Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I live in Santa Barbara and am considering purchasing an Ele Ele banana. Does anyone have any experience growing this banana in southern California?

Thanks in advance!

Andrew

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I have one in the real SC(football joke) that is finally about to bloom.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Do you have any pictures of it? How about pups for sale?

Thanks

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

These are last years pics. The pups are not quite ready to be dug yet, maybe in a month.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

The Ele Ele fruits have what look like little faces on them where the female flower falls off. You are in for a real treat! I will try and get some pics taken and posted.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I had one about 6 feet tall in a 5 gallon container last year and sold it to a guy who lives about 10 blocks from me. I haven't heard from him since, but seeing how I delivered it I do remember where he lives. When I get a chance I'll drive over there and see how it's doing.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Yes. Died after removing two pups. One pup survived one winter, and didn't make it through to this Spring. Seemed very touchy.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Thanks for all the great info! I have only found one source that has tc plants for sale. They are in Florida. I am going to the festival of fruit and hope to see plants there. I tend to buy three of every variety. This way I am insured if one croaks. Anyone have any?

Thanks,

Andrew

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Mine died in NorCal. Probably won't try again after reading Jon's comments. If Jon doesn't have it, it's not too likely anybody will be selling any at the festival, I would think.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

The female flowers are open. I took some pictures and will post when I get a chance. One thing. The female flowers produced a gelatinous nectar. It was really really sweet(but not cloying) and stayed gelatinous in my mouth for a full 5 minutes.

I'm sure that if it was collected, dried and pressed it would be equivalent to Wonka's Everlasting Gobstopper.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I can't wait to see the pictures. :)

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Standing in at a whopping 6 feet!


Three nice fingers per hand!




And the wonderful Ele Ele Gelee!




I had to fight the bees to get this!

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Thanks for posting pics. Looks great.

Jen

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Thank you for the pictures. I have had several people say the plants may not do well here in Southern California. Oh well.

Andrew

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I should be recieving one of these later this week thanks to a very generous member (thanks, Lagniappe!). Hopefully it will do well for me in the Houston area.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

Its funny how these things work out. My Ele ele that bloomed in late August. I never thought the fruit would mature much less ripen. We had a few freezes in mid November while I was in Costa Rica. Fortunately, I have a good friend who followed my instructions and cut all the fruits for me. She placed them in the garage. Some Orinocos ripened and were tasty.

I brought the ele eles in about 3 weeks ago, and nor they are turning yellow. :woohoonaner:

This is roughly the same time it would have taken for them to ripen 'on the vine' so to speak. Therefore, does it matter how long they stay on the plant if the ripening time is roughly the same as being off the plant?




I know they are cooking bananas, but can anyone tell me how? Patacones, tostones, seem too Latin for this Hawaiian treat. Whose got an Island recipe?

Thanks.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

I posted that I would be putting up some pics of the little faces the fruits get. I never got the pics, just after I cut them, I left the entire bunch of fruits by my front door (at my old house) and they were stolen.

Re: Has anyone grown Ele Ele in So Cal?
 

And btw I just sold my last Ele Ele today for $5 as part of the big unloading of banana plants that I'm doing (local pickup only :p ).