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?
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Looks like mine. Never seems to do much. hates the heat
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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. |
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Ultimate source would be Agristarts.
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La Verne propagates Namwa as Goldfinger and Ice Cream.
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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. |
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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?
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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? |
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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?
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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. |
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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.
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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!
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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. |
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Tropical climates rarely drop below 65F nor exceed 85F.
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Is that Hagan ACE that carries Gran Nain? |
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