Ae Ae

Vickie H. · 03-29-2009, 01:12 PM

I have an Ae Ae banana coming next week. I need help on this one please. I hear they are difficult to grow, and that they need acidic soil. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Vickie

Caloosamusa · 03-29-2009, 01:18 PM

Good afternoon Vickie. All bananas need a slightly acid soil, and Good drainage for the root system!! A fertilizer with more potassium than many plants is also important. See potash fertilizer thread.

Best wishes and welcome to the organization!

Richard · 03-29-2009, 05:34 PM

Vicki, last year inkcube (banana researcher from Yale) advised us to use 1.5 parts potash (K) for each 1.0 part nitrogen (N) and little phosphorus. It turns out that this also fits the profile for hardwood fruits. Dosages of some available formulas are given in item #4 here: PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II

Patty in Wisc · 03-29-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caloosamusa

A fertilizer with more potassium than many plants is also important. See potash fertilizer thread.

I can't find the potash fertilizer thread.
Oh shoot, I think I juist found it ...'previous thread' Duh

Bob · 03-29-2009, 07:22 PM

Hey Vicki, where did you get your plant from. Just as a guess, was it ebay from "saipan"? One thing for sure don't skimp on your potting mix and be sure to add enough sand, chips, perlite, etc ,whatever to assure proper drainage. Lots of experienced growers here.Check out the wiki section and try to search some of the older threads concerning this great plant. Good luck and keep us posted when it arrives.

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 12:29 PM

Bob it is coming from Hawaii. I need to look at the potash. I need some research for sure. Thanks all.

Steve L · 03-30-2009, 12:37 PM

Vickie,

Are you going to container grow this banana or grow it in the ground. I can't tell where you live or your zone.

Steve

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 01:42 PM

Steve I live in the USA in Missouri zone 6. It will have to be container grown. And in the winter I will have to keep in a window in my house.

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 01:46 PM

I know you all think I am crazy to try to grow this banana here. But I am stubborn. I also grow water lilies from seed. I have grown them from South Africa and Madagascar and Australia. And with no greenhouse they did not give me much hope. I proved them wrong. My motto "Never Give Up" untill your too old to even go outside. LOL

alpha010 · 03-30-2009, 01:57 PM

I like your style Miss Vickie! I live in Z6 as well and I'm gonna try to fruit any and every edible cultivar I can with or without a hothouse. I'm also dabbling in other tropical fruits as well.....I say, if they tell me I can't, one way or another I will! Good Luck with the Ae Ae and keep us posted on it's progress and what you have or are doing to it.

Shaggy

Steve L · 03-30-2009, 02:03 PM

Vickie,

My friends at Stokes Tropicals in New Iberia, LA (home of Tabasco) grow all of their Ae Ae in containers outside in a shade house during the summer and inside their enormous greenhouse during the winter. I hope you have high ceilings in your house because they can get rather tall. Incidentally, they move their large container Ae Ae around with a fork lift.

Steve

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 02:20 PM

I am thinking the banana will only grow as large as the container will allow. I might be thinking wrong. I have 10 ft banana trees I have had to cut off to grow inside for the winter. And then when I put them outside they take off again.

Steve L · 03-30-2009, 02:47 PM

My experience with the Ae Ae is that it doesn't handle any stress very well at all. Cutting it back to overwinter would, in my opinion, put it in the stress category. I hope I'm wrong.

Steve

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 05:12 PM

Steve you could be right. I do have a friend with a greenhouse but it does not have high ceilings.

harveyc · 03-30-2009, 09:02 PM

Brent has said the folks at St. Louis (I believe) where he once worked did whack them back each year when they were brought into the greenhouse and they did well. He can fill in the particulars.

Vickie H. · 03-30-2009, 09:06 PM

Thanks Harvey.

Bananaman88 · 03-31-2009, 06:20 AM

Correct, Steve- at MBG, we used to cut them down and then pot them back up for the winter. I think the key is not to keep them overly wet through the winter.

Vickie H. · 04-02-2009, 11:24 AM

Bob · 04-02-2009, 11:28 AM

Looks like a beautiful healthy plant . The variegation on the good leaf looks great. I'd like to see that one again in a few months. Is that a miniature schnauzer behind it? Thanks for posting.

Patty in Wisc · 04-02-2009, 12:25 PM

Bob, did you & Vickie get yours at same place? How's yours doing?
What a beautiful plant!! Is that a new leaf coming out?

03-29-2009, 01:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Ae Ae I have an Ae Ae banana coming next week. I need help on this one please. I hear they are difficult to grow, and that they need acidic soil. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Vickie

03-29-2009, 01:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,578 BananaBucks : 27,873 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 3,829 Times Was Thanked 1,556 Times in 675 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 334 Times	Re: Ae Ae Good afternoon Vickie. All bananas need a slightly acid soil, and Good drainage for the root system!! A fertilizer with more potassium than many plants is also important. See potash fertilizer thread. Best wishes and welcome to the organization! Last edited by Caloosamusa : 03-29-2009 at 01:20 PM. Reason: add

03-29-2009, 05:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,604 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Ae Ae Vicki, last year inkcube (banana researcher from Yale) advised us to use 1.5 parts potash (K) for each 1.0 part nitrogen (N) and little phosphorus. It turns out that this also fits the profile for hardwood fruits. Dosages of some available formulas are given in item #4 here: PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

03-29-2009, 07:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,641 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Ae Ae Hey Vicki, where did you get your plant from. Just as a guess, was it ebay from "saipan"? One thing for sure don't skimp on your potting mix and be sure to add enough sand, chips, perlite, etc ,whatever to assure proper drainage. Lots of experienced growers here.Check out the wiki section and try to search some of the older threads concerning this great plant. Good luck and keep us posted when it arrives. __________________

03-30-2009, 12:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae Bob it is coming from Hawaii. I need to look at the potash. I need some research for sure. Thanks all.

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03-30-2009, 12:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,722 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Ae Ae Vickie, Are you going to container grow this banana or grow it in the ground. I can't tell where you live or your zone. Steve

03-30-2009, 01:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae Steve I live in the USA in Missouri zone 6. It will have to be container grown. And in the winter I will have to keep in a window in my house.

03-30-2009, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae I know you all think I am crazy to try to grow this banana here. But I am stubborn. I also grow water lilies from seed. I have grown them from South Africa and Madagascar and Australia. And with no greenhouse they did not give me much hope. I proved them wrong. My motto "Never Give Up" untill your too old to even go outside. LOL

03-30-2009, 01:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
alpha010 Metal Nanners!! alpha010 's Photo Gallery Location: Mineral Ridge, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 on arborday 5b on USDA Name: Bob aka Shaggy Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 470 BananaBucks : 136,673 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 121 Times Was Thanked 238 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Ae Ae I like your style Miss Vickie! I live in Z6 as well and I'm gonna try to fruit any and every edible cultivar I can with or without a hothouse. I'm also dabbling in other tropical fruits as well.....I say, if they tell me I can't, one way or another I will! Good Luck with the Ae Ae and keep us posted on it's progress and what you have or are doing to it. Shaggy __________________ LOL! My house doesnt exist on the member map! Get a little Love in your life. Jump in a Mosh Pit! The only place where every emotion one person can feel will join together and express all at once.

03-30-2009, 02:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,722 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Ae Ae Vickie, My friends at Stokes Tropicals in New Iberia, LA (home of Tabasco) grow all of their Ae Ae in containers outside in a shade house during the summer and inside their enormous greenhouse during the winter. I hope you have high ceilings in your house because they can get rather tall. Incidentally, they move their large container Ae Ae around with a fork lift. Steve

03-30-2009, 02:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae I am thinking the banana will only grow as large as the container will allow. I might be thinking wrong. I have 10 ft banana trees I have had to cut off to grow inside for the winter. And then when I put them outside they take off again.

03-30-2009, 02:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,722 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Ae Ae My experience with the Ae Ae is that it doesn't handle any stress very well at all. Cutting it back to overwinter would, in my opinion, put it in the stress category. I hope I'm wrong. Steve

03-30-2009, 05:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae Steve you could be right. I do have a friend with a greenhouse but it does not have high ceilings.

03-30-2009, 09:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,117 BananaBucks : 261,000 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,024 Times Was Thanked 4,453 Times in 1,894 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Ae Ae Brent has said the folks at St. Louis (I believe) where he once worked did whack them back each year when they were brought into the greenhouse and they did well. He can fill in the particulars. __________________

03-30-2009, 09:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae Thanks Harvey.

03-31-2009, 06:20 AM	#17 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 216,931 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Ae Ae Correct, Steve- at MBG, we used to cut them down and then pot them back up for the winter. I think the key is not to keep them overly wet through the winter.

04-02-2009, 11:24 AM	#18 (permalink)
Vickie H. Vickie H.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 140,435 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 783 Times in 225 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ae Ae came today packed good but leaves still broke

04-02-2009, 11:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,641 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Ae Ae Looks like a beautiful healthy plant . The variegation on the good leaf looks great. I'd like to see that one again in a few months. Is that a miniature schnauzer behind it? Thanks for posting. __________________

04-02-2009, 12:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 337,606 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: Ae Ae Bob, did you & Vickie get yours at same place? How's yours doing? What a beautiful plant!! Is that a new leaf coming out? __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

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