Bananas.org - Ed's Grand Nain photo update

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ez	03-23-2014 09:30 PM

Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Here's my Grand Nain it fruits at 7' I've had it for 10 years. In the spring of 2013 I reduced the number of plants in this mat from 12 to a more manageable size of 5 to 6 plants, keeping it this size I should be able to harvest two bunches per year.

In this photo their 3 pups the one in the middle started as a typical sword sucker, than at 15" it started to grow large wide leaves I believe it's going to fruit at only 4'. The pup on the right is 1 month younger and it's 29" with narrow leaves, average size for Grand Nain.

If the dwarflike plant continues to produce new plants that are the same short size with good fruit it will have a permanent home in the garden.

Hammocked Banana

03-24-2014 10:41 AM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Why do you think that it will fruit at a lower height bc it made wide leaves faster? Doesn't this just mean its corm is weaker and will take longer to fruit (but usually at similar heights)? Have u had pups from this Matt produce at 4' before? Im hoping to have my first grand naine flower this year.

ez	03-24-2014 05:19 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammocked Banana (Post 241529)

Excellent questions

Q; Why do you think that it will fruit at a lower height bc it made wide leaves faster?
A; Yes, the way the pup went from sword sucker to a dwarflike copy of the mother plant suggest it will fruit at a lower height. When you have grown a particular cultivar for many years in this case 10 years (35 years for Manzano) you gain intimate knowledge of that plant.

Q; Doesn't this just mean its corm is weaker and will take longer to fruit (but usually at similar heights)?
A; If you can't provide the correct environment (temperature, lighting, fertilizer and water) then yes the plants will grow "weaker" until its needs are satisfied. All three pups are growing very fast none of them show any signs of weakness, it's more likely a mutation although mutations are not always a good thing. That's why I said "If the dwarflike plant continues to produce new plants that are the same short size with good fruit..."

Q; Have u had pups from this Matt produce at 4' before?
A; No

Brady "Im hoping to have my first grand naine flower this year."

That's good news!
Do you have any photos of your Grand Nain to share? :waving:

Hammocked Banana

03-25-2014 02:53 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Here is what it looked like at the beginning of the month, not a great photo, just one I happened to snap when I was moving some plants around.

March 4, 2014, big one on the left waiting to grow

Aug 17, 2013, right before I removed 2 pups.

ez	03-26-2014 05:48 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammocked Banana (Post 241599)

Here is what it looked like at the beginning of the month, not a great photo, just one I happened to snap when I was moving some plants around.

March 4, 2014, big one on the left waiting to grow

Aug 17, 2013, right before I removed 2 pups.

Beautiful plants Brady please keep us updated on their progress. :nanadrink:

cactus6103

03-27-2014 02:28 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Those are nice pics ez. I love how you have it set up.

Red

ez	03-27-2014 06:52 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactus6103 (Post 241718)

Those are nice pics ez. I love how you have it set up.

Red

Thanks Red

I couldn't find any detailed pics of a Grand Nain sword sucker on the .org so here's a photo description.

In this image because I have 8" to 10" of mulch over the corm (rhizome) it's hard to gauge the true size of each pup.

P-stem 36"

living in the mulch millipedes, I never fully understood how important they are until I read http://www.bananas.org/f312/millicom...tml#post240394 from PR Giants
thanks Keith.

Base diameter just under 8".

I dug a little deeper around the base of the sword and found the next generation.

Hammocked Banana

03-27-2014 07:33 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Your mats are very neat and well kept. Do all your mats have their own sprinklers?

ez	03-27-2014 07:53 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammocked Banana (Post 241736)

Your mats are very neat and well kept. Do all your mats have their own sprinklers?

yes, they only spread water in a 25" diameter that's where I add fertilizer.

PR-Giants

03-28-2014 09:51 AM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

I'm fairly certain I've read that that millipede is new to your area and came from Bredrinland a few years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ez (Post 241732)

Jackson

03-29-2014 01:50 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by ez (Post 241732)

Thanks Red

I couldn't find any detailed pics of a Grand Nain sword sucker on the .org so here's a photo description.

In this image because I have 8" to 10" of mulch over the corm (rhizome) it's hard to gauge the true size of each pup.

P-stem 36"

living in the mulch millipedes, I never fully understood how important they are until I read http://www.bananas.org/f312/millicom...tml#post240394 from PR Giants
thanks Keith.

Base diameter just under 8".

I dug a little deeper around the base of the sword and found the next generation.

Healthy looking plants Ed great job!

ez	03-30-2014 11:16 AM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR-Giants (Post 241770)

I'm fairly certain I've read that that millipede is new to your area and came from Bredrinland a few years ago.

This is true the yellow-banded millipede (Anadenobolus monilicornis) has only been around for a couple years. Here's a newspaper article that talks about them and a map that shows their coverage.

Creeping critters invade South Florida homes
Monkeys use them to get high, but people should sweep them out the door, experts say
January 10, 2014|By Robert Nolin, Sun Sentinel

EDDMapS - Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System - Anadenobolus monilicornis

:0519:

ez	03-30-2014 06:50 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackson (Post 241835)

Healthy looking plants Ed great job!

Thanks Jack :08:

lukem5

04-01-2014 07:10 AM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

what do you fertilize with? typical banana 6-2-10 kind of stuff?

ez	04-01-2014 08:08 PM

Re: Ed's Grand Nain photo update

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukem5 (Post 242059)

what do you fertilize with? typical banana 6-2-10 kind of stuff?

:2738: I'm using 7-3-14 with 3% magnesium 4.5% sulfur 2.5% calcium 1.% iron and other trace elements it's my own special blend and I use commercial fertilizers for example Sunniland professional blend 9-2-24 with minors. Generally 3-1-6 ratio is typical for banana plants. The only way to know for sure what the plants need in your microclimate is to have your soil tested.