Blooming in North Carolina, what is it?

W2 · 08-23-2008, 09:06 PM

One of my Bananas is blooming, which I didn't expect. Every winter the leaves die back every time we have a hard frost, but the stalks don't seem to die.
I've had these plants (I started with two) for a little less than two years.

When I bought them, I was told they were Himalayan bananas, but I'm beginning to doubt that. The Nursery is gone now, so there are no further clues there.

They are flowering, but will there be fruit?
They get a good deal of water, but I have never fertilized them (or anything else).

island cassie · 08-23-2008, 09:22 PM

Sorry W2 - I can't get the pictures to show!
Cassie

Taylor · 08-23-2008, 10:05 PM

Musa basjoo!

Dean W. · 08-23-2008, 10:09 PM

They look great.

Sorry I don't know what they are.

bigdog · 08-24-2008, 12:24 AM

The pics didn't show for me either, but if you right-click on the red x and copy the URL, then paste that into your browser, you can see them.

Definitely Musa basjoo, the most cold-hardy banana known. Not a Himalayan species, although those do exist also, but rather a Chinese species.

bdollarbill · 08-24-2008, 09:49 AM

I agree it looks just like my Basjoo, I live in Clemmons, NC & i have been overwintering mine just to be double sure I don't lose any, I may experiment this year & leave 1 well mulched in the ground. I have about 60 Pink velutina's I think they should do ok mulched as well. Anyone have any advice on them?
Congrats on the flower I just got my first Flag couple days ago. Been growing them for 8 years or more, short growing season In VA but I guess here in NC was all it took to get the extra growth.

Bill

modenacart · 09-15-2008, 07:32 PM

I am in Coastal NC too and I wrapped my orinocos with bubble wrap last winter and the fruited for me this year.

chong · 09-15-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island cassie

Sorry W2 - I can't get the pictures to show!
Cassie

Is this it?

Probably Basjoo.

08-23-2008, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
W2 W2's Photo Gallery Location: Coastan North Carolina Zone: 8 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 207 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 0	Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? One of my Bananas is blooming, which I didn't expect. Every winter the leaves die back every time we have a hard frost, but the stalks don't seem to die. I've had these plants (I started with two) for a little less than two years. When I bought them, I was told they were Himalayan bananas, but I'm beginning to doubt that. The Nursery is gone now, so there are no further clues there. They are flowering, but will there be fruit? They get a good deal of water, but I have never fertilized them (or anything else). Last edited by W2 : 08-23-2008 at 09:08 PM. Reason: More Info

08-23-2008, 09:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
island cassie Senior Member island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,591 BananaBucks : 6,165 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 482 Thanked 286 Times in 185 Posts Welcomes: 163	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? Sorry W2 - I can't get the pictures to show! Cassie

08-23-2008, 10:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Taylor KING OF KORM. Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,402 BananaBucks : 10,784 Feedback: 13 / 100% Thanks: 187 Thanked 147 Times in 97 Posts Welcomes: 190	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? Musa basjoo! __________________ Taylor Update: 23 California Gold fruit expected by Thanksgiving!

08-23-2008, 10:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,000 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 222 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? They look great. Sorry I don't know what they are. __________________ Dean

08-24-2008, 12:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
bigdog Title-less bigdog's Photo Gallery Location: Knoxville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,445 BananaBucks : 13,512 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 74 Thanked 353 Times in 144 Posts Welcomes: 80	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? The pics didn't show for me either, but if you right-click on the red x and copy the URL, then paste that into your browser, you can see them. Definitely Musa basjoo, the most cold-hardy banana known. Not a Himalayan species, although those do exist also, but rather a Chinese species.

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08-24-2008, 09:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
bdollarbill bdollarbill's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 92 BananaBucks : 998 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 6 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 5	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? I agree it looks just like my Basjoo, I live in Clemmons, NC & i have been overwintering mine just to be double sure I don't lose any, I may experiment this year & leave 1 well mulched in the ground. I have about 60 Pink velutina's I think they should do ok mulched as well. Anyone have any advice on them? Congrats on the flower I just got my first Flag couple days ago. Been growing them for 8 years or more, short growing season In VA but I guess here in NC was all it took to get the extra growth. Bill __________________ Avatar picture is my first Ae AE Don't ask what I paid, its one of those if you have to have it things. Countless outbids on Ebay forced me to buy this for insane money.

09-15-2008, 07:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
modenacart Senior Member modenacart's Photo Gallery Location: NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 407 BananaBucks : 2,966 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 21 Thanked 36 Times in 28 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Blooming in North Carolina, what is it? I am in Coastal NC too and I wrapped my orinocos with bubble wrap last winter and the fruited for me this year.

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