2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Well, everything I had thought about bananas is now out the window!!!
My big potted ice cream banana--now another stem in the same pot is throwing a flag leaf. The first stalk still has 21 bananas on it that seem to be slowly plumping up.
What do you think about that?
Could it be because it fruited last year and I didn't disturb the clump at all?
I will get a picture on here asap of both stems.
first stem with bananas forming

second stem with flower bud --in same clump


picture of entire plant/clump in pot today

the ones that are blooming are the ones to the far right and now the one to the far left.

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

How tall are they?

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

The thing is, I thought a clump in a pot for several yearswas like planting a mat outdoors. Do they bloom more than one stalk in a mat outdoors the fifth year? They are about 11 feet tall. Being in a pot has dwarfed them somewhat.

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Yes you can have multiple blooms in one mat outdoors.

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Each shoot will fruit when it matures, regardless of how many shoots are or have fruited. When it is written that a single shoot flowers at a time, or that a mat only has one bunch at a time, this is almost entirely due to the management of the mat by the grower (meaning removal or keeping of suckers).

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Congrats!!

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

You learn something new every day! I really thought when one stalk bloomed on this clump that was it for the year. Wow...I wonder if any of the others will bloom soon too. I was thinking about dividing this in the spring, but now I'm thinking of seeing if I can get an even bigger pot for it and keeping it intact somehow.Thanks for the info!

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

The best way to fruit in a container would be to remove all suckers as soon as they are coming up. This way, when they are small you do not have to disturb the root system as much, and by removing all of the suckers you will direct all of the energy to the one fruiting shoot. The problem with fruiting normally large varieties in containers is that even though they may be able to fruit, they may not be able to fill out the fruit properly.

If I were going to try to fruit a large variety in a container, I would keep it to just one shoot and remove all suckers.

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

I don't really care how many of the fruit actually mature, but that would be nice. I just like having a nice big banana clump sitting in the driveway to inspire people. (well that and sit and drink margaritas under and listen to Jimmy Buffet!!) It's good for advertising--You could see that one when you went down the off ramp to the bypass here all summer. You wouldn't believe how many people asked me where my banana plant was when I moved it in for the fall.
Maybe I'll have to do another pot for fruit production and see how many I can get on it. But I think maybe something more dwarf like a williams hybrid possibly.

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Congratulations Sandy!!:jalapenonaner:

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

Congratulations Sandy! I have two fruiting Dwarf Cavs in one mat as well. One plant is larger than the other. I will take all the fruit I can get!

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

that's the funny thing, the smaller one fruited first, then the bigger diameter one. Maybe the bigger one will have more bananas on it. Who knows...I guess in the words of Jimmy Buffet, only time will tell.....

Re: 2nd flag leaf on ice cream clump
 

My bigger Dwarf Cav has more fruit than my smaller one.