So-called "Goldfinger"

Capra · 09-10-2018, 09:17 PM

I bought this one from a Home Depot in Watsonville, California. It was supplied by La Verne Nursery in Ventura County. It was labeled "Goldfinger" and was just 1 foot tall when I bought it. Almost 5 months later, it's only just over 3 feet tall and growing very slowly. It's healthy, but definitely seems to be a dwarf of some kind. It gets full sun, daily water, and the daytime highs are always in the 70s, lows in the upper 50s. It's already developing a sword sucker at the base. The pseudo stem has a reddish tinge to it. Any ideas what this variety actually is?

Capra · 09-10-2018, 09:19 PM

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Capra · 09-10-2018, 09:20 PM

Capra · 09-10-2018, 09:20 PM

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Botanical_Bryce · 09-11-2018, 12:01 AM

Looks like mine. Never seems to do much. hates the heat

beam2050 · 09-11-2018, 05:32 AM

I walked into our local ace hardware last year, they had 2 bananas that were marked goldfinger and sweetheart. didn't look like either of mine. they looked exactly like the gran nains they usually sell.

your plant looks healthy. my goldfinger is sort of a slow grower too, bought it from a member here. by the picture yours seems to have a lot of red in the p-stem. to my understanding there are several cultivars of goldfinger.

grass clippings and leaves around the base will keep the ground moist and cooler. they will actually throw roots underneath the mulch. also cutting the lower leaves off will make it grow a bit faster. looks healthy,good luck.

Hamakua · 09-11-2018, 07:13 AM

Ultimate source would be Agristarts.

Richard · 09-11-2018, 02:05 PM

La Verne propagates Namwa as Goldfinger and Ice Cream.

Akula · 09-11-2018, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

La Verne propagates Namwa as Goldfinger and Ice Cream.

If its a namwa then its low on nitrogen and potassium. I've seen this happen to a namwa I planted at my Mother's house. No fertilizer. Kinda bushy with lots of yellowish/light green well formed leaves with very little height gain (low nitrogen) and very reddish/purplish pstem (no potassium). I fertilized the plant and a month later it was rocking along.

The temps reported by Capra are not optimum for growth but I think lack of nutrients would be the main problem if its a namwa.

Capra · 09-11-2018, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the advice! I just trimmed the bottom leaves off and mulched it. Regarding the temperatures not being optimum; I used to live up the coast in Half Moon Bay where it was as much as 10 degrees colder on average (especially in the daytime) and yet my Raja Puri banana grew like a weed compared to this one. Besides, this one is up against a south facing fence, with heat absorbing patio pavement in front of it. Fertilization could be an issue though, since I haven’t fertilized it in a couple months! I have a Citrus and Avocado fertilizer that has a 6-4-6 NPK ratio that I think I used last time. Is that sufficient? Otherwise, I have an all-purpose 24-8-16 all-purpose fertilizer on hand as well if that would be better?

edwmax · 09-11-2018, 05:23 PM

For NPK 6-4-6: apply 18 lbs total divided during the growing season; plus 1 lb oF SOP 0-0-50

For NPK 24-8-16: apply 5 lb total divided during the growing season; plus 2 1/2 lb of SOP 0-0-50

Your choice ... but which one is the most economical?

Capra · 09-11-2018, 06:27 PM

Hmm... I’m thinking the latter could be more economical. But, considering the cooler climate of coastal California, which definitely slows growth vs a hotter, more humid climate in the southeast, would you think I might be better off with a smaller volume of fertilizer?

Richard · 09-11-2018, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capra

Hmm... I’m thinking the latter could be more economical. But, considering the cooler climate of coastal California, which definitely slows growth vs a hotter, more humid climate in the southeast, would you think I might be better off with a smaller volume of fertilizer?

I agree with the temps you posted for Watsonville. I'm there at least twice per year. But on the otherhand, your statement "the cooler climate of coastal California" is a mis-match for the varied climates on California's very long coastline.

You're correct about the fertilizer dosages. I'd cut them to 1/3 the listed quantities. Also, within a week or so "Fruit Fuel 18-12-24" will be available from user crazy banana on this site ... it's a single-bag formula for bananas and many other fruits.

Capra · 09-11-2018, 09:36 PM

Thanks, Richard! The “coastal California” climate reference was just to broadly compare our relatively “cool summer” coastal Mediterranean climate to the true tropical climates and areas on the east coast that have hot, humid “tropical” summers. Depending on the latitude and topography, we have various degrees of coastal fog and cooler summers out here, and when it’s hot, it’s usually pretty dry. Especially in central and northern Cal (anywhere north of Point Concepcion). People who haven’t been out here before always seem to be surprised by it.

Richard · 09-11-2018, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capra

our relatively “cool summer” coastal Mediterranean climate

That's valid for Santa Barbara northward. From the L.A. area southward you can expect 90F midday temperatures many summer days at the beach.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capra

the true tropical climates and areas on the east coast

There are none on the east coast. For that you'll need to go quite a bit farther south; e.g. Costa Rica.

Capra · 09-12-2018, 10:35 PM

I’m well aware, thanks. I’ve been down on the OC and San Diego county coast twice a year since I was a kid, and I’m now almost 40. I know the nuances of the climate. The fact is, we aren’t as hot and humid out here as the southeast US in summer, or the tropics at any given time. So, we have a unique climate here in coastal cal. Remember La Conchita in Ventura County? That place inspired me to try to grow bananas. I visited it a few times in the early to mid 90s before it was all wiped out by landslides. What a place it was, though!

bananaT · 09-13-2018, 10:37 AM

Gold Finger is the new Ice Cream.
That's to say; EVERYBODY wants'em, NOBODY seems to have the real one!

I have had the apparent, pleasure of eating a Perfectly ripe Gold Finger.... Very much the hype!
But even buying from a very reputable sources, I have never Gotten TRUE TO TYPE Gold finger plant...

But anyway, definitely looking to be a hungry Nam wah you have there.

Richard · 09-13-2018, 01:07 PM

Tropical climates rarely drop below 65F nor exceed 85F.

zfallon84 · 09-14-2018, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beam2050

I walked into our local ace hardware last year, they had 2 bananas that were marked goldfinger and sweetheart. didn't look like either of mine. they looked exactly like the gran nains they usually sell.

your plant looks healthy. my goldfinger is sort of a slow grower too, bought it from a member here. by the picture yours seems to have a lot of red in the p-stem. to my understanding there are several cultivars of goldfinger.

grass clippings and leaves around the base will keep the ground moist and cooler. they will actually throw roots underneath the mulch. also cutting the lower leaves off will make it grow a bit faster. looks healthy,good luck.

Is that Hagan ACE that carries Gran Nain?

Capra · 09-14-2018, 01:43 PM

[IMG]

[/IMG]

After trim, mulch and feed. We'll see what happens.

09-10-2018, 09:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	So-called "Goldfinger" I bought this one from a Home Depot in Watsonville, California. It was supplied by La Verne Nursery in Ventura County. It was labeled "Goldfinger" and was just 1 foot tall when I bought it. Almost 5 months later, it's only just over 3 feet tall and growing very slowly. It's healthy, but definitely seems to be a dwarf of some kind. It gets full sun, daily water, and the daytime highs are always in the 70s, lows in the upper 50s. It's already developing a sword sucker at the base. The pseudo stem has a reddish tinge to it. Any ideas what this variety actually is? Last edited by Capra : 09-10-2018 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Photo Correction

09-10-2018, 09:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" [IMG][/IMG]

09-10-2018, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger"

09-10-2018, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" [IMG][/IMG]

09-11-2018, 12:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
Botanical_Bryce Location: Inverness, Florida Zone: 9a Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 881 BananaBucks : 76,543 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1,459 Times in 636 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Looks like mine. Never seems to do much. hates the heat

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09-11-2018, 05:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,429 BananaBucks : 864 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,727 Times Was Thanked 3,354 Times in 1,544 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" I walked into our local ace hardware last year, they had 2 bananas that were marked goldfinger and sweetheart. didn't look like either of mine. they looked exactly like the gran nains they usually sell. your plant looks healthy. my goldfinger is sort of a slow grower too, bought it from a member here. by the picture yours seems to have a lot of red in the p-stem. to my understanding there are several cultivars of goldfinger. grass clippings and leaves around the base will keep the ground moist and cooler. they will actually throw roots underneath the mulch. also cutting the lower leaves off will make it grow a bit faster. looks healthy,good luck. __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5 Last edited by beam2050 : 09-11-2018 at 05:43 AM.

09-11-2018, 07:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hamakua Location: Santa Cruz, CA Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 181 BananaBucks : 23,450 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 187 Times Was Thanked 324 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Ultimate source would be Agristarts. __________________ Currently Growing: Blue Java, FHIA 01, Gros Michelle, Dwarf Orinoco, Maoli Ele Ele, Maoli Manini, Maoli Dwarf Kaualau, Putalinga Kula, Iholena Lele, Iholena Ula Ula, Iholena Iholena, Iholena Kapua, Unknown purple leafed Iholena, Tuu Ghia, Tagomor, Luba, Kokor, Vunumami, Hapai

09-11-2018, 02:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,675 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" La Verne propagates Namwa as Goldfinger and Ice Cream. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

09-11-2018, 03:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Thanks for the advice! I just trimmed the bottom leaves off and mulched it. Regarding the temperatures not being optimum; I used to live up the coast in Half Moon Bay where it was as much as 10 degrees colder on average (especially in the daytime) and yet my Raja Puri banana grew like a weed compared to this one. Besides, this one is up against a south facing fence, with heat absorbing patio pavement in front of it. Fertilization could be an issue though, since I haven’t fertilized it in a couple months! I have a Citrus and Avocado fertilizer that has a 6-4-6 NPK ratio that I think I used last time. Is that sufficient? Otherwise, I have an all-purpose 24-8-16 all-purpose fertilizer on hand as well if that would be better?

09-11-2018, 05:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,723 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" For NPK 6-4-6: apply 18 lbs total divided during the growing season; plus 1 lb oF SOP 0-0-50 For NPK 24-8-16: apply 5 lb total divided during the growing season; plus 2 1/2 lb of SOP 0-0-50 Your choice ... but which one is the most economical? __________________

09-11-2018, 06:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Hmm... I’m thinking the latter could be more economical. But, considering the cooler climate of coastal California, which definitely slows growth vs a hotter, more humid climate in the southeast, would you think I might be better off with a smaller volume of fertilizer?

09-11-2018, 09:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Thanks, Richard! The “coastal California” climate reference was just to broadly compare our relatively “cool summer” coastal Mediterranean climate to the true tropical climates and areas on the east coast that have hot, humid “tropical” summers. Depending on the latitude and topography, we have various degrees of coastal fog and cooler summers out here, and when it’s hot, it’s usually pretty dry. Especially in central and northern Cal (anywhere north of Point Concepcion). People who haven’t been out here before always seem to be surprised by it.

09-12-2018, 10:35 PM	#16 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" I’m well aware, thanks. I’ve been down on the OC and San Diego county coast twice a year since I was a kid, and I’m now almost 40. I know the nuances of the climate. The fact is, we aren’t as hot and humid out here as the southeast US in summer, or the tropics at any given time. So, we have a unique climate here in coastal cal. Remember La Conchita in Ventura County? That place inspired me to try to grow bananas. I visited it a few times in the early to mid 90s before it was all wiped out by landslides. What a place it was, though! Last edited by Capra : 09-12-2018 at 10:48 PM.

09-13-2018, 10:37 AM	#17 (permalink)
bananaT Fi sti elbide, worg ti! Location: In a lake. In C. Florida. Find me on the map! Zone: 9 to 10 Name: T Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 275 BananaBucks : 52,298 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 129 Times Was Thanked 479 Times in 161 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Gold Finger is the new Ice Cream. That's to say; EVERYBODY wants'em, NOBODY seems to have the real one! I have had the apparent, pleasure of eating a Perfectly ripe Gold Finger.... Very much the hype! But even buying from a very reputable sources, I have never Gotten TRUE TO TYPE Gold finger plant... But anyway, definitely looking to be a hungry Nam wah you have there. __________________ Come visit my corner spot; read some interesting post, buy rare edible plants & animals and maybe learn something! SUBCRIBE!! https://youtu.be/sPa7tzsIbhM T.Farms

09-13-2018, 01:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,675 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" Tropical climates rarely drop below 65F nor exceed 85F. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

09-14-2018, 01:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
Capra Location: Watsonville, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b/10a (Sunset 15/17) Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 3,606 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: So-called "Goldfinger" [IMG][/IMG] After trim, mulch and feed. We'll see what happens.

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