Greetings from Iraq!

TomWin · 02-23-2016, 06:34 AM

Hello everyone,

My name is Tom (Brit) and this past year I have currently been working in Erbil, Kurdistan, North Iraq for an NGO.

It's wet and windy now but we had temperatures brushing the 50C mark during July and August last year. Just to stay fresh I was going through 2 pairs of underpants a day, but luckily, after washing they took approximately 5 minutes to dry in the sun (just to reassure members I did have more than 2 pairs of undies and was not running some extreme challenge).

Anyway - I have inherited an office with 3 fantastic banana trees in it, but in this climate of extremes they are looking very dishevelled. I'm here to pick some brains!

Cheers

Tom

HMelendez · 02-23-2016, 04:09 PM

Tom,

Welcome to the banana gang!....

I was there too, in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, from February 2003 to August 2004 (1 1/2 year)....I was stationed in Tikrit, Mosul, not far from Erbil.....I finally retired!, in 2005 after 22 years of service and three conflicts/wars under my belt.....I know the feeling of the extreme temperatures that you mentioned.....

Are the three bananas plants are in pots or in the ground?.....

Be careful and be safe overthere,
Hector

JP · 02-23-2016, 05:36 PM

Hi. Welcome. I'd say, at 50C, water, water, and water... It probably needs it. But before doing so, most of us will ask you pics of the plants and of it's emplacement, type of soil, etc... The more info, the better we can help.
Keep safe.

Mark Dragt · 02-23-2016, 09:15 PM

Welcome to the org. I hope you feel at home here.

Red Sky · 02-24-2016, 12:52 AM

Welcome Tom!

I live in a similar climate. Are your bananas indoors in pots? The difficult thing is going to be your humidity which is probably single digits indoors and out most of the year.

TomWin · 02-24-2016, 01:06 PM

Hello all and thanks for your warm welcome!

Well the three trees are planted directly in the garden, not in pots. I spoke with a friend back in the UK who has a landscape gardening business and he has advised me to cut back the dead brown outer leaves but leave a few to protect the new foliage, and to remove any fresh shoots from around the existing trees as theres will be too much competition for water.

Does this sound right? Photos to follow soon...

Thanks again

Tom

JP · 02-24-2016, 01:42 PM

I'll wait for the pics, just to be sure.

cincinnana · 02-24-2016, 09:04 PM

Welcome to the Jungle....

TomWin · 02-25-2016, 03:12 PM

Hi Hector, thanks for your reply - glad you got out safe and sound. Its reasonably safe in Erbil - we had a scare in August last year when the US consulate got targeted with an IED but other than that its hunky-dory. We even have booze shops here in Erbil (phew).

Snarkie · 03-09-2016, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomWin

I was going through 2 pairs of underpants a day

That scary, huh?

Welcome to the Banana Express.

TomWin · 03-10-2016, 07:10 AM

Pics are on the members gallery.....I think.

JP · 03-10-2016, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomWin

Pics are on the members gallery.....I think.

Yes they are.

02-23-2016, 06:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
TomWin Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 3,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Greetings from Iraq! Hello everyone, My name is Tom (Brit) and this past year I have currently been working in Erbil, Kurdistan, North Iraq for an NGO. It's wet and windy now but we had temperatures brushing the 50C mark during July and August last year. Just to stay fresh I was going through 2 pairs of underpants a day, but luckily, after washing they took approximately 5 minutes to dry in the sun (just to reassure members I did have more than 2 pairs of undies and was not running some extreme challenge). Anyway - I have inherited an office with 3 fantastic banana trees in it, but in this climate of extremes they are looking very dishevelled. I'm here to pick some brains! Cheers Tom

02-23-2016, 04:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
HMelendez The Banana Gang Enforcer Zone: 10B-11 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2,750 BananaBucks : 192,942 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 11,104 Times Was Thanked 5,278 Times in 1,618 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 737 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Tom, Welcome to the banana gang!.... I was there too, in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, from February 2003 to August 2004 (1 1/2 year)....I was stationed in Tikrit, Mosul, not far from Erbil.....I finally retired!, in 2005 after 22 years of service and three conflicts/wars under my belt.....I know the feeling of the extreme temperatures that you mentioned..... Are the three bananas plants are in pots or in the ground?..... Be careful and be safe overthere, Hector __________________ HMelendez Photo Gallery Last edited by HMelendez : 02-23-2016 at 09:29 PM. Reason: mispelling

02-23-2016, 05:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
JP Location: Trois-Rivières, Québec Find me on the map! Zone: 4 Name: JP Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 147,555 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,953 Times Was Thanked 1,690 Times in 815 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 304 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Hi. Welcome. I'd say, at 50C, water, water, and water... It probably needs it. But before doing so, most of us will ask you pics of the plants and of it's emplacement, type of soil, etc... The more info, the better we can help. Keep safe. Last edited by JP : 02-23-2016 at 05:40 PM.

02-23-2016, 09:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 34,463 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Welcome to the org. I hope you feel at home here. __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

02-24-2016, 12:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Red Sky Urban Farmer Location: Tempe, AZ Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 60 BananaBucks : 21,539 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 213 Times Was Thanked 88 Times in 42 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Welcome Tom! I live in a similar climate. Are your bananas indoors in pots? The difficult thing is going to be your humidity which is probably single digits indoors and out most of the year. __________________

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02-24-2016, 01:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
TomWin Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 3,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Hello all and thanks for your warm welcome! Well the three trees are planted directly in the garden, not in pots. I spoke with a friend back in the UK who has a landscape gardening business and he has advised me to cut back the dead brown outer leaves but leave a few to protect the new foliage, and to remove any fresh shoots from around the existing trees as theres will be too much competition for water. Does this sound right? Photos to follow soon... Thanks again Tom

02-24-2016, 01:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
JP Location: Trois-Rivières, Québec Find me on the map! Zone: 4 Name: JP Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 147,555 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,953 Times Was Thanked 1,690 Times in 815 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 304 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! I'll wait for the pics, just to be sure.

02-24-2016, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,784 BananaBucks : 767 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,706 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Welcome to the Jungle.... __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

02-25-2016, 03:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
TomWin Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 3,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Hi Hector, thanks for your reply - glad you got out safe and sound. Its reasonably safe in Erbil - we had a scare in August last year when the US consulate got targeted with an IED but other than that its hunky-dory. We even have booze shops here in Erbil (phew).

03-10-2016, 07:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
TomWin Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 3,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Greetings from Iraq! Pics are on the members gallery.....I think.

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