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Randy4ut
07-08-2009, 07:47 PM
I have two ornamentals that have already sent up a flag and buds are forming.
This is my velutina that I have had for 4 years now that stays outside with just mulch for protection in 7a. Normally, my velutinas grow to over 10' each year, but this year with the coldest, wettest winter in the past 5 years, they are currently only about 4' and lost half the mat!!! Winter sucks!!! Anyway, here is a few pics of it:

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana006.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana007.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana008.jpg


This next ornamental is an unnamed hybrid that I received last year and my dear friend overwintered it for me in her greenhouse. I planted it outside this spring and was only about 1' overall height. It is now about 4.5' overall height and the bud is 3' above mulch level. It has one pup already forming about 4" from the main pstem. It will be left out with only mulch for protection this winter and see how hardy it is. It is quite a lovely ornamental banana. Looking forward to seeing exactly what color the bloom will be...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana001.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana002.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana004.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25hybridbanana003.jpg

7/13/2009
Just wanted to update the progress of the blooming of the ornamental hybrid I am trialing...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25001.jpg


http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25006.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25005.jpg

NOW, take a look at the flowers!!!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25003.jpg

And a real close up...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/Nanners%202009/AA-2-25004.jpg


I am fairly new to blooms on bananas because I am climatically challenged, are these "sacs" normal? I assume it is nectar sacks, but like I said this is new to me...
You folks that get blooms on a regulat basis, please let me hear from you as to whether this is normal or not...

buckeye5755
07-08-2009, 07:58 PM
Very nice looking plant! Congrats!:nanadrink:

saltydad
07-08-2009, 09:08 PM
Congrats Randy! Think the second one could be an Ornata red?

CValentine
07-08-2009, 09:18 PM
Beautiful Randy4ut!!!

You velutina's look 'WOW' as does your other ornamentals!

The Velutina is the next banana on my list to aquire.... :D

Beautiful landscaping BTW... Reminds me I need to rework a layout for my pool.

:) ~Cheryl

Randy4ut
07-09-2009, 05:59 AM
Congrats Randy! Think the second one could be an Ornata red?

Thanks, Howard.... The second one, like I stated in the original post, is an unnamed hybrid that I was asked to trial here in SE TN for its hardiness. It has been hybridized and is currently not on the market. The person I acquired it from has many different hybrids they have developed and this one in particular showed great promise and before it goes to market, they wanted to have a better idea to how it will grow in more northerly climates. Can't wait to see what the bloom will actually look like...
I will post pics as it develops!!!

Bananaman88
07-09-2009, 06:20 AM
Nice pics! I especially like the red markings along the petioles on the second plant.

Randy4ut
07-13-2009, 05:32 PM
Just updated the pics on the hybrid and wanted to pull it back up and try to get some input!!!!

saltydad
07-13-2009, 05:40 PM
Randy,if the hybridizer wants to have a trial for hardiness in a little more "climatically challenged" location (great term, BTW), be sure and forward my name!!!

LilRaverBoi
07-13-2009, 07:28 PM
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing! Looks like things are going well for you! Yeah, winter does suck, but you've got it much much better than many of us! At least you can overwinter things in the ground there. I wouldn't even try it back in Iowa. I'm pretty sure even a Basjoo wouldn't be able to handle -40 degrees. And as for the nectar sacs....very cool! I'm not sure if that's typical or not, but I bet the bees love it! *slurp* LOL.

bigdog
07-13-2009, 08:47 PM
Those nectar sacs are normal...and tasty! Those stigmas look like they are just wanting to be pollinated so badly, LOL. I love the intense color of that bud! Very nice, and indeed reminiscent of 'African Red'. Hope that one turns out to be hardy. Thanks for the update!

Frank

Randy4ut
07-13-2009, 08:55 PM
Those nectar sacs are normal...and tasty! Those stigmas look like they are just wanting to be pollinated so badly, LOL. I love the intense color of that bud! Very nice, and indeed reminiscent of 'African Red'. Hope that one turns out to be hardy. Thanks for the update!

Frank

Bigdog,
You say that is normal, but normal on what? Have never seen such large sacs on any of my velutina, laterita, or thai gold? I know one thing, the wasps were a swarmin' it this evening when I was out there by the pool!!! Gotta come down and see it in person!!!

Rmplmnz
07-13-2009, 10:00 PM
Awesome!

Update us on the Tennessee Saba trial;-)

Randy4ut
07-14-2009, 06:47 AM
Awesome!

Update us on the Tennessee Saba trial;-)

Thanks, Chris for the compliment... As far as the Saba trial goes, for some reason, they are taking their sweet time!!!! I have three pstems that came back from the corm and the tallest one is only about 5' as of today. I have done everything the same as last summer, but all my bananas are alot slower this year than the last several. I am assuming it is due to the winter we had was worse than it has been since I have had this addiction. That and the soil temps are not up as high as the last few years. So far this summer, as a whole, has been a little below average temperaturewise, but only a few degrees. Seemed to have had more overcast and rainy days this summer than last two also.
I really don't understand it. Wish I could do something about it, but I still enjoy them just as much... Heck, my basjoo's are only about 12' overall now, compared to about 18' this time last year....
Will try and take a few pics and post for ya later this week... Got family reunion at the house this Saturday, so have to prepared for that and get my "low country" boil ingredients together!!!! Been doing this for the past 3 years and have a blast. 50 or so family members sitting around the pool slopping in the spicy shrimp!!!! Jump in the pool to wash off and then dive back into the food....

Bananaman88
07-14-2009, 12:14 PM
What time did you say the family reunion started, cuz? I'm originally from KY, so there is an off chance we're realated isn't there???

Randy4ut
07-14-2009, 12:19 PM
What time did you say the family reunion started, cuz? I'm originally from KY, so there is an off chance we're realated isn't there???

Brent, we are getting together this Saturday, and will hang around eating probably til about dark!!!! Even if you are not related, you would be more than welcome to join us. I am confident I enough food for twice as many as will be coming, so hey, come on!!!! I usually fix baggies full of the leftover boil for folks to take home with them. I love it almost leftover as I do right out of the POT!!!!

justjoan
08-04-2009, 10:47 AM
Beautiful Pics, thanks for sharing! I feel my addiction growing!:03:

mjdsinsacto
08-04-2009, 12:56 PM
Congratulations! That is a thing of beauty!

jack hagenaars
08-05-2009, 02:50 PM
Randy.What is that plant beside your bananas,the one with red split leaves?

Randy4ut
08-05-2009, 05:14 PM
Randy.What is that plant beside your bananas,the one with red split leaves?

Jack,
Not exactly sure which plant you are referring to. If you could count down from the top and tell which pic you are looking at, I would do my best to let you know. I have looked and really don't know which you are talking about. But then again, I look at these plants everyday and don't notice some things that others do. I am sure you understand!!!

conejov
08-05-2009, 07:38 PM
I think he's either reffering to the castor bean or the Purple heart

MediaHound
08-05-2009, 08:24 PM
Awesome pics Randy, thanks, I needed that :)

Randy4ut
08-05-2009, 08:32 PM
Jack,
If you are referring to the first pic, the plant on the lefthand side of the velutina, it is an ornamental peach. From my understanding, they are very short lived around here, about 8 years or so, and this is the first year it has developed fruit. I have had it for about 3 or 4 years now, so I need to try to get a replacement ready for the future. I really like it as it adds some color and texture to all the green around it...

Lagniappe
08-05-2009, 11:30 PM
Those 'Bonfire' peaches can be absolutely red to dark purply-burgandy. If planted in deep shade, they'll be more green.....but they'll fruit like mad!
I don't mind becaust the blooms are great in the spring!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=20522&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20522&ppuser=766)

jack hagenaars
08-07-2009, 06:51 PM
Randy...the plant left of the banana that looks like a red leafed pot plant!!:|

jack hagenaars
08-07-2009, 06:56 PM
Maybe it is the peach...from a distance it looks kind of like a red leafed arilia

jack hagenaars
08-07-2009, 06:57 PM
false arilia

Randy4ut
08-16-2009, 08:49 AM
Just an update on the banana I am trialing... Now has a total of 4 pstems. The one blooming is about done. The next largest is about as tall the the one blooming and then two small ones. One of the small ones is getting ready to bloom with only about 1 foot of pstem.... STRANGE!!! Take a look!!!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/randy4ut/2009%20Backyard/009.jpg

CValentine
08-16-2009, 10:32 AM
WILD Randy!!!
Beautiful too! :) ~Cheryl

austinl01
08-16-2009, 01:38 PM
Very interesting, Randy. I'll have to watch mine closely as well.

Lagniappe
08-16-2009, 01:42 PM
Mine did that last year and they're blooming short in the exact same place on the mat this year.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12485&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12485&ppuser=766)

Randy4ut
08-16-2009, 01:50 PM
Mine did that last year and they're blooming short in the exact same place on the mat this year.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12485&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12485&ppuser=766)


Pete, are these your velutinas? Mine are not doing nearly as well as they have in the past. Hopefully next year they will back to normal. The short one I just posted is of the ornamental hybrid I am trialing and have no idea what to expect!!! I am leaving it out to test this winter, and hopefully it is hardy enough to survive and come back stroner than ever next spring!!!! Will keep everyone updated to it...

Lagniappe
08-16-2009, 01:53 PM
Ohh, :D, I didn't relize that it was the same one. They sure look different when they open. er it looked more pink in that last pic.