View Full Version : Is my tiny Saba trying to bloom?
Lagniappe
06-21-2009, 09:14 PM
I've been fooled before, especially this time of year when it's so hot out. I removed two very large pups from this plant a few weeks back and 8 have popped up in the last 4-5 days.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18584&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18584&ppuser=766)
The leaves are getting shorter (the part that fools me sometimes):
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18582&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18582&ppuser=766)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18586&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18586&ppuser=766)
There's a swell in the p-stem (may not be obvious in this pic):
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18585&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18585&ppuser=766)
But most of all, there are hundreds of sugar ants moving up and down the p-stem (I've noticed this on my blooming plants):
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18583&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18583&ppuser=766)
hydroid
06-21-2009, 09:42 PM
Hey Pete.
Is the shorter Saba leaves a sign of a bloom on the way? Have you had a Saba to fruit in La? The reason I ask is because I have a Saba and have been spraying miracle grow on it every couple of weeks. It's so tall that I have to get on my roof to spray the huge leaves, well today I noticed a very short open leaf emerging out of the middle. I'm wondering if it's getting ready to flower.
CookieCows
06-21-2009, 10:11 PM
:woohoonaner: Pete this sure looks exciting to me! I bet you are counting the summer months that are left just in case!
Deb
island cassie
06-21-2009, 11:22 PM
I often find that accelerated pup production combined with a fatteneing of the stem are signs that a bloom is on the way - I must have taken 15 or more pups off the 1000 fingers in the last month, and now - viola!- a bloom. Nice looking plant btw! When you say small - how tall is it? My Saba was about 12 ft to the first leaf when it flowered, but huge around the base.
Simply Bananas
06-22-2009, 03:56 AM
I have the sugar ants on nearly all my in ground plants this year, for the first time ever. They hang out where new leaves emerge. I'm not sure what they are after, but I doubt it has anything to do with a future flower.
Good Luck with the Saba.
Lagniappe
06-22-2009, 07:30 AM
Thanks for your replies.
SB, I just went and checked all my plants, I had ants on a velutina that was blooming, but they've quit now that it's in male flowers. I did have some on small Ice creams and on one Raja Puri, but none on any other banana. I didn't even have any on the E. glaucum that's blooming. Perhaps they're just looking for moisture or a bit of sap from the plant.
Cassie, this thing is really small, I can almost reach the top of the p-stem so It's at least 8' - 9'....I removed pups that had 5'-6' of p-stem. I doubt that it'll make much in the way of fruit. It was a lot bigger last year, but still small by the Saba I've seen. My others are 1/3 taller already and 2/3 larger around the base.
Bo, if you look at the last 3-5 leaves, they usually step down in size with the flag being the smallest.
hammer
06-22-2009, 09:21 AM
Pete how old is Saba that is just awesome you will put some more pics.
Bananaman88
06-22-2009, 11:32 AM
Ants are usually a sign of aphids or scale insects. The ants "farm" them for the sweet honeydew they secret. The honeydew often leads to sooty mold-a blackish substance you may have noticed on other plants before. I had a bad case of this on some hollies once. I sprayed them one or two times with some horticultural oil and it took care of the problem.
Lagniappe
06-22-2009, 11:43 AM
I've had larger ants to farm on my plants, but the sugar ants are too small. These guys are on their own.
I see them being fed by my plumeria and castor beens too, I suppose the plant can't pick and choose it's benefactor....it's doubtful that the sugar ants could defend them.
Lagniappe
06-22-2009, 11:48 AM
Pete how old is Saba that is just awesome you will put some more pics.
Thanks, it's one year old. It's very small and far too small to bloom. Plus, it needs to have more leaves. I suppose I stressed it out by removing those pups or it was just it's time.
Bananaman88
06-22-2009, 12:23 PM
I've had larger ants to farm on my plants, but the sugar ants are too small. These guys are on their own.
I see them being fed by my plumeria and castor beens too, I suppose the plant can't pick and choose it's benefactor....it's doubtful that the sugar ants could defend them.
That's true, Pete. I don't think I've ever seen sugar ants farm aphids. Perhaps they are just looking for nectar.
bananimal
06-23-2009, 05:32 PM
Pete,
My first Saba took almost 2 years to grow out the fruit. That is what the literature says about this giant. Then Fay blew it down. It was about 11 ft tall at leaf emergence and had a base caliper of about 20 inches. What is the caliper of yours. I hate to say this ..... but fruiting so soon and so short suggests that it is something other than Saba.
The mama corm sprouted 2 more pups which I potted - want one? It's from a Going Bananas TC plant so it should be the real MCCoy.
Dan
Lagniappe
06-23-2009, 06:59 PM
It came from great Saba stock. There's no doubt that it's Saba.
I doubt that it'll make many bananas or that they will plump up, but it is blooming.
Lagniappe
07-03-2009, 09:41 PM
I should be able to see the first hand in the morning. Dan has me wondering if I made some sort of mistake, so I'm anxious to see the flowers.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18950&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18950&ppuser=766)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18949&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18949&ppuser=766)
Lagniappe
07-08-2009, 12:35 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19119&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19119&ppuser=766)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19118&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19118&ppuser=766)
I found ants on three other plants this week and they're getting smaller leaves or pushing flags now.
Patty in Wisc
07-08-2009, 03:39 PM
Congrats Pete!!! :)
saltydad
07-08-2009, 09:16 PM
Great news!!
Lagniappe
07-08-2009, 09:58 PM
(Siiigh) I got 18 fingers on three hands total.:2141:
I really expected as much, so I'll just be happy watching it bloom.
ArchAngeL01
07-08-2009, 10:12 PM
YAY! congrats buddy!
island cassie
07-08-2009, 10:17 PM
Good luck Pete and let's see what develops. My Saba type is as big as the tall Orinocos and Ice Creams, so I'm surprised yours is trying to fruit so early. Sadly I don't have closeups of my flowers as they were up in the sky, but my leaves are much paler - more pale lime green. This is what makes things so interesting!!
harveyc
07-09-2009, 12:00 AM
Hey, Pete, I can't keep track of my bananas very well much less yours. Did this one spend the winter in the ground? Congrats....18 fingers is better than none! :)
Bananaman88
07-09-2009, 06:25 AM
You've got me beat, Pete! I haven't had a single edible fruit yet this year and it's starting to get late. Stupid drought! The only bananas that have fruited for me this year have been M. dasycarpa and M. laterita.
kaczercat
07-10-2009, 10:28 AM
You Lucky Duck , Nice !!
Bananaman88
07-10-2009, 11:06 AM
Perhaps I should have said "flowered" rather than "fruited" since the two I listed are ornamentals.
Lagniappe
08-13-2009, 12:41 AM
Here's a pic of the pups. That's a lot of growth for just a few weeks eh?
I can reach 8' and still fall short around 1' to the tip of the pup's leaves.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=21120&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21120&ppuser=766)
harveyc
08-13-2009, 02:56 AM
You smoking something, Pete??? :ha:
kaczercat
08-13-2009, 10:07 AM
Lmao Harvey , It does look like smoke.
Lagniappe
08-13-2009, 10:15 AM
You smoking something, Pete??? :ha:
When I saw that, I KNEW right away that you would comment. :ha:
harveyc
08-13-2009, 05:23 PM
Glad I didn't disappoint. BTW, your highlights are fine but you could use more contrast. ;)
Lagniappe
09-15-2009, 07:49 PM
I have a second Saba flagging now! It's larger than the first, but a lot smaller than my largest one.
Thanks, Chris!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23113&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23113&ppuser=766)
IndianaSue
09-15-2009, 08:14 PM
Pete,
Wow! I'd be tickled pink if I got 18!! Heck I can't wait untill I get one!!
Congratulations!! Keep us posted on their progress!
Sue
austinl01
09-15-2009, 09:09 PM
Somehow I missed this post before. Congratulations, Pete! This is quite exciting. Stop by my house anytime your in the neighborhood.
Rmplmnz
09-15-2009, 09:44 PM
Pete,
My first Saba took almost 2 years to grow out the fruit. That is what the literature says about this giant. Then Fay blew it down. It was about 11 ft tall at leaf emergence and had a base caliper of about 20 inches. What is the caliper of yours. I hate to say this ..... but fruiting so soon and so short suggests that it is something other than Saba.
The mama corm sprouted 2 more pups which I potted - want one? It's from a Going Bananas TC plant so it should be the real MCCoy.
Dan
No doubt it is a Saba..lol..hand picked by Pete..
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8914&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8914)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8913&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8913)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8912&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8912)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11553&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11553)
Ironically from Going Bananas circa 1994..prior to TC's when Don would dig up the massive corms...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17569&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17569)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17578&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17578)
Rmplmnz
09-15-2009, 09:45 PM
I have a second Saba flagging now! It's larger than the first, but a lot smaller than my largest one.
Thanks, Chris!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23113&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23113&ppuser=766)
Absolutely...you need to make another trip to Tampa and load up again!!
harveyc
09-16-2009, 12:46 AM
Boy, I've got to try growing a Saba one of these days. Just having some hope of growing some huge monsters like Chris would make the effort worthwhile.
Lagniappe
10-01-2009, 05:07 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24192&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24192&ppuser=766)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24191&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24191&ppuser=766)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=24190&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=24190&ppuser=766)
:woohoonaner:
damaclese
10-01-2009, 05:24 PM
congrats Pete i wish i could grow this one but i hear they dont like exstream heat all of Scots died i think its hard to rember im old ya know! why do you think they bloomed so young!
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