Upham giant Basjoo

Mark Hall · 02-18-2008, 07:58 AM

Just been reading this about a new giant strain of Basjoo. Have any of you heard any thing about it your side of the water ?
new variety of Musa basjoo....
Posted: 16 Feb 2008 4:07pm

16 Feb 2008

Ok it isn't a palm but then I think many of us grow banana species of some form or another!

I noticed in the summer 2007 issue of the Southeastern Palms journal (USA) an intersting article on a new form of Musa basjoo called 'Upham Giant' TM ... a trade marked form being micro propagated in the USA. It came as an unamed potted banana plant in 2000 which was acquired and planted at the Miami university garden at Upham Palm Court. It looked like Musa basjoo but as it grew people began to notice that it was growing differently to 'regular' basjoo!

The reports write that by 2005 established clumps were topping 21ft in height in a single season despite going through a sub zero winter beforehand! The plant was also making longer and wider leaves and a taller pseudostem! It was also noticed that in winter more of the stem survived above ground despite cold weather. In summer 2005 a stem flowered which enabled it to be identified as a clone of Musa basjoo.

The university have trade marked the plant and it is being produced commercially now for hopeful release in 2008. Could be a vigourous and more cold resistant form that will further extend the regions able to grow this great plant and worth keeping an eye out for!

Randy4ut · 02-18-2008, 08:08 AM

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. David Franko, "Palms won't Grow Here", in the fall of 2006. He spoke of this strain and said they were in the process of development and hoped to have it out sometime in the future. Dr. Franko has moved to the University in Alabama, so I am not sure who is still working on this project. I do not see him being able to take this strain with him since the University of Miami (Ohio) trade marked it. I would like to hear more about its progress though. I will be following this thread to see if anyone else has more info on it....

mskitty38583 · 02-18-2008, 08:55 AM

that would be so awesome for people living in the colder climates. not having to worry if its gonna make it or not, it would be worth its weight in gold!is it gonna be released in large quanities, do you know? would love to have a couple 8 of them. lol

AllenF · 02-18-2008, 09:26 AM

That would be great for me. Lower power bill.

I wonder if the plant has a much thicker Pstem than other plants. That would help make the Pstem hardier.

Allen

D_&_T · 02-18-2008, 12:49 PM

We would like to know more as well.

jellyfish_sky · 02-18-2008, 12:52 PM

Wow, that is very interesting for us in the north

Randy4ut · 02-18-2008, 02:02 PM

Here is a link to the site from Miami University that has info as to their research. Like I stated earlier, Dr. Francko has left there and is now employed by University of Alabama. I have emailed him to see if we can't get more info on this banana.

Plants

I just heard from Dr. Francko, and he is checking with his contacts at Miami University to see where they stand on the release and/or research on the 'Upham Giant'. I will report back to this thread as I learn more from him...

Whatever · 02-18-2008, 05:01 PM

Very interesting. Sounds like it could further populate banana plants for people in cold parts of the US. I'm not that far from Miami University

.

Zac in NC · 02-18-2008, 05:23 PM

Thats interesting. My basjoo mat is 5 years old and reaches only 7 to 8 feet of pseudostem and leaves to about 15 feet, even if I had 3 to 4 feet of pseudostem survive through the winter.

Zac

mskitty38583 · 02-18-2008, 07:09 PM

randy please keep us posted on this. it is very interesting. and hopefully we can populate tn. with nana trees. lol.

Ontariobanana · 02-24-2008, 09:58 AM

Wow,

I'd love to have one of those to add to my northern tropical garden. With the short growing season up here I wonder how big one of these might get.

kimarj · 05-08-2008, 10:47 AM

Wow I woud like to have just one.

BIGDAWG69 · 05-08-2008, 12:15 PM

I was wondering how they replicated zone 6 climate, but reading on, I see this Miami University isnt in Miami. LOL

Raules · 05-08-2008, 09:14 PM

The interesting information. It would be desirable to look photos of a plant in weigh its growth and flowering.

Whatever · 06-06-2008, 10:17 PM

Randy did you ever hear back from Dr. Francko? I live pretty close to Miami university and would love to get my hands on one of thease.

natedogg1026 · 06-07-2008, 12:27 AM

I'd love to hear more. Basjoo is one of the most amazing banana's for us colder climate growers.

Randy4ut · 06-07-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whatever

Randy did you ever hear back from Dr. Francko? I live pretty close to Miami university and would love to get my hands on one of thease.

I have yet to hear back from Dr. Francko, but I will try and touch base with him soon. As soon as I do, I will pass the info on.

Whatever · 06-07-2008, 09:24 PM

Ok I did a little poking around and sent a few emails and I have a small lead!! Hopefully Ill be able to figure out the status of this banana and if any are available.

griphuz · 06-09-2008, 08:21 AM

Looking foreward to it already

Whatever · 06-09-2008, 10:35 AM

Well I haven't heard back about the status of its propagation. It was supposed to be but I'm a little unsure if its actually happening.

However I have heard back from someone that told me its still there at MU and I'm going to see if I can't just get a pup off the mat.

I haven't really decided yet if I think its just regular basjoo or not. Either way hopefully Ill be able to get one and decide myself.

02-18-2008, 07:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Hall Mark Mark Hall's Photo Gallery Location: Windsor u.k. Find me on the map! Name: Mark Hall Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 100,789 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 385 Times Was Thanked 282 Times in 123 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Upham giant Basjoo Just been reading this about a new giant strain of Basjoo. Have any of you heard any thing about it your side of the water ? new variety of Musa basjoo.... Posted: 16 Feb 2008 4:07pm 16 Feb 2008 Ok it isn't a palm but then I think many of us grow banana species of some form or another! I noticed in the summer 2007 issue of the Southeastern Palms journal (USA) an intersting article on a new form of Musa basjoo called 'Upham Giant' TM ... a trade marked form being micro propagated in the USA. It came as an unamed potted banana plant in 2000 which was acquired and planted at the Miami university garden at Upham Palm Court. It looked like Musa basjoo but as it grew people began to notice that it was growing differently to 'regular' basjoo! The reports write that by 2005 established clumps were topping 21ft in height in a single season despite going through a sub zero winter beforehand! The plant was also making longer and wider leaves and a taller pseudostem! It was also noticed that in winter more of the stem survived above ground despite cold weather. In summer 2005 a stem flowered which enabled it to be identified as a clone of Musa basjoo. The university have trade marked the plant and it is being produced commercially now for hopeful release in 2008. Could be a vigourous and more cold resistant form that will further extend the regions able to grow this great plant and worth keeping an eye out for! __________________ Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

02-18-2008, 08:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 78,626 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. David Franko, "Palms won't Grow Here", in the fall of 2006. He spoke of this strain and said they were in the process of development and hoped to have it out sometime in the future. Dr. Franko has moved to the University in Alabama, so I am not sure who is still working on this project. I do not see him being able to take this strain with him since the University of Miami (Ohio) trade marked it. I would like to hear more about its progress though. I will be following this thread to see if anyone else has more info on it.... __________________

02-18-2008, 08:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 189,314 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo that would be so awesome for people living in the colder climates. not having to worry if its gonna make it or not, it would be worth its weight in gold!is it gonna be released in large quanities, do you know? would love to have a couple 8 of them. lol __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

02-18-2008, 09:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
AllenF Junior Member AllenF's Photo Gallery Location: Edmonton, Alberta Find me on the map! Zone: 3a Name: Allen Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151 BananaBucks : 33,530 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo That would be great for me. Lower power bill. I wonder if the plant has a much thicker Pstem than other plants. That would help make the Pstem hardier. Allen __________________ You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

02-18-2008, 12:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
D_&_T 3rd winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Dan Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 877 BananaBucks : 30,278 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,437 Times Was Thanked 260 Times in 169 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 342 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo We would like to know more as well. __________________

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02-18-2008, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
jellyfish_sky jellyfish_sky's Photo Gallery Location: Montreal, QC Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5a Name: Celine Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90 BananaBucks : 7,063 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Wow, that is very interesting for us in the north __________________ Celine Bananaddiction~!

02-18-2008, 02:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 78,626 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Here is a link to the site from Miami University that has info as to their research. Like I stated earlier, Dr. Francko has left there and is now employed by University of Alabama. I have emailed him to see if we can't get more info on this banana. Plants I just heard from Dr. Francko, and he is checking with his contacts at Miami University to see where they stand on the release and/or research on the 'Upham Giant'. I will report back to this thread as I learn more from him... __________________ Last edited by Randy4ut : 02-18-2008 at 02:34 PM.

02-18-2008, 05:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Whatever revetahw Whatever's Photo Gallery Location: SW Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Dalton Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 201 BananaBucks : 44,203 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 101 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Very interesting. Sounds like it could further populate banana plants for people in cold parts of the US. I'm not that far from Miami University . __________________ With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in. I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going...

02-18-2008, 05:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zac in NC Plant Nerd Extrordinaire Location: Harlingen, Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley Find me on the map! Zone: 10b/11a? Name: Zac Hill Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 265 BananaBucks : 23,717 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 54 Times in 39 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Thats interesting. My basjoo mat is 5 years old and reaches only 7 to 8 feet of pseudostem and leaves to about 15 feet, even if I had 3 to 4 feet of pseudostem survive through the winter. Zac

02-18-2008, 07:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 189,314 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo randy please keep us posted on this. it is very interesting. and hopefully we can populate tn. with nana trees. lol. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

02-24-2008, 09:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ontariobanana Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: 5B/6A Canada Name: Ontariobanana Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 17 BananaBucks : 26,029 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Wow, I'd love to have one of those to add to my northern tropical garden. With the short growing season up here I wonder how big one of these might get. __________________

05-08-2008, 10:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
kimarj kimarj kimarj's Photo Gallery Location: Philadelphia PA Find me on the map! Zone: 6 - 7 Name: Kim Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 66 BananaBucks : 5,733 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 29 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Wow I woud like to have just one.

05-08-2008, 12:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
BIGDAWG69 got catfish? BIGDAWG69 's Photo Gallery Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Ivey Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 122 BananaBucks : 16,053 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 161 Times Was Thanked 54 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 55 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo I was wondering how they replicated zone 6 climate, but reading on, I see this Miami University isnt in Miami. LOL __________________

05-08-2008, 09:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Raules Member Raules's Photo Gallery Location: Irkutsk, Russia Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Andrei Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,699 BananaBucks : 174,238 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 676 Times Was Thanked 754 Times in 184 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo The interesting information. It would be desirable to look photos of a plant in weigh its growth and flowering. __________________ Tropical agriculturist

06-06-2008, 10:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
Whatever revetahw Whatever's Photo Gallery Location: SW Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Dalton Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 201 BananaBucks : 44,203 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 101 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Randy did you ever hear back from Dr. Francko? I live pretty close to Miami university and would love to get my hands on one of thease. __________________ With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in. I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going...

06-07-2008, 12:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 640 BananaBucks : 286,254 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 139 Times Was Thanked 176 Times in 110 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo I'd love to hear more. Basjoo is one of the most amazing banana's for us colder climate growers. __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

06-07-2008, 09:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
Whatever revetahw Whatever's Photo Gallery Location: SW Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Dalton Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 201 BananaBucks : 44,203 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 101 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Ok I did a little poking around and sent a few emails and I have a small lead!! Hopefully Ill be able to figure out the status of this banana and if any are available. __________________ With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in. I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going...

06-09-2008, 08:21 AM	#19 (permalink)
griphuz Cold-tolerant collector griphuz's Photo Gallery Location: Netherlands Find me on the map! Zone: 7 - 8a Name: Remko Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 295 BananaBucks : 83,040 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 317 Times Was Thanked 290 Times in 114 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 827 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Looking foreward to it already

06-09-2008, 10:35 AM	#20 (permalink)
Whatever revetahw Whatever's Photo Gallery Location: SW Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: Dalton Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 201 BananaBucks : 44,203 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 39 Times Was Thanked 101 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Upham giant Basjoo Well I haven't heard back about the status of its propagation. It was supposed to be but I'm a little unsure if its actually happening. However I have heard back from someone that told me its still there at MU and I'm going to see if I can't just get a pup off the mat. I haven't really decided yet if I think its just regular basjoo or not. Either way hopefully Ill be able to get one and decide myself. __________________ With my feet upon the ground I lose myself between the sounds and open wide to suck it in. I feel it move across my skin. I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me. And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been. We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been. Spiral out. Keep going...

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