Encouraging a bloom..

BobbyinNY · 02-27-2006, 02:36 PM

Hi everyone.....

I have a Dwarf Cavendish that's about 6ft tall (9ft if you count the leaves). I'd really like to get this to fruit this summer. I on Long Island (7a) and the banana is in a greenhouse right now with temps around 75f/day, 65f/night. It's been growing like crazy... my question is.. what can I do to encourage a bloom so I get fruit this summer. If It doesn't bloom by this summer I don't know if I'll be able to keep it growing next winter becuase it'll get too tall for my greenhouse and I'll have to force it into dormancy.. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bobby

momoese · 02-27-2006, 05:08 PM

I think the only thing you can do is keep it growing fast and healthy with lots of sun and plenty of potassium rich food. There are chemicals that will induce fruiting in some plants but I'm not sure if it will work on bananas. These same chemicals are said to stop production of male flowers and help start the formation of female flowers on certain hermaphrodite plants. Don't ask me how I know this!

I think we may have talked about it here a while back.

Gabe15 · 02-27-2006, 06:05 PM

It sounds full sized, if its growing good it should fruit anytime now, you will not have a problem of it getting too large if its already 6ft.

BobbyinNY · 02-27-2006, 07:46 PM

thanks, Guys.....

Yeah, the only problem I'm having is that all the spears are touching the top of the greenhouse and I have to get it out of there. My problem is that I'm probably gonna have to wait a good solid 2 months before the temps are warm enough for that here... ugghh... I need a higher roof on my greenhouse.

Gabe15 · 02-27-2006, 08:01 PM

It may be cramped, but know that it wount hurt the plant.

02-27-2006, 02:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 47,466 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Encouraging a bloom.. Hi everyone..... I have a Dwarf Cavendish that's about 6ft tall (9ft if you count the leaves). I'd really like to get this to fruit this summer. I on Long Island (7a) and the banana is in a greenhouse right now with temps around 75f/day, 65f/night. It's been growing like crazy... my question is.. what can I do to encourage a bloom so I get fruit this summer. If It doesn't bloom by this summer I don't know if I'll be able to keep it growing next winter becuase it'll get too tall for my greenhouse and I'll have to force it into dormancy.. any help would be greatly appreciated. Bobby

02-27-2006, 05:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 87,126 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: Encouraging a bloom.. I think the only thing you can do is keep it growing fast and healthy with lots of sun and plenty of potassium rich food. There are chemicals that will induce fruiting in some plants but I'm not sure if it will work on bananas. These same chemicals are said to stop production of male flowers and help start the formation of female flowers on certain hermaphrodite plants. Don't ask me how I know this! I think we may have talked about it here a while back.

02-27-2006, 06:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,376,253 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,243 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Encouraging a bloom.. It sounds full sized, if its growing good it should fruit anytime now, you will not have a problem of it getting too large if its already 6ft. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

02-27-2006, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 47,466 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Encouraging a bloom.. thanks, Guys..... Yeah, the only problem I'm having is that all the spears are touching the top of the greenhouse and I have to get it out of there. My problem is that I'm probably gonna have to wait a good solid 2 months before the temps are warm enough for that here... ugghh... I need a higher roof on my greenhouse.

02-27-2006, 08:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,376,253 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,243 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Encouraging a bloom.. It may be cramped, but know that it wount hurt the plant. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

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