this area was very forested before the neighborhood was built - good top soil mix overall. So weird too, less than 25 miles away where I grew up they have more clay than you know what to do with. I've never seen types of soil change so fast in such a small area.
lt_eggbeater
01-22-2009, 11:48 PM
I had to wrap that big one up a lot - man I just hope it doesn't loose much off the top. This cold (for this long) is just unusual for us. Thankfully it's getting a little warmer again - back to near normal.
I envy you guys in the warmer spots with the huge bananas. I doubt I'll ever get one over 12' here without hibernation. I've got A LOT of reading to do here about the various species and how they hibernate (I wish that was included in the Wiki for each banana).
Reading the above, can you even possibly over water a banana in the ground (so long as it's not sitting in a bog like setting)? I often think I'm not giving mine enough, but don't want to over do it in the summer. We have NO clay here in Lexington, SC - turns to sand mostly if you dig down enough, luckily this area was very forested before the neighborhood was built - good top soil mix overall. So weird too, less than 25 miles away where I grew up they have more clay than you know what to do with. I've never seen types of soil change so fast in such a small area.
We have mostly sandy soil here, but I trucked in 120 tons of top soil and I put about 12 cubic feet of potting soil with every banana I plant, so I'm not sure how much water they can take with that mixture. On summer days I have been giving them about 10 hrs a day with 2 2gpm drippers per plant so about 40 gallons every 2 or 3 days. If they can take more I'll let them have it.
JCDerrick
01-22-2009, 11:52 PM
We have mostly sandy soil here, but I trucked in 120 tons of top soil and I put about 12 cubic feet of potting soil with every banana I plant, so I'm not sure how much water they can take with that mixture. On summer days I have been giving them about 10 hrs a day with 2 2gpm drippers per plant so about 40 gallons every 2 or 3 days. If they can take more I'll let them have it.
That can't be too kind on the water bill, LOL. I really need to get a drip hose irrigation system this spring myself - maybe I can tie it into my existing irrigation system. I am no doubt wasting a ton of water spraying it onto all the tropical plants in my beds. Half of it probably evaporates in mist during the spray from the sprinkler system.
lt_eggbeater
01-23-2009, 12:14 AM
That can't be too kind on the water bill, LOL. I really need to get a drip hose irrigation system this spring myself - maybe I can tie it into my existing irrigation system. I am no doubt wasting a ton of water spraying it onto all the tropical plants in my beds. Half of it probably evaporates in mist during the spray from the sprinkler system.
I have a well so I dont actually get a water bill. If more water will make them grow faster and larger, thats no problem for me!
sandy0225
01-23-2009, 07:50 AM
I bet out there in Arizona you can't get too much water on those bananas. It seems like they take a ton of water here in Indiana in the summer and we actually have humidity, very high humidity a lot of the summer. And not nearly as hot and strong sun as you get.
Island Cassie, I sure hope my ice cream banana isn't a clone from the same batch as yours! I don't think I have room for bananas that big in the winter. It's getting iffy now as big as it is, and its growing back quick in the greenhouse. I've been trying to control it by giving it less water, with limited success. Partly because that doesn't seem to work as well as I thought it would, and partly because I feel sorry for it every now and then and water it! I don't know if I'm ever going to get bananas on it, because I thought I'd already have them by now...
damaclese
01-23-2009, 09:01 AM
my tallest are my Ae Ae at maturity it grows to 20 ft fallowed closely by my Ice Cream or Blue Java which ranges from 15ft to 18ft at maturity so sandy you better build a taller green house LOL and on the topic of time to Bloom if the Ice Cream doesn't flower in 3 years its never going to the key is the size of the pots if its under 32" its doubtful that it will flower but and you all know theres always a but! iv heard of people getting them to bloom in smaller pots so it just goes to show you that Faith is a big factor in what plants do not to get all metaphysical on y'all but first comes thought then comes action this gos for plants to
lt_eggbeater
01-23-2009, 10:57 AM
I bet out there in Arizona you can't get too much water on those bananas. It seems like they take a ton of water here in Indiana in the summer and we actually have humidity, very high humidity a lot of the summer. And not nearly as hot and strong sun as you get.
Island Cassie, I sure hope my ice cream banana isn't a clone from the same batch as yours! I don't think I have room for bananas that big in the winter. It's getting iffy now as big as it is, and its growing back quick in the greenhouse. I've been trying to control it by giving it less water, with limited success. Partly because that doesn't seem to work as well as I thought it would, and partly because I feel sorry for it every now and then and water it! I don't know if I'm ever going to get bananas on it, because I thought I'd already have them by now...
Well I guess I will find when the hot weather gets here. I will put 2 4gpm emitters per palnt and double the water doses to 80 gallons every other day. If they take that ok I may increase further. As well as adding the misters.
Bananaman88
01-23-2009, 01:21 PM
I have a well so I dont actually get a water bill. If more water will make them grow faster and larger, thats no problem for me!
I just attended a water conservation talk last week and here in Texas before long the government is going to regulate how much water folks can pull from their wells in a given amount of time. It sounds like there will be stiff fines if one uses more than he or she is allotted. I grew up out in the country and we had a well also. Unfortunatley, with our growing population the days of "free and unlimited" water are about over...even for those with wells. I think that, along with global warming and energy issues, that water shortages will be one of the biggest challenges we have to deal with. Probably sooner rather than later.
lt_eggbeater
01-23-2009, 03:08 PM
I just attended a water conservation talk last week and here in Texas before long the government is going to regulate how much water folks can pull from their wells in a given amount of time. It sounds like there will be stiff fines if one uses more than he or she is allotted. I grew up out in the country and we had a well also. Unfortunatley, with our growing population the days of "free and unlimited" water are about over...even for those with wells. I think that, along with global warming and energy issues, that water shortages will be one of the biggest challenges we have to deal with. Probably sooner rather than later.
The wells cost over 40k, I would hope that I am unaffected due to a grandfather clause. Otherwise they are going to have a fight on their hands! What are they going to tell me next, that I have used up the air available on my land? It needs to stop somewhere. I am already required to have the well on a separate meter and am billed at 10 times the going rate for the electric. I think that is compensation enough. I am already tempted to power the well with the solar array I am having installed on my house. They can bill me all they want as soon as they give me my 40k back!
dablo93
01-24-2009, 09:15 AM
that are some huge musas
this is mine:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/dablo93/IMG_0620.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/dablo93/IMG_0071-3.jpg
(i know it's small)
Jack Daw
01-24-2009, 10:07 AM
The wells cost over 40k, I would hope that I am unaffected due to a grandfather clause. Otherwise they are going to have a fight on their hands! What are they going to tell me next, that I have used up the air available on my land? It needs to stop somewhere. I am already required to have the well on a separate meter and am billed at 10 times the going rate for the electric. I think that is compensation enough. I am already tempted to power the well with the solar array I am having installed on my house. They can bill me all they want as soon as they give me my 40k back!
I just attended a water conservation talk last week and here in Texas before long the government is going to regulate how much water folks can pull from their wells in a given amount of time. It sounds like there will be stiff fines if one uses more than he or she is allotted. I grew up out in the country and we had a well also. Unfortunatley, with our growing population the days of "free and unlimited" water are about over...even for those with wells. I think that, along with global warming and energy issues, that water shortages will be one of the biggest challenges we have to deal with. Probably sooner rather than later.
Reading this makes me sick. I come from Europe, Slovakia, there is a delta of Danube on our southern border (sand filters the water and rich humus soil holds it below our land) and so there's the largest clean, no need to rafine and free source of drinking water. If I dig a hole of about 7 meters anywhere in south Slovakia, pure and fine water will be down there for sure.
This land has cost us much however, we have been fighting, literally and poetically with our southern border neighbour - Hungary for thousand of years. Even now the hatred between the nations is terrible and makes a mess of the European Union. It's not likely to stop, sadly. And there's enough water for the whole Europe, Russia and Middle East down there...
See this (it's short in English, dunno why :) ) Žitný ostrov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDitn%C3%BD_ostrov)
I'm not sure, how they want to regulate the water pump offs, they would have to place meters on your pumpingout devices, but there's no law allowing such intrusion to one's property (at least in Slovakia). And there will never be :) :goteam:
Hope it will go well for you though ... Good luck.
Dalmatiansoap
01-24-2009, 10:25 AM
Yes Jack quite unbeliveble here in Europe. Meters on wells, cant imagine!
We pays that otherwise. Expencive food, etc...
By the way folks whats the cost of Chicitas(Eqador) in yours countries? We came up to approxim. 1.5-1.8$ for kg.
Once again
Regards from Croatia:woohoonaner:
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