mari@adams.net

The d. cavendish has been in the ground about 3 weeks now and the middle leaf doesn't seem to be growing any. It has been ground fertilized and I have foliage sprayed it with fertilizer. Is it just a waiting game.[IMG][/IMG]

mari@adams.net

The Orinoco bunch that was overwintered in the basement (Illinois) (and now outside) is ripening ....very exciting for northern people (anyway me). I have picked a few ripe ones and they are very tasty and flavorful. While taking the plant outside, the stem broke so cut the bunch off and hung it in a small tree, didn't really know what else to do with it. So I'm thinking,,if I had cut the bunch off when the plant was put in the basement last fall, they might have gone ahead and ripened up then.[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

Akula

First couple leaves after winter dormancy are always weak for me. As the weather warms the leaves improve.

Akula

That's awesome! You are going to be a gardening legend in your neighborhood!

Backyard Banana Joe

Be careful that the free rats don't steal your bunch. I would hang inside........ And if you you had harvested the bunch in the fall, I think the story would have been different....... The connection was still there, so maturing happened while that stem was connected. Good jod! I knew you could do it!!!!

geissene

Congrats! I'm happy to see the bunch made it!

Erik

mari@adams.net

I took the advice and bought the small bunch of bananas in from outside. Have already eaten a few off the bunch and they were delicious. Only wish there were more. Going to share tomorrow with my neighbor. Have learned everything I know about bananas from this forum...thanks to all. Hope I can get another bunch this summer.[IMG][/IMG]

mari@adams.net

Could someone tell me what is going on with the Dwarf Cavendish....it doesn't seem to want to push the leaves out of the stem. I finally cut the old overwintered leaves off and it did start to push a leaf, but then seemed to be stuck. I cut into the outer part of the stem and it did go ahead and push the new leaf out along with another leaf. Part of the leaf is without much color...does that mean it wasn't ready to come out? The plant has some 12-12-12- scratch into the soil and I have watered it with a water soluble Miracle Grow 18-18-21. I also sprayed the foliage with the Miracle Grow. [IMG][/IMG]

Backyard Banana Joe

Huh........ Maybe a pup is taking over..... Sometimes it happens if the mother is weak and sacrificed itself for it's pups...... Really sucks to be honest. In that case the mother will die and pups will come up if they are Not already up. Has happened to me four times. All four were stalks that would have fruited in several months. Again p, really stinks. I would just leave and see if that stalk wants to grow. If not, then probably as stated above, a pup(s) will grow. Good luck!

mari@adams.net

Yes, it is putting off about 4 pups (small)...wondered if this is causing it, too....It should be or would have had a bloom this year.

Backyard Banana Joe

One time I had a super dwarf that looked exactly like yours. It made three pups. I did an experiment and removed the pups. The plant looked like CRAP but survived. It doesn't always work but sometimes it does.

mari@adams.net

This plant should bear bananas, it is 2-3 years old.....I was wondering about taking the pups off......do you think if I did, it would go ahead and produce a bloom.

Backyard Banana Joe

It might? You can try. Or it might be better to leave the pups on so if you DO dig the pups, and the mother does anyway, then it would be longer for you to get fruit

mari@adams.net

I did remove the pups. I would like for Mother to go ahead and do her 'thing. It was when I saw she was making pups that I noticed that her growth declined, like her strength was being sapped. One pup did have a few small roots on it so will see how it does. I thought bearing fruit was the last of the Mother stem before she died and she hasn't done that yet. Know there is a bloom inside her....I had another plant the same age and it rotted at the base...I split the stem and it had a bloom inside so feel there is also a bloom inside this Mother.

[IMG][/IMG]

mari@adams.net

I think Mother must be 'brain dead'...I've cut her down to almost half and still no response on doing any growth herself...cut off a few pups and I see another is growing. Never had a bloom, thought this year she might, but don't know of anything else I can do for her. [IMG][/IMG]

cincinnana

Mothers get like that.....

Dads do too........

The plant keeps chugging away......

__________________

mari@adams.net

Since the Dwarf Cavendish was at a standstill, I decided to cut it down a little at a time to the bottom. I found what is pictured....don't know if it will start growing again. It looks like it was in a 'bunch'. Do you think there will be any more growth on this plant.[IMG][/IMG]

bushwack

I had a couple of Orinoco's do that earlier in the year,, now you can't even tell anything was wrong with them

mari@adams.net

I hope it will continue to grow as it should have a bloom this year.

mari@adams.net

I'm hoping the plant continues to grow.....looks like it is going to put out a new leaf. It has 3 pups with it ..already took off 4 a week or so ago. Should these remain or be taken off.[IMG][/IMG]