voyager

I've slowed down on getting all the banana plants cleared and opened up.
Too many other things that need to be gotten done right now, what with just getting moved in.
And, if I'm honest, It's hard work with all the other plantings on the lot that are also begging for attention.

So with that said, here are photos of the 1st group, the one with the blossom opening up.
The 1st 2 photos show 7 plants and 1 pup in the group.
\




The 2nd two photos are of the blossom and the flowers on the first hand.



The larger plants are about 5 to 6 foot at the growing top [base of the leaves].

My assumption is that they're what is locally called apple bananas.
Can anyone confirm or correct?

Can the setting of fruit be enhanced by hand pollination?

I'll follow with more to ID as I get the other clumps cleaned up.
I have started on 2 of the remaining clumps but have not finished them yet.
When I do, I'll be back with more photos and questions.
One of the red plants has a bunch on it.
Not only has my banana boat left, it is pulling into port.

robguz24

Bananas develop without pollination. Bunch size has to do with how much food, water, and light they get while growing. They could be apples, but they have more red than I usually see. I can't tell from the pics how open or closed the petioles are, which is helpful. Flowering height of 5-6' is normal given that they were neglected until recently. Are you in Leilani?

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

voyager

Yep, I'm in upper Leilani @ about 750'.
I'll Try to get photos of the petioles as soon as I learn what they are.
The term is familiar.
I just can't remember what part it refers to right now.
Plus, I'll get the better camera out and use a macro lens.

I've got the second grouping almost cleaned up.
It is in much worse shape.
It looks like pups have cast pups because they were failing.

Question:
While enthusiastically pulling and cutting weeds and shrubs I knocked one of the larger pups over, bending it over more than 90° a few inches above the ground.
I've straightened it up, but it is obviously broken. I assume that because of the way it grows, it will heal as new leaves come up through the middle of the stem. Correct?

Another question:
I've picked up some dolomite and fish fertilizer for an ailing lemon tree.
Might they be beneficial for the bananas.
Or, do they have other requirements?

EDIT:
OK, what is it about the leaf stem you need to see?

Abnshrek

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

robguz24

Without seeing the broken one it's hard to know. But I wouldn't give up on it.

It helps to see how open or closed the leaf stem is. Totally closed they are probably an ABB type like Namwah, Ice Cream, Saba. Very open they are usually an AAA type, like dwarf or tall reds, or cavendish types like Williams. Apple bananas are in between, as are Raja Puris, and many others and are AAB types. Mysore, and Hawaiian varieties are also. Read elsewhere on here about A and B and the genetics of the hybrid bananas that produce edible fruit. I'm certainly not well versed enough in it to explain it properly to someone else.

I don't know about fish fertilizer, but I just gave mine dolomite today, which I do 3-4 times per year with some borax added. I don't recall why but you're not supposed to give dolomite and NPK fertilizer at the same time. Get to Garden Exchange or BEI in Hilo to get 50lb bags of banana fertilizer, usually 10-5-40 or 13-3-37. With the amount of plants you mentioned and your higher rainfall up there you will get through a 50lb bag sooner than you'd think.

I'm so happy to have a neighbor posting here!

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

voyager

Have had to direct my attention to things other than bananas for the last couple of days. We're still in the throes of moving in. She seems to think that getting the house squared away is more important than saving bananas.

I've got two more banana clumps partially cleared. One looks to be the same as the first clump. The second is the reds. The reds have 2 bunches in progress. The last one or two clumps are much more overgrown than the first three. Several plants are growing horizontally along the ground trying to reach light, with a couple of taller ones about 6' to 10' back into the thicket. I've made a half-hearted attempt to start on them, but it will be the most difficult of them all to get done.

The one I broke is doing OK.

Thank you Abnshrek for the banana anatomy lesson. It will help in understanding and explaining.

@ robguz24
The petiole groove [canal] seems to be an "in between" type. it is not wide open nor tightly closed. I can run my finger up the groove, but it is a snug fit.
I'll have to go check again, but I think the reds are tightly closed, if I remember right.

It appears that I'll be occupied with other things for a couple more days before I can get back to saving the bananas.

I'll be posting more as get things cleared up and out.

Thanks