How to predict a flag leaf coming?

nph · 07-14-2015, 07:48 PM

Hi

i have been growing bananas for several years here in Dallas, TX. However only this season am I noticing that two of my bananas that I was hoping would bloom soon have more or less stopped growing in height. Is that a sign that flag leaf will soon show up or is that possibly a cause of me digging them up in the fall and replacing in spring in order to get banana fruit?

Thanks

siege2050 · 07-14-2015, 07:59 PM

The lack of growth could be due to high temperatures, when mine bloom the leaves start getting smaller a leaf or two before the flag leaf. What variety are they?

Richard · 07-14-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nph

... a sign that flag leaf will soon show up ...

A flag leaf is a sign that a bud is coming. The only precursor to that is a slight fattening of the pstem in the top 3/4 of the plant; i.e., a bud is on its way. If you've never seen this before then its difficult to recognize. If you are really hoping for a bud, then do the usual stuff like: wear mismatched socks for a couple weeks, only shave half your face every other day, etc.

robguz24 · 07-14-2015, 09:58 PM

There's usually a pre-flag leaf that is a normal leaf but not as big as the one before it.

PR-Giants · 07-15-2015, 10:03 AM

Leaves get progressively shorter, in some cultivars it's easier to notice.

siege2050 · 07-15-2015, 02:02 PM

That is how I knew this was going to bloom a few weeks ago, the last leaf before the flag leaf was much smaller.

nph · 07-15-2015, 07:08 PM

It makes sense what you all write. The last lead was smaller than the rest so hopefully. It is a Sweetheart and it has only been hot for a few weeks.

Richard · 07-15-2015, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nph

It makes sense what you all write. The last lead was smaller than the rest so hopefully. It is a Sweetheart and it has only been hot for a few weeks.

Hopefully you water more frequently in hotter weather.

pitangadiego · 07-15-2015, 11:20 PM

The best indicator of flowering is height. If you have consistent culture, each plant will flower at the same height. By experience you should have a idea of the correct height for your variety at you location.

nph · 07-16-2015, 12:02 AM

For Nam wah I do but this is the only the second year with Sweetheart so this is the first time it will flower.

PR-Giants · 07-16-2015, 07:19 AM

After the harvest measure and record leaf blade lengths, there will be a pattern useful in the future.

As far as height, expect an additional 3 to 5 feet on the ratoon crop of the Sweetheart (in the tropics), but the reduction of leaf blade length will remain consistent.

Height is too dependent on the environment to be consistently useful.

07-14-2015, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
nph nph's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 261,557 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 365 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	How to predict a flag leaf coming? Hi i have been growing bananas for several years here in Dallas, TX. However only this season am I noticing that two of my bananas that I was hoping would bloom soon have more or less stopped growing in height. Is that a sign that flag leaf will soon show up or is that possibly a cause of me digging them up in the fall and replacing in spring in order to get banana fruit? Thanks

07-14-2015, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
siege2050 Hobby obsessor maximus Location: Oklahoma Find me on the map! Zone: zone 7 Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,092 BananaBucks : 412,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 854 Times Was Thanked 1,295 Times in 614 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 85 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? The lack of growth could be due to high temperatures, when mine bloom the leaves start getting smaller a leaf or two before the flag leaf. What variety are they? __________________ If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any Banana pudding! How can you have any Banana pudding if you don't eat yer meat?! Click for weather forecast

07-14-2015, 09:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 287,456 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? There's usually a pre-flag leaf that is a normal leaf but not as big as the one before it. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

07-15-2015, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,730 BananaBucks : 5,662 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,965 Times Was Thanked 12,937 Times in 3,803 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,225 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? Leaves get progressively shorter, in some cultivars it's easier to notice. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

07-15-2015, 02:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
siege2050 Hobby obsessor maximus Location: Oklahoma Find me on the map! Zone: zone 7 Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,092 BananaBucks : 412,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 854 Times Was Thanked 1,295 Times in 614 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 85 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? That is how I knew this was going to bloom a few weeks ago, the last leaf before the flag leaf was much smaller. __________________ If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any Banana pudding! How can you have any Banana pudding if you don't eat yer meat?! Click for weather forecast

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07-15-2015, 07:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
nph nph's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 261,557 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 365 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? It makes sense what you all write. The last lead was smaller than the rest so hopefully. It is a Sweetheart and it has only been hot for a few weeks.

07-15-2015, 11:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 169,280 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,732 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? The best indicator of flowering is height. If you have consistent culture, each plant will flower at the same height. By experience you should have a idea of the correct height for your variety at you location. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

07-16-2015, 12:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
nph nph's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 364 BananaBucks : 261,557 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 365 Times in 173 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? For Nam wah I do but this is the only the second year with Sweetheart so this is the first time it will flower.

07-16-2015, 07:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,730 BananaBucks : 5,662 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,965 Times Was Thanked 12,937 Times in 3,803 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,225 Times	Re: How to predict a flag leaf coming? After the harvest measure and record leaf blade lengths, there will be a pattern useful in the future. As far as height, expect an additional 3 to 5 feet on the ratoon crop of the Sweetheart (in the tropics), but the reduction of leaf blade length will remain consistent. Height is too dependent on the environment to be consistently useful. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

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