To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question

Rhett · 09-11-2009, 09:57 PM

Colleagues,

I've got a couple of small bunches on my ice cream and they are doing well. However, the rachis continues to grow, it continues to flower, but no more fruit is being formed. I've seen photos in the gallery like the ones I have.

While the flower is pretty neat should I cut the rachis and flower off in an effort to put more growth into the fruit?

Thanks ......... Rhett

bencelest · 09-11-2009, 11:59 PM

yes. So the nutrients will go to the fruit.

Rhett · 09-12-2009, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the advice. I'll take care of that tomorrow. It seemed like the thing to do but I wanted to make sure.

Rhett

jen · 09-12-2009, 12:37 PM

I'm still considered a newbie but I believe I was told to wait until you have 8-10 inches before you cut. I guess it can die when you cut it and it will travel back up towards the bananas and sometimes the bottome bunches end up being affected and dying too...I think???? I don't usually answer ?'s because I'm NO EXPERT but I remember waiting to cut mine until it was 12 inches and I'm glad I did becasue it took a FULL 6 months for those naners and the bottom of the rachis did shrivel and die up a little. Anyway, I feel very cool answering a "technical" banana question.

I hope I answered it correctly.

Jen

LilRaverBoi · 09-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen

I'm still considered a newbie but I believe I was told to wait until you have 8-10 inches before you cut. I guess it can die when you cut it and it will travel back up towards the bananas and sometimes the bottome bunches end up being affected and dying too...I think????

Hmmm....very interesting. This sounds like 'retrograde degeneration' we learned about in neuroanatomy. Basically, when nerves are damaged, components of the dead tissue cause adjacent tissue to degenerate and die. So I would say this would at least make sense with bananas.

Rhett · 09-13-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

This sounds like 'retrograde degeneration' we learned about in neuroanatomy

I think the leap your trying to make is a little far. However, it is good to think things through in a logical fashion and use whatever background you have. In this situation, any soft tissued plant could easily develop "necrosis" and perhaps a local bacterial/fungal infection that might creep back up into normal tissue. Moisture and healthy tissue equal food for most organisms.

For what it is worth I left about 1 ft of rachis past the last group of fingers. If anything weird happens I'll post it.

By the way I really like your retinal image. Nice optic disc!

Bananaman88 · 09-14-2009, 09:02 AM

You should be fine if you left 1' between your cut and the fruit.

LilRaverBoi · 09-14-2009, 09:45 AM

Well, it was really more of a comparison of concepts than an implied direct relation. I realize these situations are quite different, but it reminded me of retrograde degeneration. Sorry to get all nerdy on ya!

Rhett · 09-14-2009, 09:04 PM

Let's get real nerdy. I think from a medical standpoint we would call the condition "necrotizing rachisitis". Sounds really bad when you use the lingo.

09-11-2009, 09:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rhett Location: Denham Springs, LA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Rhett Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 4,757 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question Colleagues, I've got a couple of small bunches on my ice cream and they are doing well. However, the rachis continues to grow, it continues to flower, but no more fruit is being formed. I've seen photos in the gallery like the ones I have. While the flower is pretty neat should I cut the rachis and flower off in an effort to put more growth into the fruit? Thanks ......... Rhett

09-11-2009, 11:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 189,299 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question yes. So the nutrients will go to the fruit. __________________ Banana Nut

09-12-2009, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rhett Location: Denham Springs, LA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Rhett Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 4,757 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question Thanks for the advice. I'll take care of that tomorrow. It seemed like the thing to do but I wanted to make sure. Rhett

09-12-2009, 12:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
jen jen's Photo Gallery Zone: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 215 BananaBucks : 65,731 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 56 Times Was Thanked 174 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question I'm still considered a newbie but I believe I was told to wait until you have 8-10 inches before you cut. I guess it can die when you cut it and it will travel back up towards the bananas and sometimes the bottome bunches end up being affected and dying too...I think???? I don't usually answer ?'s because I'm NO EXPERT but I remember waiting to cut mine until it was 12 inches and I'm glad I did becasue it took a FULL 6 months for those naners and the bottom of the rachis did shrivel and die up a little. Anyway, I feel very cool answering a "technical" banana question. I hope I answered it correctly. Jen

09-14-2009, 09:02 AM	#7 (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 : 217,475 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question You should be fine if you left 1' between your cut and the fruit.

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09-14-2009, 09:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 114,780 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question Well, it was really more of a comparison of concepts than an implied direct relation. I realize these situations are quite different, but it reminded me of retrograde degeneration. Sorry to get all nerdy on ya! __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

09-14-2009, 09:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rhett Location: Denham Springs, LA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Rhett Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 4,757 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: To Cut the Rachis or Not, That is the Question Let's get real nerdy. I think from a medical standpoint we would call the condition "necrotizing rachisitis". Sounds really bad when you use the lingo.

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