Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

First-time poster, long time lurker...

I'm just a backyard gardener livin' in South Florida who became interested in bananas about a year ago. I'm finding that my interest in bananas is turning out to be a lot like my interest in orchids. I bought one phalenopsis, and then I just had to have another... then a vanda... and a dendrobium... then I wanted the rare ones... or a certain species... pretty soon our small townhouse's backyard was overrun with the expensive little epiphytes.

Anyhoo, we now have a bit of a yard, and I have more room for bigger plants, and bananas seem to be a lot of fun... and they require less care than the orchids... and I don't think I'll be able to go as overboard, 'cause they take up so much space.

We bought a Goldfinger last year. It was in the ground about a month when we picked up a dwarf Nam Wah (some dwarf... it's 10 feet tall if it's a foot... and probably bigger today) and the seeds of a Velutina. Last weekend we hit the homestead farm "Going Bananas" again and bought an Orinoco. Hopefully this satiates our banana hunger for a spell.

Funny thing is, the only one that's flowered and fruited has been the Velutina. We're waiting for a flower on the Nam Wah any day now, and the Goldfinger, which seemed to get off to a slow start last year, is only recently taller than I am.

Anyway, I've been lurking in the forums off and on for about a year, and am finally introducing myself.

How y'all doin'?

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Hello, Welcome, and Happy Growing :^)

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Hello and.welcome to the forums! I'm new.to bananas also but have citrus trees and strawberries growing indoors. Lots of great info from lots of great members! I am learning....

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Where do you live in south florida? I am in Coral springs.

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Greetings from another orchid nut :08:

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Woodsey: Welcome to banana land and I sure you will all the info and help you need. I am interested in your visit to Going Bananas in Homestead since I just place a order with them. Again, welcome aborad and enjoy the surfing. Have a great day and greeting from South Louisiana, Pete

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Welcome from central Florida. Happy bananas to you.

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Welcome! It's just a matter of time before you want to add Ae Ae. Wish I had your climate so I could grow one. :)

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Welcome from West Australia! Just a couple of tips to help your bananas thrive. Bananas are heavy feeders & grass specially kikuyu & couch will compete with them for nutrients. Also I notice a couple of your trees are very close to the walls which means that as they grow they will lean outwards & possibly block your access along the pathways. Its not too late to move them out , give them a good feed of diluted seaweed extract & mulch well! Good Luck!

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Thanks for the seaweed reference Dave! There's a ton of the stuff in the beaches here and I'd like to use it in the garden. So far I've just been mulching lightly with it, but have you noticed a difference in your bananas when feeding them with the extract?

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Hi Iunipeace, The seaweed washed up here is mainly seagrass, but I think it all ends up the same! Apparently no need to wash it cos the salt is minimal, so you will end up with a good potassium mulch that will break down slowly. I suggest that after a few beers visit your bananas after dark, & also talk your local cafe into saving the coffee grounds for you! Good luck!

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Thanks for the feedback barney! The vast majority of seaweed that washes up here is turtlegrass, which is a type of seagrass so glad we have the same thing. I'm usually too lazy to wash mine and haven't noticed any detriment and it's good to hear your confirm that it's pretty okay. That coffee ground saving idea is a good idea. We don't have any large cafes over here that would produce enough coffee for that that I know of, but I can look around :)

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Iunepeace, even a small cafe can provide you with a bucket of grounds every week! They`ll appreciate your custom & a few vegies now & again! Good Luck!

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Welcome aboard! I'm in Lake Worth.
Planted my first 'naners a couple months ago.

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Ha ha ..... welcome to banana land! You can tell yourself ya just want a few more but we all know that once you see fruit and you taste a homegrown banana you will want to rip up the front yard for more plants. Ha ha Well mayde not the whole front cuz ya need a place to park your car..
Happy growing its almost planting season for banana pups..:)

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Welcome to the forum, Im in Palm Beach county and have been planting as many bananas and fruit trees as I can on my 1/3 acre

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

welcome :)

Deep South florida (Redlands) here!

Started some time last year, why did I take so long?!

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

Thanks! When I posted this I must have not been aware that my mom makes coffee everyday at work. Free source of grounds/used filters indeed! :D

Re: Greetings from Sunny South Florida
 

hi there!
i've only got a few bananas, but a bunch of orchids - i couldn't tell if you'd jettisoned them all or just moved:) ? i also have palms, plumeria and ???? lots of stuff - e.g. some australian eucalips that do well here....it's all fun!
linn