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View Full Version : blue java...in a pot???


Nanagirl2k8
05-25-2009, 08:11 PM
Do you think it would be possible to have a blue java ice cream in a container???


:waving:

Lagniappe
05-25-2009, 09:19 PM
Patty did...er ...does. Just make sure to go with the largest possible container from the start or you'll have one heck of a chore on your hands.
Ice creams are big honkin plants and need a lot of room.
IMO there are many better choices for container plants.
This year I'll be trying Gran Naine, D. Namwa, SDC, HCM, and Logees dwarf Lady Finger.

I'll overwinter a lot of others in containers but plant them out in the spring. Perhaps this would be a good idea for the Ice cream as well.

ClevelandCATHY
05-25-2009, 10:50 PM
I grew one in a pot, and it had fruit. Had it in a very big pot, and didn't get much fruit, but it can be done.

Nanagirl2k8
05-26-2009, 05:51 AM
Thanks for the responses.

I spotted some super dwarf cavendish. I may just go with those.

:waving:

Patty in Wisc
05-26-2009, 07:45 AM
CCathy, how big was your pot?

ClevelandCATHY
05-26-2009, 12:59 PM
It was probably 25 to 30 gallons. I didn't get but one small bunch, but i was excited. It was my first bunch of bananas.

Nanagirl2k8
05-26-2009, 01:56 PM
CCathy, I believe I have pots about that big. :D

:waving:

Patty in Wisc
05-26-2009, 02:06 PM
To get a bunch of IC in a 25-30 gal pot is pretty good!!!
I had mine planted inground last summer & put it in a 30 gal in Oct & grew it at a southern window. By April, it put out 2 "funny" leaves because it was rootbound. I got a 65 gal 'smart pot' & put it out on north side of house to get acclimated. It went into shock & all leaves fell down. After 16 days, it recently sprouted a new leaf. I was going to put it inground again, but I don't want anymore transplant shock.
In my thread "need a new pot ASAP' (under this one) I will post pics of moving it to its summer spot yesterday.
Pete is right...there are better choices for a potted nana. IC is just too much to handle when big.

ewitte
06-04-2009, 06:05 AM
The pot I have for my blue java is a 65gal smartpot. You can actually go up to 200gal. For the smaller banana plants I got 45gal.

BTW the raja puri I moved into the 45gal is crazy. When it went into the 25gal container last summer after a few days it looked all sad and took a month to come back. This time less than a week has passed and each morning the leaves perk up even more than they did before potting and the leaf that was coming out is starting to finish. It lost about 1/2 of its roots.

Bananaman88
06-04-2009, 06:14 AM
Ewitte- if you are in Houston, why would you try to keep your edibles in pots? Just curious. I'm in the Pearland area and my Ice Cream as well as all of my other edibles do fine in the ground with minimal protection, with the exception of the Cavendish types.

sandy0225
06-04-2009, 06:22 AM
I've got one potted in a big tree pot, then I sat that inside a big party tub so it didn't need so much water. It's currently about 12 feet tall after cutting it back to 6 feet last fall. There is one main stalk, two second generation stalks(one of which is as tall as the mama stalk) and two or three third generation stalks that are about 3 feet in this pot.Since this one is going on four years old, I am certainly wishing for fruit this year! But I think I've sort of given up on fruiting it, I fully expected it to do something last year.

ewitte
06-04-2009, 06:23 AM
Ewitte- if you are in Houston, why would you try to keep your edibles in pots? Just curious. I'm in the Pearland area and my Ice Cream as well as all of my other edibles do fine in the ground with minimal protection, with the exception of the Cavendish types.

The ground is full ;) In about 5 years time I hope to have at least 10 acres so that wouldn't be an issue but the lots on newer residential lots are tiny. Best guess is 1/16 of an acre. Plus 1/3 of the backyard I'm not supposed to plant anything to keep them away from power lines. What I have is blueberry trees in pots against the fence to get around that.

3x Blueberry (pot)
2x apple (ground)
1x clementine (ground)
2x lime (pots)
1x peach (waiting to get moved into ground)
2x raja puri (in ground)
1x raja puri (45gal smart pot)
1x raja puri (inside hydroponic)
1x ice cream (growing a bit in 10gal container its tiny right now)
1x papaya (dying didn't like winter root bound)
1x watermelon (container - almost done :))
8x aztec black corn (single container)

ewitte
06-04-2009, 06:33 AM
I've got one potted in a big tree pot, then I sat that inside a big party tub so it didn't need so much water. It's currently about 12 feet tall after cutting it back to 6 feet last fall. There is one main stalk, two second generation stalks(one of which is as tall as the mama stalk) and two or three third generation stalks that are about 3 feet in this pot.Since this one is going on four years old, I am certainly wishing for fruit this year! But I think I've sort of given up on fruiting it, I fully expected it to do something last year.

The one I have is the one I got from you. Its already starting on putting a third leaf out since I got it last month :)

Nanagirl2k8
06-04-2009, 08:10 AM
The ground is full ;) In about 5 years time I hope to have at least 10 acres so that wouldn't be an issue but the lots on newer residential lots are tiny. Best guess is 1/16 of an acre. Plus 1/3 of the backyard I'm not supposed to plant anything to keep them away from power lines. What I have is blueberry trees in pots against the fence to get around that.

3x Blueberry (pot)
2x apple (ground)
1x clementine (ground)
2x lime (pots)
1x peach (waiting to get moved into ground)
2x raja puri (in ground)
1x raja puri (45gal smart pot)
1x raja puri (inside hydroponic)
1x ice cream (growing a bit in 10gal container its tiny right now)
1x papaya (dying didn't like winter root bound)
1x watermelon (container - almost done :))
8x aztec black corn (single container)

I have space issues as well.


I did buy a 2 blue java and 2 super dwarf cavendish, but one is a gift for someone. It's already in the ground and is doing fine.

I may be moving to a big city with very small lots which means everything else will end up in a pot.

Bananaman88
06-04-2009, 09:11 AM
OK, now I understand. Thanks. Good luck with all of your plants. Give me a yell if you are looking for anything I have. Check my profile for the list.

damaclese
06-04-2009, 10:14 AM
I have two blue Java's one is in the ground and one is in a pot. the one in the pot started out bigger by 50%. the other ones is now as big as the potted one. so i say pots are OK if you have no choice but planting in the Garden is better. the leaf structure on the in ground ones are bigger to and formed in a wider thicker way. the potted ones are thiner i don't know what that means this is true of all my potted Bananas.

Caloosamusa
06-04-2009, 12:08 PM
I have three Ice Creams (Java Blues) in pots and 4 productive mats. They grow bigger and faster in the ground. The biggest one in a pot is over 7 feet. It is in a 25 gallon pot. I will soon be planting these out at my farm site. Good growing!! :2239:

Bananaman88
06-04-2009, 12:10 PM
I think when allowed to grow in the ground they are just happier and healthier due to the fact that they have free root-run. As a result, they are able to find most of the nutrients and moisture they need on their own and never get stressed due to cramped root conditions. This allows them to produce healthier and more robust growth.

ewitte
06-04-2009, 03:59 PM
Thats partly why I wanted at least 65gal and the smartpots are supposed to better support the root system.

Patty in Wisc
06-04-2009, 06:12 PM
Thats partly why I wanted at least 65gal and the smartpots are supposed to better support the root system.
I have a IC in a 65 gal smartpot. It is self pruning & it will never get rootbound.
Let us know how yours does in the pot & I will too.

ewitte
06-05-2009, 08:28 AM
The ice cream has not been moved yet but the mother raja puri seems to really like the new 45gal pot. I'm suprised how perky it is a week after losing 1/2 of its root system. The corm was actually pretty huge (it was in a 25gal container for almost a year) when it was removed. Easily 8-10lbs or more and probably 14in-16in wide.

Gambadeur
06-13-2009, 08:54 AM
Here's my defunct Ice Cream mother. She gave me many pups and a flower before she froze to death (it's pretty cold here).

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=5099&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5099&ppuser=61)

ewitte
06-13-2009, 12:30 PM
Zone 4 I would say so ;) I'm in 9 so they can stay out a bit more. More worried it gets too hot though lol.

Nanagirl2k8
06-17-2009, 01:36 AM
Here's my defunct Ice Cream mother. She gave me many pups and a flower before she froze to death (it's pretty cold here).

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=5099&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5099&ppuser=61)

Oooooo aaaaaaa