PT DUffy

This is mine's 1st yr, but I can report that it's a good edition to one's Banana collection. Fast growing but not spindly with maroon-splashed leaves(something the catalogue didn't mention and should). It's very Ornamental. I think even if it didn't Fruit it'd be a good addition to anyone's yard. It's too late this yr for it to fruit in my zone(8b) but if size at present is any indication, it'll Bloom early next Summer.

Bob

Nice news to hear PT DUffy. How big was it when you planted it and how big did it get? I've got two about a foot tall now to go out in the spring, and yeah for small pups their growing fairly quickly. By all accounts they should taste really good.

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Tog Tan

Hiya Bob and Duffy, sounds like a good looking 'naner. Can either of you post a pix of it. The FHIA stuff is not available here at all and I have been most curious about them, especially now that Duffy mentioned the leaves are maroon-splashed. It's always nice to have an edible good looker!!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Bob

Hey Tog, I loaded a pic of a leaf from a one foot tall FHIA 23 in my photos. It was from my cell phone (sorry about the quality). It is just starting to show its marron splashes. Being computer illiterate I couldn't figure out how to post it on the thread. I'll try and get it figured out and do a bit better next time....Bob

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Chironex

Tog, here is a photo of mine a few months ago after I got it.

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Scot

Tog Tan

Hey guys, thanks for the quick response.

Bob, don't worry about your pix, they were good enough for me to want one of these FHIA-23. I will figure out later how to get this guy over here.

Anyone know whether the plant keeps the maroon splashes on them upon maturity? I saw pix of the big plants on the AgriStarts site and they look green. I am a real sucker for plants with colored foliage!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

PT DUffy

It's about 6 ft tall not and still has Maroon splashes, though not as large. The cold weather has pretty much stopped all growth of everything except winter veggies and, of course weeds!
Cheers,
Pat

Caloosamusa

The FHIA-23 has been a big disapointment for me. Last November 15th (2007) I purchased it with many other cultivars and planted them (zone 10). The many other cultivars grew at least 3 feet and some 9 feet since that time. The FHIA-23 actually died back, then came back after I dug up and potted up the plant. Though it is resistant to black sigatoka and fusarium, corm borers like FHIA-23. The plant is recovering but is less than 2 feet tall. My FHIA-17 seems to be much better suited to the disease and pest environment of south Florida. I hope this information is useful.

Best wishes, Caloosamusa

Chironex

I have the same experience with my 23. Definitely not a fast grower here, either. Jon (pitangdiego) told me that it had been disappointing for him as well in San Diego.

Anyone that has one growing more robustly, please chime in on what you are doing and the type of growth environment you have.

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Scot

Bob

I got my 2 from Going Bananas in October. They wre about 2-3" with no green showing at all. At first they didn't grow at all........like a month, unlike the Kandrian I got with it that took right off. Then one started growing and kind of died back again. I was thinking this can't be good.I pulled off all the dried brown to expose all the fresh green underneath and they just took off. They seem to be growing at a decent rate for this time of year. they are in my glassed in front porch with a 400 watt halide light with a light mover and they get plenty of ambient light during the sunny weather. Temps have gone from 70-80 in October to now they run about 63-75 for high /low. The largest has a 10" P-stem with the biggest leaf 13". the second plant is a couple of inches shorter. I just talked with Don at GB and they were out of them and got the impression they might not be growing them in the future.

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Caloosamusa

FHIA-23 is my biggest disapointment. While it is resistant to Black sigatoka, it is VERY slow growing and susceptible to corm borers. I purchased and planted one in November '07. When the weather warmed corm borers attacked it. I took it out of the ground, cleaned it and put it in a 15 gallon pot. It has grown a couple of inches. It is not well adapted to a sub or semi-tropical environment. Perhaps it will do well in a greenhouse.

Other bananas purchased at the same time are now over 10 feet. If you keep it indoors with special lights it may perform better.

bepah

This guy is a spammer....do not reply or link to his message. I have sen a PM to Jarred.

Lowest of the lowlifes...

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John Case
Rookie Gardener, Veteran Drinker

Chironex

Well, one of my 23's died, and the second one had to be cut back down nearly to the corm. But, it has new leaves and seems to be making a comeback. So we will see.

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Scot

PT DUffy

Mine is about as Vigorous as my Dwarf Namwa. The one I'm very dissapointed with is SH2340. LAst yr it grew quickly and did well(I thought) in the greenhouse over the WInter but as soon as I planted it out it began to sucker madly. A couple weeks ago I noted a soft spot on the lower stem and the whole trunk has now rotted off. Got a nice mat of pups though so we'll see if anything comes next yr...