Huge musa
 

Hello, Many years ago a friend of mine in Key West had the best lookign largest banana trees I have ever seen. The soil of the island is nothing more than crushed coral it is white. It is very void of good nutrients, you must fertilize your entire life. BUT he had the largest banana trees I have ever seen. The trunks were almost 3 feet diameter, and he didnt frertilize at all. Neither of us knew what kind they were, and although I begged for a few years for sucker I never got one. To this day some 25 years later I still have not ever found one that gets as big as this one. I thought pehaps it might be a saba but after 12 years of growing them and fertilizing like a feind I have not even come close to getting a tree close to his. I do not at all care if it ever fruits, if it does wether it has seeds or not. All I know is that I want a tree that is absolutely huge. Does ANYONE know of a musa that will get this big. Height is a real bonus but it is the huge trunks that I am looking for is a trunk and the leaves that accomodate a large tree like this. I have many years since moved from Key West but the last time I was in his back yard he had 3 trunks all together that were just phenominal. Does anyone know of a musa that will get so jurrasic in size. Bottom line is that is what I am after. Thanks to anyone that can help me, Im getting desperate anymore.
Salute'
rick

Re: huge musa
 

Try 'Kandrian'. There are larger ones, but they are not available.

Re: huge musa
 

WOW!! I'd love to see a pic of those babies.
Bo

Re: huge musa
 

probably saba

Re: huge musa
 

what about M. Ingens, lets add some mistery here ;)

Re: huge musa
 

Do you remember what his address was, or how to get to his old house? :rolleyes:;)

Re: huge musa
 

I was thinking of putting one in my front yard! But my wife has been against it she fears I'll get the entire front yard full of Musa .. But I saw them here "Kandrian" $ 35.00
Catalog of banana trees and banana plants offered at Going Bananas
I asked what was the biggest one :)
Hope that helps you some . Oh I have purchased plants from this company. They send exactly what you want, good folks!

Re: huge musa
 

Musa Ingens....about as big as they get.

Banana Gallery - How's this for a BIG banana tree?

Re: huge musa
 

Yeah, Musa ingens would be a possibility based on the description...only it isn't available outside of Papua New Guinea.

Frank

Re: huge musa
 

if anyone hears of source of M.ingens.. or M.boman.. i sure would
like to get some "fresh" seed ...
frank..btw.. your nanner is doing great!!! thanks :goteam:
i see on other post many have tried seed being sold on ebay..
my seed havent done anything..
also.. i dont know ..i'll have to go back and check..not sure
if hes referring to seed as "fresh" and i know that makes a difference
with failure or sucess...

Re: Huge musa
 

Speaking of M. ingens, many years ago I got some seeds form a friend in the UK. Only one of the 2 came up. It grew well for a month or 3 and then just bent over as in to say its prayers, and then checked out. Unfortuniately my friends didnt fare as well and he had a dozen seeds. So then the next questions is......... What is the protocol for goign to Paupa New Guineato get some of these seeds? For as many years as I have been wanting one of these trees, and Im sure many thousands of us guys (meaning people in general) . Does anyone know what it is going to take to make it happen. I guess i will start on some earnest research to find out. But I am sure that there is one guy in here that can fill me in . I hope to hear from you, to see my next step. Thanks so much for yor ears and time. Oh yes and also most importantly the needed info.
Salute'
rick

Re: Huge musa
 

Attempts have been made to put the plants into cultivation, but there is a reason they are not available. They are very difficult to grow, and are very sensitive to environmental conditions. There is an endophytic fungi in the seed which probably has a lot to do with it's difficulty to germinate, and there also seems to be other endophytic microorganisms in the plants which make tissue culture very very difficult. Even if you could get plants established and growing, they need a very specific climate to grow, and would not do well for most hobby growers. Their native habitat is totally different from the conditions edible bananas evolved in.

Re: Huge musa
 

until i move to borneo..maybe thats next life... i will have to
be content with my ensetes,sabas,and trying kandrian..
but..if i got a boman..id sure give it a go !!! :)
i have some of lari ann gardners EE cross of robusta X odora...
mine got pretty good sized.. so next yr !!! :)
robusta is same.. melts with slightest cold. and has very specific
soil bacteria needs to thrive....
but..id probably try robusta too if i could get one...
maybe that would be my reason to put up a greenhouse...
LOL

Re: Huge musa
 

Musa itinerans var. 'Gigantea' can get to 40 feet under the right conditions. It isn't difficult to grow like M. ingens. Although the trunk on that one doesn't get quite that wide...I'm thinking about growing this one as an ornamental.

Re: Huge musa
 

Unfortunately that is not available either,.....at least not the real one,...

Kind regards,
Remko.

Re: Huge musa
 

if it werent for some of you super growers here..and a few
on ebay..davesgarden.. i wouldnt be able to add to my nanner
collection of the more difficult to find plants!!
much thanks.. !!
so ? question.. you all in the south.. i need ya to grow some of these
giants.. ehehehehe so i can get some up here in utah !!!
:goteam:
the pups/corms ive gotten from many of u ..wow.. even my last
from frank.. is going strong..and its getting cooler here..
frank..fyi.. i have 2 new leaves out.. YEA !!!!
anyone have some of these big growing bananas.. hope you
think of me!!! :)
i think it will be the motivating reason for me to finally up up a
greenhouse.. at least a cool greenhouse..to store big plants..