Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana"

Tropicallvr · 10-17-2007, 11:48 AM

This has been hands down the fastest Musa I have grown from seed. The ones pictured are from the 6 to the 7 month stage. It is also one of the darkest, and most waxy. If I could only grow 1 cold hardy type this one would most likely be it.

It's the dark waxy one in the middle. Seeds were form seedman.com.

Here's a shot from underneath. Check out the WAX! Wax in some plants protects it from tempature extremes like intense heat.

One night I went out with my headlamp on and the Dar Giant just seemed to glow with all it's wax! The other bananas didn't do that at all.

One white pic is with an LED light, and the other more yellow is with a regular flashlight.
I sold this plant, but have alot of seedlings, and if I have the means will definatly install some night time lights that shine upwards on the stems. Imagine a 20 foot tall clump of Dar giant lit up like that!

BGreen · 10-17-2007, 12:04 PM

Very nice shots, thank you for sharing.
I fell in love with the pics BigDog had of this guy. I have 1 seedling getting ready to put out its second leaf. I hope it will be able to take my winters, and next year I just may find that out

Tangy · 10-21-2007, 07:11 PM

That night photo is great. I am hoping to branch out next year with more varieties of cold hardy bananas and I appreciate the suggestion.

valerie@flower · 10-22-2007, 05:36 AM

Tropicallvr, that is way too kool !!!!!!!!!! I must get that variety in my front yard before I install some spot lights. The set only has 8 lights so only neat stuff can be a spot in the show.

Thank you for posting those pics. They are a real inspiration for people like me who like to drive around at night to see what plants get the attention.

Tropicallvr · 10-22-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valerie@flower

Tropicallvr, that is way too kool !!!!!!!!!! I must get that variety in my front yard before I install some spot lights. The set only has 8 lights so only neat stuff can be a spot in the show.

Thank you for posting those pics. They are a real inspiration for people like me who like to drive around at night to see what plants get the attention.

I guess I'm not alone in going out at night, and checking out bananas. Some plants seem to be alot cooler to look at at night for some reason.
I hope you get ahold of some Daj Giants!

austinl01 · 12-01-2007, 07:57 PM

Where did you get the seeds? Thanks, Austin.

Tropicallvr · 12-01-2007, 08:05 PM

The one in the pic was grown from seedman.com seeds. I have since got some more from bananatree.com, maybe there will be a difference, but to hard to tell right now, they are only 7 inches tall.

austinl01 · 12-01-2007, 11:25 PM

Thanks, Tropicallvr.

microfarmer · 12-02-2007, 03:01 PM

I've noticed my Ice Cream glows very white underneath at night with my florescent porch light on and my Goldfinger does too, though somewhat less. I'm not sure how an incandescent spot light would look on them though...

Tropicallvr · 12-02-2007, 09:55 PM

Yeah a couple of my lighter colored waxy Musas glowed also. They didn't seem to glow quite as vibrantly as my dark waxy one(M. daj giant). Just having that dark color underneath the wax really made it stand out. I'll bet there are a few others that would make same effect too. What about that new Musa black balbisiana.
The one form of Musa nagesium might also stand out.
True? Musa nagesium pics- http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dr...siumimages.htm

nucci60 · 12-03-2007, 04:30 PM

Tropicallvr, how dis you germinate the seeds? I got seeds from them and others and have ha no luck germinating banana seed.

Tropicallvr · 12-03-2007, 10:18 PM

The one in the picture germinated on a heat mat set at about 7 hours on and 17 hours off in a room that got down to the mid 60's F. I had them in an uncovered tray mixed with 75% coco peat, and 25% perlite.
I also ordered 100 seeds from banana tree dot com, and placed them in a LARGE zip lock baggie (coco peat, perlite), and set them outside in a shady spot on my deck. About 25 germinated within a month. I don't use SMALL zip lock baggies anymore, and have had alot better success.
What methods are you using?

nucci60 · 12-05-2007, 02:21 PM

Thank you for the advice. I got two sikki pups off ebay last fall. One developed the red tiger coloration. I planted the pups in the ground this may and they grew like wildfire. really out paced basjoo planted at the same size. the red tiger stripes disappeared as it grew. They are now protected and hope they come back this spring. I got aton of inquiries from passersby. I am in zone six so heres hoping.

10-17-2007, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Location: Circa Puerto Vallarta Zone: 11 Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 14,967 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 159 Thanked 201 Times in 116 Posts Welcomes: 14	Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" This has been hands down the fastest Musa I have grown from seed. The ones pictured are from the 6 to the 7 month stage. It is also one of the darkest, and most waxy. If I could only grow 1 cold hardy type this one would most likely be it. It's the dark waxy one in the middle. Seeds were form seedman.com. Here's a shot from underneath. Check out the WAX! Wax in some plants protects it from tempature extremes like intense heat. One night I went out with my headlamp on and the Dar Giant just seemed to glow with all it's wax! The other bananas didn't do that at all. One white pic is with an LED light, and the other more yellow is with a regular flashlight. I sold this plant, but have alot of seedlings, and if I have the means will definatly install some night time lights that shine upwards on the stems. Imagine a 20 foot tall clump of Dar giant lit up like that! Last edited by Tropicallvr : 10-17-2007 at 12:56 PM.

10-17-2007, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
BGreen Digger Extraordinaire BGreen's Photo Gallery Location: Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 5b/6a Name: Ben Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 292 BananaBucks : 3,921 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 17 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Very nice shots, thank you for sharing. I fell in love with the pics BigDog had of this guy. I have 1 seedling getting ready to put out its second leaf. I hope it will be able to take my winters, and next year I just may find that out __________________ Take care, BGreen

10-21-2007, 07:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tangy Member Location: Asheville NC Find me on the map! Zone: 7A Name: Michael Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 78 BananaBucks : 485 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 6 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" That night photo is great. I am hoping to branch out next year with more varieties of cold hardy bananas and I appreciate the suggestion.

10-22-2007, 05:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
valerie@flower valerie@flower's Photo Gallery Location: California Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 91 BananaBucks : 457 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 7 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Tropicallvr, that is way too kool !!!!!!!!!! I must get that variety in my front yard before I install some spot lights. The set only has 8 lights so only neat stuff can be a spot in the show. Thank you for posting those pics. They are a real inspiration for people like me who like to drive around at night to see what plants get the attention.

12-01-2007, 07:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 510 BananaBucks : 8,770 Feedback: 7 / 100% Thanks: 355 Thanked 197 Times in 107 Posts Welcomes: 114	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Where did you get the seeds? Thanks, Austin. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Typical Low Each Winter: 13-15°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

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12-01-2007, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Location: Circa Puerto Vallarta Zone: 11 Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 14,967 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 159 Thanked 201 Times in 116 Posts Welcomes: 14	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" The one in the pic was grown from seedman.com seeds. I have since got some more from bananatree.com, maybe there will be a difference, but to hard to tell right now, they are only 7 inches tall.

12-01-2007, 11:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 510 BananaBucks : 8,770 Feedback: 7 / 100% Thanks: 355 Thanked 197 Times in 107 Posts Welcomes: 114	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Thanks, Tropicallvr. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Typical Low Each Winter: 13-15°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

12-02-2007, 09:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Location: Circa Puerto Vallarta Zone: 11 Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 14,967 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 159 Thanked 201 Times in 116 Posts Welcomes: 14	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Yeah a couple of my lighter colored waxy Musas glowed also. They didn't seem to glow quite as vibrantly as my dark waxy one(M. daj giant). Just having that dark color underneath the wax really made it stand out. I'll bet there are a few others that would make same effect too. What about that new Musa black balbisiana. The one form of Musa nagesium might also stand out. True? Musa nagesium pics- http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dr...siumimages.htm Last edited by Tropicallvr : 12-02-2007 at 10:03 PM.

12-03-2007, 04:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
nucci60 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 183 BananaBucks : 2,996 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Tropicallvr, how dis you germinate the seeds? I got seeds from them and others and have ha no luck germinating banana seed.

12-03-2007, 10:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Location: Circa Puerto Vallarta Zone: 11 Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 14,967 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 159 Thanked 201 Times in 116 Posts Welcomes: 14	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" The one in the picture germinated on a heat mat set at about 7 hours on and 17 hours off in a room that got down to the mid 60's F. I had them in an uncovered tray mixed with 75% coco peat, and 25% perlite. I also ordered 100 seeds from banana tree dot com, and placed them in a LARGE zip lock baggie (coco peat, perlite), and set them outside in a shady spot on my deck. About 25 germinated within a month. I don't use SMALL zip lock baggies anymore, and have had alot better success. What methods are you using?

12-05-2007, 02:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
nucci60 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 183 BananaBucks : 2,996 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Musa sikkimensis 'Darjelling Giant' "Amazing night banana" Thank you for the advice. I got two sikki pups off ebay last fall. One developed the red tiger coloration. I planted the pups in the ground this may and they grew like wildfire. really out paced basjoo planted at the same size. the red tiger stripes disappeared as it grew. They are now protected and hope they come back this spring. I got aton of inquiries from passersby. I am in zone six so heres hoping.

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