First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs

TTP, Fred · 05-31-2008, 08:52 AM

15 months ago I planted 2 ice cream banana trees in my backyard in the Houston, Texas area. Over the past week or so, an inflorescence flower popped out on each. My whole family is very excited about this. This being the first time for everything banana-related for me, I've got some questions for you more experienced growers:

1. re: diagram for PVC support (one tree is starting to lean), where can I find such a diagram?
2. approximately when should I expect the naners to be ready to cut and hang? Being a newbie, I have no clue, and my kids are peppering me with questions.

Thanks for all your help!

lorax · 05-31-2008, 10:49 AM

First of all, Congratulations!

Diagram for PVC support - not sure where to find this, but I've always just used a padded 2x4 propped against the pseudostem under the bunch to keep the tree upright.

Cut and hang - here in Ecuador, about a month after finger formation. Your tree will let you know; the nanners will stop getting bigger and fatter. At that point you can cut the bunch and hang it. But be warned - a bunch of bananas is heavier than it looks!

Once the fingers have all set, you can actually cut and eat the remaining flower - I think the recipes section has a how-to on banana flower preparation.

momoese · 05-31-2008, 01:36 PM

Hey Fred, do you have a brother named Paul Biddle?

Kylie2x · 05-31-2008, 01:39 PM

Congrats!!!! That is Awesome!! So where are the pic's...LOL
Kylie

stumpy4700 · 05-31-2008, 01:46 PM

Welcome to the Org. and congrats on fatherhood. Yea if you could load some pics I'd love to see them. Again welcome

mskitty38583 · 05-31-2008, 02:54 PM

welcome to the org! congrats on your flowers and fruit!

Bananaman88 · 05-31-2008, 02:59 PM

Hey, Fred! Glad to see some more people from the Houston area joining the forum. You're the second new one in about a week and a half now (BigTex is the other). What area are you in? I'm in the Pearland/Friendswood area. We'll have to get together sometime.

From my experiences growing bananas here, you can expect a wait of around 4 months before harvest. That's how it's been for me with my 'Orinoco' anyhow. 'Ice Cream' may be a bit different.

For the PVC support diagram, I think that Jarred (MediaHound) posted that sometime back. Do a thread search with "PVC support" as the keywords and see what you come up with.

TTP, Fred · 05-31-2008, 04:18 PM

Ok, ok...I get the hint....I uploaded some photos to my profile, so take a look at my babies!!

Lorax, when you say the 2x4 is "padded", it is padded with what?

Momese: nope.

TTP, Fred · 05-31-2008, 04:22 PM

bananaman88: I tried the search function first, but got nothing. Thanks for the welcome. I had just been scrolling through your photos earlier today when I decided to do my first post.

momoese · 05-31-2008, 04:48 PM

If you don't mind my asking, what is TTP?

TTP, Fred · 05-31-2008, 05:27 PM

Back in the mid 1980s, Fred Akers was the head coach of The University of By God Texas Longhorns. Though we had some decent defenses, our offenses stunk because Akers had no imagination. His playcalling was predictable and relied on only about a handful of plays. Opposing defenses usually knew exactly what was coming. "Turn the page, Fred" was what we students would scream from the stands in a futile effort to get him to call something, anything, different.

momoese · 05-31-2008, 06:29 PM

Cool story, that must have been really frustrating! Thanks for the info. The reason I asked is that there used to be a collectable buying and selling website called TTP or The Toy Peddler and it was run by Paul who had a brother named Fred who was also into buying and selling old collectable toys.

Kylie2x · 05-31-2008, 06:38 PM

Hook'em Horns!!!!
Can you see my hand a wavin???
ROFL!!! Priceless!!!!!
Kylie

lorax · 05-31-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTP, Fred

Ok, ok...I get the hint....I uploaded some photos to my profile, so take a look at my babies!!

Lorax, when you say the 2x4 is "padded", it is padded with what?

Momese: nope.

I use burlap folded up and then tied on with twine. I've also used cut banana leaves, wodged up grasses, and an old hoodie.

Bananaman88 · 05-31-2008, 08:12 PM

Fred, I just sent you a PM.

MediaHound · 06-02-2008, 10:28 AM

No "plans" for it but its just a PVC tee, two elbows, and some various lengths of piping.
3/4" works but bends over time, so use a thick schedule if you can.

MediaHound · 06-02-2008, 10:29 AM

Also, I since painted it with green spray paint.

Bananaman88 · 06-02-2008, 11:36 AM

Another word of advice on propping or staking: Don't be content with just staking alone if you have a large bunch of fruit. I made this mistake last year. I had staked one of my bananas just to keep the pseudostem from leaning over too much and breaking. Unfortunately, we had some high winds and the pseudostem broke at the level I had it tied off to the fence post. In retrospect, I should have propped the fruit stalk as well. I think the extra prop really would have made the difference.

stumpy4700 · 06-02-2008, 01:02 PM

Thanks, guys this is some great advice us learners need to know....Very helpful.

05-31-2008, 08:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
TTP, Fred TTP, Fred's Photo Gallery Location: Katy, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 13,431 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs 15 months ago I planted 2 ice cream banana trees in my backyard in the Houston, Texas area. Over the past week or so, an inflorescence flower popped out on each. My whole family is very excited about this. This being the first time for everything banana-related for me, I've got some questions for you more experienced growers: 1. re: diagram for PVC support (one tree is starting to lean), where can I find such a diagram? 2. approximately when should I expect the naners to be ready to cut and hang? Being a newbie, I have no clue, and my kids are peppering me with questions. Thanks for all your help!

05-31-2008, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 326,068 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs First of all, Congratulations! Diagram for PVC support - not sure where to find this, but I've always just used a padded 2x4 propped against the pseudostem under the bunch to keep the tree upright. Cut and hang - here in Ecuador, about a month after finger formation. Your tree will let you know; the nanners will stop getting bigger and fatter. At that point you can cut the bunch and hang it. But be warned - a bunch of bananas is heavier than it looks! Once the fingers have all set, you can actually cut and eat the remaining flower - I think the recipes section has a how-to on banana flower preparation.

05-31-2008, 01:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,591 BananaBucks : 656 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Hey Fred, do you have a brother named Paul Biddle?

05-31-2008, 01:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 127,276 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 269 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 160 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Congrats!!!! That is Awesome!! So where are the pic's...LOL Kylie

05-31-2008, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 43,212 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Welcome to the Org. and congrats on fatherhood. Yea if you could load some pics I'd love to see them. Again welcome

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05-31-2008, 02:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 220,559 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs welcome to the org! congrats on your flowers and fruit! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

05-31-2008, 02:59 PM	#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 : 241,703 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Hey, Fred! Glad to see some more people from the Houston area joining the forum. You're the second new one in about a week and a half now (BigTex is the other). What area are you in? I'm in the Pearland/Friendswood area. We'll have to get together sometime. From my experiences growing bananas here, you can expect a wait of around 4 months before harvest. That's how it's been for me with my 'Orinoco' anyhow. 'Ice Cream' may be a bit different. For the PVC support diagram, I think that Jarred (MediaHound) posted that sometime back. Do a thread search with "PVC support" as the keywords and see what you come up with.

05-31-2008, 04:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
TTP, Fred TTP, Fred's Photo Gallery Location: Katy, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 13,431 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Ok, ok...I get the hint....I uploaded some photos to my profile, so take a look at my babies!! Lorax, when you say the 2x4 is "padded", it is padded with what? Momese: nope.

05-31-2008, 04:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
TTP, Fred TTP, Fred's Photo Gallery Location: Katy, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 13,431 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs bananaman88: I tried the search function first, but got nothing. Thanks for the welcome. I had just been scrolling through your photos earlier today when I decided to do my first post.

05-31-2008, 04:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,591 BananaBucks : 656 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs If you don't mind my asking, what is TTP?

05-31-2008, 05:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
TTP, Fred TTP, Fred's Photo Gallery Location: Katy, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 13,431 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Back in the mid 1980s, Fred Akers was the head coach of The University of By God Texas Longhorns. Though we had some decent defenses, our offenses stunk because Akers had no imagination. His playcalling was predictable and relied on only about a handful of plays. Opposing defenses usually knew exactly what was coming. "Turn the page, Fred" was what we students would scream from the stands in a futile effort to get him to call something, anything, different.

05-31-2008, 06:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,591 BananaBucks : 656 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Cool story, that must have been really frustrating! Thanks for the info. The reason I asked is that there used to be a collectable buying and selling website called TTP or The Toy Peddler and it was run by Paul who had a brother named Fred who was also into buying and selling old collectable toys.

05-31-2008, 06:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,225 BananaBucks : 127,276 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 269 Times in 165 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 160 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Hook'em Horns!!!! Can you see my hand a wavin??? ROFL!!! Priceless!!!!! Kylie

05-31-2008, 08:12 PM	#15 (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 : 241,703 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Fred, I just sent you a PM.

06-02-2008, 10:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,140,940 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,087 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs No "plans" for it but its just a PVC tee, two elbows, and some various lengths of piping. 3/4" works but bends over time, so use a thick schedule if you can. __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

06-02-2008, 10:29 AM	#17 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,140,940 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,087 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Also, I since painted it with green spray paint. __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

06-02-2008, 11:36 AM	#18 (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 : 241,703 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Another word of advice on propping or staking: Don't be content with just staking alone if you have a large bunch of fruit. I made this mistake last year. I had staked one of my bananas just to keep the pseudostem from leaning over too much and breaking. Unfortunately, we had some high winds and the pseudostem broke at the level I had it tied off to the fence post. In retrospect, I should have propped the fruit stalk as well. I think the extra prop really would have made the difference.

06-02-2008, 01:02 PM	#19 (permalink)
stumpy4700 Going Ape for Bananas stumpy4700 's Photo Gallery Location: Satellite Beach, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 10 Name: Stumpy-----a.k.a Jeff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,194 BananaBucks : 43,212 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,353 Times Was Thanked 678 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,300 Times	Re: First time father of two flowering banana trees--Qs Thanks, guys this is some great advice us learners need to know....Very helpful.

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