Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Banana updates. June 6, 2006

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Dwarf Brazilian in bloom.

It bloomed in near perfect timing, hoping to get ripe fruits when the first frost of the season comes.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Dwarf Brazilian, just about 5 ft high trunk.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Up close. The heart is about to open in a week.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Ice cream banana bloom coming out. See the flag leaf?

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Close-up of the bloom pushing out.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Hopefully this year, I will get at least 2 bunches of bananas again, but this time only bigger, much much bigger blooms than last year for starters.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Looks great! I like the Bamboo hut. What is it used for?

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Thanks. The roof is made from Anahaw palm (Livistonia rotundifolia var. luzonensis). The main frames and beams are made of coconut lumber (Cocos nucifera)

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

and the rest are made of bamboo, including the table, wood floor and built-in bench. We use this to relax and while away lazy afternoon drinking beer or sipping wine late into the cool evenings. It has underground electrical connections.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Wow. I want that hut so badly. It is definitely a beaut.

Zac

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Great looking bananas!!! Did you build the hut yourself? If so, would you mind sharing where you got the materials and plans. I would love to add one of those to the backyard here in south GA.

Richard

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Richard,

More accurately, I assembled it myself. A UCD professor imported it from the Philippines and he had no time to assemble it in his yard, so he gave it to me for free. I then assembled it based on the original pictures that he sent me.

You can buy these kinds of huts from various online stores, sometimes there is a model in Costco that closely resembles this for a time, it is gone now. They cost about $2,000 unassembled.

In the Philippines, they cost less than $500 for the unassembled one, but then the shipping's gonna kill you.

Regards,

Joe

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Took me about 3 weekends (working about 10 hrs per weekend) to figure out and assemble it. The figuring out took the longest since my professor friend lost the plan and instructions. I actually assembled, and reassembled about 3 times until I think I got it right. So much for freebie, but did not regret it.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Hey, what is the plant growing at the top right of this pictures? Looks familiar!

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6241/PDC_0263.jpg

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

It's not what you think it is, but looks very similar. It is the green leaf Japanese Maple. The ice cream is too high, about 12 ft high, and am shooting fom down below, just under the Japanese Maple tree.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the info on the hut. I bet that was a challenge trying to figure out how to assemble it without any instructions. I am going to keep an eye open and see if I can find one. It would make an excellent place to enjoy the afternoons and early mornings.

Cheers,
Richard

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Looking great, Joe! I need to try Dwarf Brazilian here. I have the Tall...somewhere. Lost the label early this Spring. I'm trying to get more dwarfs for fruit production, because the tall varieties are getting to be a real pain (literally) hauling under the house in the Fall and out again in Spring. It'll be a few years before I get enough dwarfs to fruiting size to replace the talls though. BTW, the DO you sent is doing great.

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Thanks for the compliments guys!

It's opening now (actually took picture yesterday):

Re: Banana updates June 6, 2006
 

Let's get closer: