Is this bad news?
 

I have a bloom but it is very skinny. Only one sheath has opened. It does not have blooms in it yet.

Do bananas sometimes have blooms with nothing in it?

EDIT May 18, 2012 HERE IS THE FINAL RESULT!

Two small hands with a total of 12 bananas. The third hand is all non fruiting blooms.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

I've seen pictures of really skinny blooms that still make lots of fruit. I think your plant should be fine as long as it doesn't have a nutrient deficiency or other disease.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

They can have no females at first then start producing later. Time will tell.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Like Andreas mentioned, sometimes smaller blooms still manage to make lots of fruit.
And bananas definitely can bloom and make little or no fruit, but usually that will happen in the winter months when its not getting enough heat or when the roots are diminished for one reason or another. You'll know for sure in a few weeks!

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Yes, the first Hua Moa that bloomed in May after the December 2010 Freeze had no fruit, just a blank raceme. I just shrugged it off because I had 330 more just like it, but for the home grower that would be quite the tease.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Thanks everyone,

That would be a sad tease. Hopefully it will produce something. The mat is very healthy, well watered and fed. Receives great sunlight and nothing else is competing for it's nutrients. The only bad that it has seen is the loss of it's 2011 leaves from a frost in January. It now has regrown quite a few leaves. The P-stems was not effected at all and remained green. I guess I'll just have to wait. At least I have the other mat that has sent out the half leaf. Maybe it will be fatter.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

From personal (frustrating) experience, yes, sometimes they produce no fruit. On the other hand, I get the impression you are talking about there being no fruit under the first bract. That is pretty common from what I've seen and heard, and typical for many varieties. Don't sweat it until a few more bracts have opened. Mine and my neighbors have all had 1-3 bracts with no flowers before opening a bract with flowers.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

As the bloom continues to lengthen and open will it fatten up?

I was teased already this year with three post frost blooms that opened and had a decent amount of fruit but the leafless P-stem and the rest of the mat did not or could not support the fruit development.

I'll try to post pictures this afternoon.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Yes, though I don't know how much of that fattening up is just appearance, as the bracts open and make the bloom appear bigger.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

I've found that with my big Orinocos, blooming early like May, they don't do much. But as the mat gets older(3yrs.+) and Bloom a little later in the year will bring nice bunches.
It seems that the age/size of the mat makes a difference for me.
Bo

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Hi Bo,

This is the Blue Java/Ice Creme that I got from you. You were not sure if the name was right at that time. It was given to you. I'm leaning to the Orinoco hard.

I had a June bloom on an Orinoco mat last year and it only had four hands. two months later a different Orinoco mat had around eight hands. What you have experienced seems to be holding true.

A bit discouraging as it seems our efforts to protect a P-stem from Winter in order to get a early bloom is counter productive and if you don't protect what will bloom this season will not have enough time to mature before a killing frost/freeze!

Maybe a green house with dwarf varieties!

Re: Is this bad news?
 

I do have Ice Creme/Blue Java and I did a seach on this forum and you can't really tell until blooming or fruiting stage. Don't get too discouraged, as your naners multiply and your corms age you will get fruit. All the variables, timing, growing conditions, etc. will come together for you. I've had good bunches that have broke the stalk due to storms and situations in which I was away and not able to tend them. I want to get those naners from chance 1945, whatever he has is working, there is also a poster (alimiley) on here from foley that has been posting pics of her bunches not for sure if she's using a greenhouse but I've seen the pics.
Even though naners are a true tropical plant and require 12 months of warm climate to consistantly produce fruit, we can take advantage of every opportunity to enhance our conditions and it will come together sooner or later.
Bo

Re: Is this bad news?
 

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I won't give up as the plants themselves draw a lot of attention that gives me enjoyment. They are a great transender of race, gender, age, religion and even politics! People are now starting to notice them and ask where they can be bought and I haven't even sucessfully grown a Saba yet. I know when that behemoth gets the care it needs I'll get even more inquiries. I of course tell them they are not for sale but if they'll come by when I'm off I'll give them some. It catches people of guard as most people always want something. I have given away at 50 bunches of collards, mustards and turnips this Winter/Spring and still have some I giving away although you'd have to be a green lover to get them now as they are probably starting to get bitter with all the heat we've had.

Back to the bananas I believe that I'll have better success when as you said the mat developes some age. At least I'm getting some identifications on the various mats that I have. So far I've only had Orinoco bloom but this could be the year.

When you get back we'll look Terry and Alimiley up.

Re: Is this bad news?
 

HERE IS THE FINAL RESULT!

Two small hands with a total of 12 bananas. The third hand is all non fruiting blooms.