Bananas.org

Welcome to the Bananas.org forums.

You're currently viewing our message boards as a guest which gives you limited access to participate in discussions and access our other features such as our wiki and photo gallery. By joining our community, you'll have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Go Back   Bananas.org > Other Topics > Member Introductions
Register Photo Gallery Classifieds Wiki Chat Map Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Member Introductions This is the `tell us about yourself` category. Please make an introductory post here, let us know a little about yourself. A perfect place to break the ice.


Members currently in the chatroom: 0
The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009.
No one is currently using the chat.

Reply   Email this Page Email this Page
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-11-2006, 07:13 PM   #1 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 37
BananaBucks : 20,790
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 0 Times
Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Can some one help me?

I'm trying to identify my banana plant. i bought it almost two years ago on a whim, and that little 12" sucker really took off. i couldn't be happier with this little guy, and i'd like to find another...

see the pictures in my gallery.

thank you for any help!
dragr13 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To dragr13
The following 15 users say welcome dragr13 to Bananas.org!
Abnshrek (06-26-2013), buzzwinder (02-08-2009), GoAngels (09-14-2010), harveyc (09-11-2010), Jezebel (09-12-2010), Kelso (05-01-2012), MediaHound (09-10-2010), PR-Giants (12-13-2012), Richard (03-07-2008), scottu (10-13-2014), SCOTTYFIREMAN (10-24-2011), Scuba_Dave (07-08-2009), sunfish (09-10-2010), willy1der (10-19-2010), Worm_Farmer (09-11-2010)

Join Bananas.org Today!

Are you a banana plant enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:
   

Join Bananas.org Today! - Click Here


Sponsors

Old 12-11-2006, 07:59 PM   #2 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
chong's Avatar
 
Location: Seattle, WA
Zone: 8-9
Name: Chong
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,851
BananaBucks : 96,742
Feedback: 6 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times
Was Thanked 1,701 Times in 758 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Judging from the size, after 2 years in an 8-gal(?) pot, the growth habit suggests that it might be Super Dwarf Cavendish.
chong is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To chong
Old 12-11-2006, 08:54 PM   #3 (permalink)
Mechwarrior
 
STEELVIPER's Avatar
 
Location: Riverside,CA
Zone: 9B
Name: Mark
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 724
BananaBucks : 74,392
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 44 Times
Was Thanked 102 Times in 62 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 169 Times
Send a message via Yahoo to STEELVIPER
Default Re: Can some one help me?

I agree. Looks just like a Super Dwarf cavendish. oootsnana:
__________________
STEELVIPER is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To STEELVIPER
Old 12-11-2006, 11:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
Winter Sucks...
 
JoeS475's Avatar
 
Location: Northern New Jersey
Zone: 6-7
Name: Joe
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 290
BananaBucks : 99,685
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 7 Times
Was Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Now the problem becomes we want something much bigger... I think a Saba would sure make a statement in NJ, if I could overwinter successfully!

~Joe
__________________

JoeS475 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To JoeS475
Old 12-12-2006, 12:11 AM   #5 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
chong's Avatar
 
Location: Seattle, WA
Zone: 8-9
Name: Chong
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,851
BananaBucks : 96,742
Feedback: 6 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times
Was Thanked 1,701 Times in 758 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeS475 View Post
Now the problem becomes we want something much bigger... I think a Saba would sure make a statement in NJ, if I could overwinter successfully!

~Joe
Joe,
Indeed, a Sabá would do just that. Except for the challenge of how to cover it during the winter months. You''re talking about 25-30 ft of pseudostem. If you have it against a building already that tall, it would make it easier. Otherwise to construct a structure that size, to me, would be a little daunting. I would recommend the D. Orinoco, which I'm trying to acclimatize here in Seattle myself. Sure, you're looking at just 8-10 ft (in the ground, if you can keep it warm), but personally, the fact that you can have an edible banana in your yard is enough of a statement in Zone 8, far as I'm concerned. Stronger statement if in Zone 7!

Chong
chong is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To chong
Sponsors

Old 12-12-2006, 12:53 AM   #6 (permalink)
Winter Sucks...
 
JoeS475's Avatar
 
Location: Northern New Jersey
Zone: 6-7
Name: Joe
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 290
BananaBucks : 99,685
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 7 Times
Was Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Chong, while I completely agree with you, the sadistic part of me really wants to try to get the tallest plant possible, even when I know deep down I'll lose.

One thing you may be able to answer for me- Is the size of the Saba proportional to it's growth speed? Since I only have 4 months of optimal weather I'd like to think it would outgrow my Cavendish, Basjoo, and Bordelon in a hurry! Especially knowing there is no reallistic way to overwinter it, how tall do you think it would get, if I were to start with a 2' tall or so plant in late April, with early September being the last period of active growth?

Regards,

~Joe
__________________

JoeS475 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To JoeS475
Old 12-12-2006, 02:29 AM   #7 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
chong's Avatar
 
Location: Seattle, WA
Zone: 8-9
Name: Chong
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,851
BananaBucks : 96,742
Feedback: 6 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times
Was Thanked 1,701 Times in 758 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeS475 View Post
Chong, while I completely agree with you, the sadistic part of me really wants to try to get the tallest plant possible, even when I know deep down I'll lose.

One thing you may be able to answer for me- Is the size of the Saba proportional to it's growth speed? Since I only have 4 months of optimal weather I'd like to think it would outgrow my Cavendish, Basjoo, and Bordelon in a hurry! Especially knowing there is no reallistic way to overwinter it, how tall do you think it would get, if I were to start with a 2' tall or so plant in late April, with early September being the last period of active growth?

Regards,

~Joe
Joe, you do not have to lose. But you will need to work on it, probably as much as I do, your area being colder, my area being s-o-oo much wetter. But in a way, your area is even better for the reason that your area is hotter and more humid in the summertime. Where anytime it's above 85F here in Seattle would be a heat wave, and the humdity is usually lower than what you will experience normally.

Having said that, if you are determined, here is what I would do. First to answer your question, yes, the speed at which the Sabá grows is proportional to its size. In the right spot, I would not be surprised if you can get 15ft of growth from late spring to fall (from a corm, not TC, at least for the first year).

Before the earliest onset of the frost season ( I don't know when that would be for you), I would get ready with a cylindrical/ plastic tube**(6 oz. visqueen is fine, taped and/or stapled), the same height of the pseudostem + 1 ft x diameter of the psdstem + 18", 2 lengths (as tall as the psdstem) of 1/2" conduit or 1/2" cpvc pipe, packing styrofoam peanuts**(enough to fill the cavity between the stalk and the plastic tube), 2 soil heating cables, and one thermostat. The reason you need a thermostat is that you want to maintain 50F(max) around the plant/base. If it's higher than that, the plant will continue to grow, and it will lift your cover up. (You can get a t'stat from WW Grainger for around $13.00, but it will require some wiring. It's not difficult, 'tho.)

Then I would go to my banana plant, apologize to it, bite my lip, and cut the leaves and the psdstem at the tallest base of the leaves. (Be careful not to get the sap of the banana plant on your clothes. They will stain permanently.) Clear the area around the stalk. Thread the heating cable thru each conduit/cpvc pipe and stake them on opposite sides of the stalk, and being careful that they do not actually touch the stalk. Install the t'stat on a separate stake, approximately 3ft high off the ground.

Place the plastic cover over the setup, as equidistant from the stalk as possible. Anchor the bottom of the tube securely to the ground. Fill up the cavity with the packing styrofoam peanuts all the way. Close the top. Approximately, 6 to 8 inches from the top and bottom, puncture the tube with 8 to 10 - 3/4-holes around for ventilation. Assuming you have wired and tested your heating system, plug the heater in when the outside temperature is expected to be lower than 40F. Then you wait for 4 to 5 months for the weather to warm up.

When all danger of frost is past, remove your cover and let nature take it's course.

**Note: As an alternative to the plastic cylinder/styrofoam peanuts set-up, you can use bubble pack sheets or those 1/4" thick styrofoam liner sheets, wrapped around four corner stakes, say 2" to 4" away from the stalk. In this case, you don't even have to use soil heating cables, you can use Christmas tree lights, hooked up to your t'stat, as long as you keep the lights away from the plastic cover. Also, don't forget to puch holes, top and bottom, though you will need only 5 or 6 holes at each end.

Still want to do it?
chong is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To chong
Old 12-12-2006, 12:21 PM   #8 (permalink)
Winter Sucks...
 
JoeS475's Avatar
 
Location: Northern New Jersey
Zone: 6-7
Name: Joe
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 290
BananaBucks : 99,685
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 7 Times
Was Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Re: Can some one help me?

Chong, thanks for the detailed reply! Now I just have to get a Saba in April and see if I can make this happen!

Regards,

~Joe
__________________

JoeS475 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To JoeS475
Reply   Email this Page Email this Page

Previous Thread: Howdy
Next Thread: howd'ya do





Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:26 PM.





All content © Bananas.org & the respective author.