Hello from a new-be

Richard · 01-06-2008, 02:57 AM

Hi, I'm in the research phase of adding a row of bananas and papayas to my orchard -- about 5 of each. I've never grown bananas before but got inspired from Jon Verdick's talk at the CRFG Conference last September. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated

I'm in usda zone 10a, sunset zone 23. More specifically, 8 miles east of Del Mar CA on the western side of Black Mountain. Stone fruits that require 250 chill hours do fine here. Three of my immediate neighbors are growing some dessert bananas smuggled in from the Phillipines. The leaf structures are a good 15 feet tall. There are enough pups generated that each neighbor harvests 2-3 hands per year of 6-inch or so fruits.

My desire is for less height. I could probably tolerate 10 feet of leaf structure over a 4 x 4 square foot area per plant. Mildew is present here and I have to keep vigilant on many plants -- so hardy bananas is a must. My current plan is to plant alongside an eastern-facing 5 foot high wooden fence where the plants could enjoy all-day sun with height. This is a 40 foot stretch, alternating with banana and papaya every 4 feet. At least with the bananas, I would like to have several different types. Again, any suggestions you have on varieties are welcome!

the flying dutchman · 01-06-2008, 06:24 AM

Hi and welcome Richard, we have a lot of members from CA here, i am
sure they will give you advise.

Ron

MediaHound · 01-14-2008, 02:22 AM

Welcome Richard! Sounds like an awesome plan!

kerrin_g · 01-14-2008, 02:06 PM

welcome to the club Richard.....

Richard · 01-14-2008, 03:35 PM

Thanks, I'm learning a lot here!

magicgreen · 01-14-2008, 05:05 PM

And you've already taught something!

mskitty38583 · 01-14-2008, 08:51 PM

if you want to keep the height to a minimum, try the dwarf varieties, it will also come in handy if you have to do an emergency cover up due to a frost or a light freeze. that is what im doing. im also planting mine in locations that can easiely be wrapped completely in with black plastic(almost like a tee-pee) and then filled with leaves and straw. just my .02 cents. lol

bencelest · 01-14-2008, 11:13 PM

Richard: If you want dwarf hardy bananas try California Gold, Dwarf Brazilian, Dwarf Orinoco, Raja Puri. Someone will add more I am sure.

Richard · 01-15-2008, 12:03 AM

Yes, CA gold looks mighty good. Also some of the not-so-dwarf bananas whose pseudostem doesn't grow more than 9 or 10 feet in San Diego CA will be a good match.

I will grow 5 varieties. Here's what I'm currently thinking about growing:
1 - a modest size fruit, 1000 fingers looks interesting esp. the hold factor
1 - a fruit of unusual fragrant flavor, perhaps orange fleshed
1 - CA gold
1 - Dwarf Orinoco
1 - A fresh-eating plantain

bencelest · 01-15-2008, 08:05 PM

"a fruit of unusual fragrant flavor, perhaps orange fleshed"

Philippine lacatan is what comes to mind because the flavor is so delicious and fragrant. But the color is not orange but close to pink -yellow to red. You will not be disappointed on this.

chong · 01-15-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencelest

"a fruit of unusual fragrant flavor, perhaps orange fleshed"

Philippine lacatan is what comes to mind because the flavor is so delicious and fragrant. But the color is not orange but close to pink -yellow to red. You will not be disappointed on this.

Lacatan pulp is actually closer to salmon color. So Bencelest is pretty close. Salmon is kinda pinkish-orange, and that makes it very close to what Richard is looking for. The Philippine variety with pulp that comes closest to orange is "Dinorado". The peel of the fruit is very similar to the Dwarf Red's, albeit, when ripe, "Dinorado" will have yellow burst coloring on its peel. But the pulp is yellow-orange, like 24k gold. "Dinorado" loosely translated means "obtained from gold", or "made into gold". This is probably because of the color of the pulp. The flavor of this banana is excellent, so too, is its fragrance. Though not as strong as Lacatan.

Señorita is another sweet smelling fruit with lighter yellow-orange pulp.

I haven't seen one, but I suspect that Kru has those same qualities. Kru may be a relative of "Dinorado". Kru fruit, though, from pictures I've seen, has a slightly more curvature than "Dinorado".

None of these are cold hardy, though.

Richard · 01-15-2008, 10:52 PM

This is very interesting information about possible super fruity-fragrant banana varieties.

Taste is far more important to me than fruit color.

My USDA hardiness zone is 9+ / 10-. Three sets of neighbors behind me are growing bananas that one of them physically imported from the Phillipines years ago. They are narrow-leafed, completely green, quite tall and produce many hands of 6 to 7 inch bananas each year. The flesh is yellowish, sweet, and fruity -- but I have had fruitier at tasting events.

Richard · 03-06-2008, 01:22 AM

After way too much study, I think these varieties will be the first I'll try growing:

Dwarf Brazilian
Ebun Musak or FHIA-21 (the latter if I can find it)
Golden Rhinohorn
Pisang Raja
1000 Fingers

The location for the 5 plats is shown below, with the camera pointed south. The fence and sun position are such that anything under 3 feet in height will have shade the last 1/3 of the day.

STEELVIPER · 03-06-2008, 09:57 AM

Try Mysore. mmmmmmm best tasting banana out there in my opinion. Blue java also great for your area.

Richard · 07-26-2008, 12:52 PM

I've launched a new site loaded with free information and a space for my future store of services and products:

Plants That Produce

Enjoy!

Kylie2x · 07-27-2008, 12:29 PM

Congrats on your new site It looks great!!!

Kylie

saltydad · 07-27-2008, 02:35 PM

Richard-love the new site! BTW, you can add baptisia to the rabbit lunch list; they've decimated mine.

Dean W. · 07-27-2008, 07:52 PM

Way to go, Richard! I don't think you were a new-be though.

mskitty38583 · 07-28-2008, 06:49 AM

richard i love the new site! congrats on it. so when does the new store open? i might be interested in some things come spring. are you going to have berry bushes? if you do let me know i would love to have some tayberries, and if possible some elderberries. there is nothing better in the morning then elderberry muffins with a cup of joe!( with the exception of banana nut muffins of course!) yummy! again congrats on the new site!

01-06-2008, 02:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Hello from a new-be Hi, I'm in the research phase of adding a row of bananas and papayas to my orchard -- about 5 of each. I've never grown bananas before but got inspired from Jon Verdick's talk at the CRFG Conference last September. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated I'm in usda zone 10a, sunset zone 23. More specifically, 8 miles east of Del Mar CA on the western side of Black Mountain. Stone fruits that require 250 chill hours do fine here. Three of my immediate neighbors are growing some dessert bananas smuggled in from the Phillipines. The leaf structures are a good 15 feet tall. There are enough pups generated that each neighbor harvests 2-3 hands per year of 6-inch or so fruits. My desire is for less height. I could probably tolerate 10 feet of leaf structure over a 4 x 4 square foot area per plant. Mildew is present here and I have to keep vigilant on many plants -- so hardy bananas is a must. My current plan is to plant alongside an eastern-facing 5 foot high wooden fence where the plants could enjoy all-day sun with height. This is a 40 foot stretch, alternating with banana and papaya every 4 feet. At least with the bananas, I would like to have several different types. Again, any suggestions you have on varieties are welcome! __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

01-06-2008, 06:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
the flying dutchman Fried Banana the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 906 BananaBucks : 3,748 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 20 Thanked 55 Times in 49 Posts Welcomes: 10	Re: Hello from a new-be Hi and welcome Richard, we have a lot of members from CA here, i am sure they will give you advise. Ron __________________

01-14-2008, 02:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,051 BananaBucks : 56,422 Feedback: 58 / 100% Thanks: 964 Thanked 1,124 Times in 397 Posts Welcomes: 251	Re: Hello from a new-be Welcome Richard! Sounds like an awesome plan!

01-14-2008, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
kerrin_g Location: hartlepool uk Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: kerrin Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 16 BananaBucks : 391 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 11 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Hello from a new-be welcome to the club Richard..... __________________ Kerrin

01-14-2008, 03:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Hello from a new-be Thanks, I'm learning a lot here! __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 14, 11-13-2007. No one is currently using the chat.

01-14-2008, 05:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 828 BananaBucks : 3,083 Feedback: 8 / 100% Thanks: 379 Thanked 146 Times in 123 Posts Welcomes: 122	Re: Hello from a new-be And you've already taught something! __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

01-14-2008, 08:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,841 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 466 Times in 396 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Hello from a new-be if you want to keep the height to a minimum, try the dwarf varieties, it will also come in handy if you have to do an emergency cover up due to a frost or a light freeze. that is what im doing. im also planting mine in locations that can easiely be wrapped completely in with black plastic(almost like a tee-pee) and then filled with leaves and straw. just my .02 cents. lol __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

01-14-2008, 11:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,519 BananaBucks : 8,628 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 2 Thanked 177 Times in 155 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Hello from a new-be Richard: If you want dwarf hardy bananas try California Gold, Dwarf Brazilian, Dwarf Orinoco, Raja Puri. Someone will add more I am sure. __________________ Banana Nut

01-15-2008, 12:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Hello from a new-be Yes, CA gold looks mighty good. Also some of the not-so-dwarf bananas whose pseudostem doesn't grow more than 9 or 10 feet in San Diego CA will be a good match. I will grow 5 varieties. Here's what I'm currently thinking about growing: 1 - a modest size fruit, 1000 fingers looks interesting esp. the hold factor 1 - a fruit of unusual fragrant flavor, perhaps orange fleshed 1 - CA gold 1 - Dwarf Orinoco 1 - A fresh-eating plantain __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

01-15-2008, 08:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,519 BananaBucks : 8,628 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 2 Thanked 177 Times in 155 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Hello from a new-be "a fruit of unusual fragrant flavor, perhaps orange fleshed" Philippine lacatan is what comes to mind because the flavor is so delicious and fragrant. But the color is not orange but close to pink -yellow to red. You will not be disappointed on this. __________________ Banana Nut

01-15-2008, 10:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Hello from a new-be This is very interesting information about possible super fruity-fragrant banana varieties. Taste is far more important to me than fruit color. My USDA hardiness zone is 9+ / 10-. Three sets of neighbors behind me are growing bananas that one of them physically imported from the Phillipines years ago. They are narrow-leafed, completely green, quite tall and produce many hands of 6 to 7 inch bananas each year. The flesh is yellowish, sweet, and fruity -- but I have had fruitier at tasting events. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

03-06-2008, 01:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Hello from a new-be After way too much study, I think these varieties will be the first I'll try growing: Dwarf Brazilian Ebun Musak or FHIA-21 (the latter if I can find it) Golden Rhinohorn Pisang Raja 1000 Fingers The location for the 5 plats is shown below, with the camera pointed south. The fence and sun position are such that anything under 3 feet in height will have shade the last 1/3 of the day. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

03-06-2008, 09:57 AM	#14 (permalink)
STEELVIPER Mechwarrior STEELVIPER's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside,CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Mark Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 724 BananaBucks : 5,062 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 44 Thanked 56 Times in 44 Posts Welcomes: 169	Re: Hello from a new-be Try Mysore. mmmmmmm best tasting banana out there in my opinion. Blue java also great for your area. __________________

07-26-2008, 12:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,418 BananaBucks : 714 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 361 Thanked 582 Times in 384 Posts Welcomes: 624	My new site and future store launched today I've launched a new site loaded with free information and a space for my future store of services and products: Plants That Produce Enjoy! __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com Last edited by Richard : 07-26-2008 at 02:21 PM. Reason: fixed links

07-27-2008, 12:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,059 BananaBucks : 3,782 Feedback: 20 / 100% Thanks: 134 Thanked 119 Times in 91 Posts Welcomes: 155	Re: Hello from a new-be Congrats on your new site It looks great!!! Kylie

07-27-2008, 02:35 PM	#17 (permalink)
saltydad saltydad's Photo Gallery Location: Silver Spring, Maryland Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Howard Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 677 BananaBucks : 255 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 428 Thanked 121 Times in 84 Posts Welcomes: 139	Re: Hello from a new-be Richard-love the new site! BTW, you can add baptisia to the rabbit lunch list; they've decimated mine. __________________ Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

07-27-2008, 07:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,136 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 222 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Hello from a new-be Way to go, Richard! I don't think you were a new-be though. __________________ Dean

07-28-2008, 06:49 AM	#19 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,841 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 466 Times in 396 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Hello from a new-be richard i love the new site! congrats on it. so when does the new store open? i might be interested in some things come spring. are you going to have berry bushes? if you do let me know i would love to have some tayberries, and if possible some elderberries. there is nothing better in the morning then elderberry muffins with a cup of joe!( with the exception of banana nut muffins of course!) yummy! again congrats on the new site! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys: