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View Full Version : The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm


Overgrown
04-08-2009, 01:52 AM
Not sure of the variety but my grandparents planted this a little over twenty years ago and have only cut down the pseudo stems once they flowered. I remember this plant as a kid and now I get the honor of removing it! It's approximately 7' wide and 4' deep. Any idea how I should go about removing this thing?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananawideshot.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananawith2gwateringcan.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacormwbucket.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacorm2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacorm.jpg

chong
04-08-2009, 03:07 AM
Judging from the orange fruits on the tree next to the clump, you are not in the Seattle area. It's a pity, I could help you out if you were.

You need to dig out the perimeter pups, 1 or 2 at a time, deep enough preserve the corm and some roots, and work your way towards the middle. If you intend to grow them, either get some pots to plant them in, or prepare other planting sites where you intend to plant them.

Check out Jarred's step-by-step procedure for separating a pup in this thread: http://www.bananas.org/f2/time-separate-pups-spring-1814.html

Granted that his illustration is for a single pup, and that should work for you if you want to separate individual pups. But if you want to just remove the clump, having 2 or 3 pups to plant in another spot would make your work faster.

Westwood
04-08-2009, 05:01 AM
id use a Cat and move it but good luck she is a beautiful plant.

be patient and Careful thats actually a heirloom in your family .
I have a Apple tree thats as old as i am i got to plant a seed at 1 yr old and well it grew. Tammy

alpha010
04-08-2009, 05:06 AM
Step 1: cut down to corm.
Step 2: Dig up corm.
Step 3: attach shipping label and mark it for Youngstown, OH and attention: Shaggy

I'm sure I'll see something that big rollin thru town and grab it. ;o)

Seriously though, if you aren't going to keep or give away just remove, then, take a chainsaw and start hacking the p-stems down to root. Take said chainsaw and cut manageably squares or chunks off the corm after making a perimeter with a spade or even a long trenching shovel. Worked for me when I had to take out a 15' diameter "ornamental grass" type of plant with a massive root system. If you are going to give them away....enlist the help of the naner recievers to get it out properly.

Shaggy

Bob
04-08-2009, 08:55 AM
Wish you were closer, I'd be right over!

tophersmith
04-08-2009, 12:32 PM
Are you planning on permanently removing those? If so you should offer the corms up for auction. Or ask for postage for willing takers (hint, hint)

Chironex
04-08-2009, 02:25 PM
Why not place an auction for it on Craig's list. Then just make it a condition that they come to remove it themselves. Charge them whatever you feel it is worth. Save a few pups for yourself and any takers here. You could place an ad here for selling a few of the smaller pups.

Westwood
04-08-2009, 09:33 PM
Id definatly buy a pup or Part of it But thats up to you . tammy

bepah
04-08-2009, 09:37 PM
Where are you located? You might want to get some help (everyone here is very helpful).

For a 6 pack and a couple of corms, you'd get these out in no time!

bigdog
04-08-2009, 09:50 PM
A Bobcat would handle that job, no problem!

Frank

Gabe15
04-08-2009, 10:27 PM
Was the fruit ever eaten? They look like Musa balbisiana from those photos.

just j
04-08-2009, 10:39 PM
wow thats big it is probly full of bugs and rats all living in the cracks of it i would sell it cut it into pieces and put them for sale on here

Chironex
04-09-2009, 01:21 AM
Fairly upright growth habit, quite interesting. I can't find a good leaf base to see whether it is lobed or not.

LilRaverBoi
04-09-2009, 01:32 PM
Holy crap! That's tall....ridiculously tall. Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead of you. I'd recommend cutting off the plants to the ground and separating the corm into pieces (preferably at pre-delineated places if possible) as you dig it up.

Overgrown
04-10-2009, 10:11 PM
Thanks for the input guys! I will tackle this plant this week and will try to preserve as many pups as possible. A bobcat won't have access to the backyard so it looks like I'll be doing this with a spade and pick axe.

Also, My grandparents say the fruits aren't edible but they use the leaves for culinary purposes.

I will keep you updated!

Chironex
04-10-2009, 10:13 PM
Dynamite! Yeah, how cool is that? It could be just like when they knock down huge buildings by controlled blasts.

Magilla Gorilla
04-10-2009, 10:37 PM
Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone.

Chironex
04-10-2009, 10:40 PM
Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone.

Hey Andrew! Welcome back! Haven't heard from you for a long time. Still have that Maurelii for me? (The crooked one)

Magilla Gorilla
04-10-2009, 10:55 PM
Hey Andrew! Welcome back! Haven't heard from you for a long time. Still have that Maurelii for me? (The crooked one)

Hello Scot,

I am happy to be back (thanks for noticing). I went to Maui and then the Big Island for Thanksgiving. I brought home 42 plants (only one nana but lots of heliconia's). I then got hooked on my ebay sales (plants and house crap). If you have ever sold on ebay, it is a full time job. You know I was also busy with the financial markets and my clients. There is only so much time in the day.

How is the first Maurelii I sent you? I have many more. The crooked one straightened out and I sold it. I have two 7 footers I need to get in the ground. My plants did well this winter and my greenhouse was packed with 23 varieties of Alocasia's, 30 bananas, Gingers, Colocasia's, and many other plants. I will be planting, mulching, digging and in pain this weekend.

Great to hear from you!

Andrew

Chironex
04-10-2009, 11:25 PM
It is doing great! It got a bit of cold damage in my unheated greenhouse, but it is coming back strong as ever. I would like another one sometime in the not-to-distant future. PM me when you have the time. I will be suspending my purchases until I get back from China in mid May.

Overgrown
04-13-2009, 10:45 PM
:drum:


Approximately 5 hrs with one 30 min lunch break, one 15 minute phone break, three 5 minutes drink breaks....And the monster corm is out!!! I filled three dumpsters with the plant weighing in at approx 250-300lbs each. I managed to salvage a few pups.

:woohoonaner::nanadrink::0519::bananas_b

Magilla Gorilla
04-13-2009, 11:19 PM
:drum:


Approximately 5 hrs with one 30 min lunch break, one 15 minute phone break, three 5 minutes drink breaks....And the monster corm is out!!! I filled three dumpsters with the plant weighing in at approx 250-300lbs each. I managed to salvage a few pups.

:woohoonaner::nanadrink::0519::bananas_b

I feel your pain. I removed a smaller mat of 7 Brazilians due to some unknown pest issue. You accomplished a lot of work in a day.

LilRaverBoi
04-14-2009, 12:03 AM
Wow! That's quite the task...though I had no doubts it would be a LOT of work! Glad you traversed the dilemma!

Dean W.
04-16-2010, 10:49 AM
Not sure of the variety but my grandparents planted this a little over twenty years ago and have only cut down the pseudo stems once they flowered. I remember this plant as a kid and now I get the honor of removing it! It's approximately 7' wide and 4' deep. Any idea how I should go about removing this thing?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananawideshot.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananawith2gwateringcan.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacormwbucket.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacorm2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/bananacorm.jpg

How are they doing today? Any status reports?:woohoonaner:

Abnshrek
04-16-2010, 05:13 PM
I'm all for digging & playing in the dirt.. but I would have rented a mini backhoe for that bad-boy.. The ones I removed last year were just as tall, but the corm was 1/4 the size.. A Royal pain :^)

Jack Daw
04-16-2010, 05:27 PM
I would wait 30 more years and then sell it to some collector from Florida or California for a nice provision. ;)
Call it the monster-corm.
:waving:

Sodak
04-16-2010, 06:22 PM
Yep, I'd happily pay postage and extra for a large corm from that plant. Good luck!

Westwood
04-17-2010, 12:06 AM
Wish i lived Closer Id Help .
and Buy one

Overgrown
04-17-2010, 02:35 AM
I posted a thread almost a year ago on the progression of that garden and hardscape that was done. A whole lot has changed since then.

I planted some palms, EE, tropicannas, fern tree and zebrinas in place of it. It grew nice and full in once season but was too messy of a look for me so removed it and just kept the palms.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/CIMG1889.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/CIMG1711.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/CIMG1709.jpg

Here's what the spot looked like earlier this year (Jan 2010)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/CIMG1957.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/Curves4s/CIMG1956.jpg

Dalmatiansoap
04-17-2010, 03:24 AM
Still looking great. I can only dream of growing Dypsis outside.
:nanadrink: