I Have A Bloom In April!

jewelbaby1224 · 04-07-2008, 06:34 PM

Help!! We Had A Mild Winter And Did Not Cut The Bananas Back. Imagine The Thrill To See A Bloom In April With Fruit!!! The Leaves Have Barely Started Growing. I Have Already Mulched With Cow Manure And Fertilized.

As Per Pic In My Gallery, I Immediately Made The Official Bananas.org Banana Tree Support From The Diagram Sent To Me. THE TREE IS APPROX 12' HIGH. It's Getting Water. I Want To Be Successful And Get Fruit Off Of My Trees. My Last Bloom Was In October And It Didn't Survive.

So Please Jump In With Your Nanner Fruit Advice So I Can Graduate From A Newby To A Banana Grower!!!

Zone 8b Conroe, Tx.

buzzwinder · 04-07-2008, 06:46 PM

Congrats. on the bloom, I'm in zone 5 and just over wintered my first nanners!!!

NANAMAN · 04-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Congrats on the fruit bunch in April! If you have a few leaves on the plant, the bunch should develop just fine. Just keep doing what your doing.

jewelbaby1224 · 04-07-2008, 07:35 PM

Woo Hoo Chicago!!! That cannot be a small feat!

So is a bloom in April normal? I'm blown away and will have to rig up some way of protecting my big nanners when we have colder winters. This is a 40 yr old mat that I've revived - after being here 4 yrs, last yr was my first bloom (which failed) .

But I have revived them thanks to all the wonderful Nanner advice here..........

AnnaJW · 04-07-2008, 08:04 PM

Congrats on your nanners!!!

AnnaJW · 04-07-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzwinder

Congrats. on the bloom, I'm in zone 5 and just over wintered my first nanners!!!

That is awesome!

buzzwinder · 04-07-2008, 08:21 PM

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I don't have a plant in bloom, I have a Dwarf Cavendish that made it through the winter in my 3 season room, and is looking really good since we got our first 60 degree temps this past weekend, I'm a first time ever trying to grow Bananas and Citrus since last June, I'm elated with fact that my DC made it. Three season room is unheated but lots of windows, in early Dec. I covered the windows with an opaque plastic to cut light and watered sparingly, she made it and has pushed some new leaves in the last couple weeks. For me I'm ecstatic, this plant has become my Task. Check out my gallery for a little history on this plant and my step kids, ( Very affectionately known as the S.O.S, spawn of satan) Awe I love'm and they know it, but still it's fun mess'in with them, They're my measuring stick for the Banana plant. I wish my plant had a flag leaf, but alas, I'm new and very inexperienced, But looking to warmer weather and SUN.

island cassie · 04-07-2008, 10:27 PM

Congratulations Jewelbaby - I know how you feel! The first of my replacement bananas has just put out a flower bud! Woohoo indeed!

Cassie

mskitty38583 · 04-08-2008, 06:35 AM

congrats on your new flower!

Bananaman88 · 04-08-2008, 09:29 AM

Karen,

How large is this mat of bananas? At 40 yrs. old it must be quite large! Probably one of the reasons that you haven't seen a bud up to now is that there are most likely WAY too many pseudostems coming up together. Most of us here (I think) manage our bananas to where they have the main pstem (the one we are expecting to fruit that year) along with no more that one or two replacement pups. This allows the main plant to put most of it's energy into flowering and fruiting. Of course, you'd have a lot of work to do to clean up a 40 yr. old mat. Maybe it's best to leave well enough alone if you've got a bud already. Just food for thought in case you get ambitious! Good luck!

jewelbaby1224 · 04-08-2008, 04:01 PM

Brent, you are so right, it was a lot of work. I added pictures of the mat for you to look at. It is a 6'x8' area on the SE corner of the house.

Last spring, with the advice from "ya'll" on the forum we dug it out leaving a choice few plants, added in loads of "Black Cow". Last fall we had our first bloom though too late. I might have saved it with a support/ or not.

Please look at the picture of the mat today and tell me if there is more that I can do. It's ugly now, but as we heat up that entire area will be a beautiful jungle of leaves. Is there anything that we can companion plant around the front base of them?

I'm starting to think that these are Orinocos.

Bananaman88 · 04-08-2008, 04:31 PM

They look like one of mine which I was told was probably 'Orinoco' as well. It's up to you, but I'd probably try to reduce it a bit more like I mentioned before. It's not totally necessary so don't worry about it too much. I keep my mats pretty small mostly so I can have room for more plants...much to the dismay of my wife! Anything tropical looking would be good in front of them, such as elephant ears or gingers. You could also just plant some summer annuals in front of the too if you like.

jewelbaby1224 · 04-08-2008, 08:43 PM

Brent, for that 6'x8' area how many would you have? Are you saying that you just have 1 stem and 2 pups per growing area? I've started 2 other small mats with these. I want to have several fruiting varieties around the yards and yes I do want to actually landscape that area!

Also do I cut down the one that is now blooming when it is done?

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement, it's taken me 4 yrs to get to this point.

D_&_T · 04-08-2008, 09:05 PM

A few on the Org have said they wait for it to die back some before cutting it off.

Greenie · 04-09-2008, 01:28 AM

cool!

Caloosamusa · 04-09-2008, 06:22 AM

Congrats Jewelbaby!!

mskitty38583 · 04-09-2008, 07:38 AM

there are somethings that are worth the wait.but if you are impatient( like i am) it can seem like a lifetime for one flower. lol!

jewelbaby1224 · 04-09-2008, 10:54 AM

Well MsKitty I agree! I'm originally from Ventura,CA and a very adventurous farmer way back when actually bought a few acres of land sandwiched between the 101 freeway on the coast and put in a Banana Farm!!! We had never had them in our area before that. His fruit was so incredible I became determined to raise them someday...........

So yeehaa after 4 yrs we're getting there. Our place is right on a 90 acre lake, our soil is hard pan clay, high water table. We rehabbed a summer house for f/t home, now we have the challenge of the yards. We're on a downhill slope, get the road run off and now we are being faced with the possibility of putting in an aerobic septic system (per county) on a lot that is too small for one.

Ahhhh, bananas................

04-07-2008, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,112 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	I Have A Bloom In April! Help!! We Had A Mild Winter And Did Not Cut The Bananas Back. Imagine The Thrill To See A Bloom In April With Fruit!!! The Leaves Have Barely Started Growing. I Have Already Mulched With Cow Manure And Fertilized. As Per Pic In My Gallery, I Immediately Made The Official Bananas.org Banana Tree Support From The Diagram Sent To Me. THE TREE IS APPROX 12' HIGH. It's Getting Water. I Want To Be Successful And Get Fruit Off Of My Trees. My Last Bloom Was In October And It Didn't Survive. So Please Jump In With Your Nanner Fruit Advice So I Can Graduate From A Newby To A Banana Grower!!! Zone 8b Conroe, Tx. __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

04-07-2008, 06:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 459 BananaBucks : 2,748 Feedback: 3 / 100% Thanks: 150 Thanked 117 Times in 105 Posts Welcomes: 285	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Congrats. on the bloom, I'm in zone 5 and just over wintered my first nanners!!! __________________ Bill

04-07-2008, 07:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
NANAMAN Pseudostem Therapist NANAMAN's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Park Fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Brian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 789 BananaBucks : 5,351 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 4 Thanked 94 Times in 54 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Congrats on the fruit bunch in April! If you have a few leaves on the plant, the bunch should develop just fine. Just keep doing what your doing. __________________

04-07-2008, 07:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,112 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Woo Hoo Chicago!!! That cannot be a small feat! So is a bloom in April normal? I'm blown away and will have to rig up some way of protecting my big nanners when we have colder winters. This is a 40 yr old mat that I've revived - after being here 4 yrs, last yr was my first bloom (which failed) . But I have revived them thanks to all the wonderful Nanner advice here.......... __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

04-07-2008, 08:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
AnnaJW AnnaJW's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Anna Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,279 BananaBucks : 8,644 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 15 Thanked 39 Times in 26 Posts Welcomes: 1	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Congrats on your nanners!!! __________________ -Anna Banana - From the earth we came, to the earth we return... in between we garden

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04-07-2008, 08:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
buzzwinder buzzwinder's Photo Gallery Location: Loves Park, Il. Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bill Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 459 BananaBucks : 2,748 Feedback: 3 / 100% Thanks: 150 Thanked 117 Times in 105 Posts Welcomes: 285	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Sorry for the misunderstanding, I don't have a plant in bloom, I have a Dwarf Cavendish that made it through the winter in my 3 season room, and is looking really good since we got our first 60 degree temps this past weekend, I'm a first time ever trying to grow Bananas and Citrus since last June, I'm elated with fact that my DC made it. Three season room is unheated but lots of windows, in early Dec. I covered the windows with an opaque plastic to cut light and watered sparingly, she made it and has pushed some new leaves in the last couple weeks. For me I'm ecstatic, this plant has become my Task. Check out my gallery for a little history on this plant and my step kids, ( Very affectionately known as the S.O.S, spawn of satan) Awe I love'm and they know it, but still it's fun mess'in with them, They're my measuring stick for the Banana plant. I wish my plant had a flag leaf, but alas, I'm new and very inexperienced, But looking to warmer weather and SUN. __________________ Bill

04-07-2008, 10:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
island cassie Senior Member island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,595 BananaBucks : 6,335 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 484 Thanked 286 Times in 185 Posts Welcomes: 164	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Congratulations Jewelbaby - I know how you feel! The first of my replacement bananas has just put out a flower bud! Woohoo indeed! Cassie

04-08-2008, 06:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,627 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 462 Times in 393 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! congrats on your new flower! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

04-08-2008, 09:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 BananaBucks : 8,584 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 112 Thanked 304 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Karen, How large is this mat of bananas? At 40 yrs. old it must be quite large! Probably one of the reasons that you haven't seen a bud up to now is that there are most likely WAY too many pseudostems coming up together. Most of us here (I think) manage our bananas to where they have the main pstem (the one we are expecting to fruit that year) along with no more that one or two replacement pups. This allows the main plant to put most of it's energy into flowering and fruiting. Of course, you'd have a lot of work to do to clean up a 40 yr. old mat. Maybe it's best to leave well enough alone if you've got a bud already. Just food for thought in case you get ambitious! Good luck!

04-08-2008, 04:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,112 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Brent, you are so right, it was a lot of work. I added pictures of the mat for you to look at. It is a 6'x8' area on the SE corner of the house. Last spring, with the advice from "ya'll" on the forum we dug it out leaving a choice few plants, added in loads of "Black Cow". Last fall we had our first bloom though too late. I might have saved it with a support/ or not. Please look at the picture of the mat today and tell me if there is more that I can do. It's ugly now, but as we heat up that entire area will be a beautiful jungle of leaves. Is there anything that we can companion plant around the front base of them? I'm starting to think that these are Orinocos. __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

04-08-2008, 04:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 BananaBucks : 8,584 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 112 Thanked 304 Times in 209 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! They look like one of mine which I was told was probably 'Orinoco' as well. It's up to you, but I'd probably try to reduce it a bit more like I mentioned before. It's not totally necessary so don't worry about it too much. I keep my mats pretty small mostly so I can have room for more plants...much to the dismay of my wife! Anything tropical looking would be good in front of them, such as elephant ears or gingers. You could also just plant some summer annuals in front of the too if you like.

04-08-2008, 08:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,112 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Brent, for that 6'x8' area how many would you have? Are you saying that you just have 1 stem and 2 pups per growing area? I've started 2 other small mats with these. I want to have several fruiting varieties around the yards and yes I do want to actually landscape that area! Also do I cut down the one that is now blooming when it is done? Thanks to all of you for your encouragement, it's taken me 4 yrs to get to this point. __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

04-08-2008, 09:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
D_&_T 2nd winter growing indoor D_&_T's Photo Gallery Location: Northern Indiana Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Dan and Tara Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 705 BananaBucks : 2,964 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 495 Thanked 105 Times in 93 Posts Welcomes: 176	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! A few on the Org have said they wait for it to die back some before cutting it off. __________________ Dan & Tara in need of greenhouse

04-09-2008, 01:28 AM	#15 (permalink)
Greenie Senior Member Greenie's Photo Gallery Location: Miami,FL. Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 641 BananaBucks : 5,525 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 154 Times in 61 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! cool!

04-09-2008, 06:22 AM	#16 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19 BananaBucks : 303 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 20 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Congrats Jewelbaby!!

04-09-2008, 07:38 AM	#17 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,627 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 462 Times in 393 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! there are somethings that are worth the wait.but if you are impatient( like i am) it can seem like a lifetime for one flower. lol! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

04-09-2008, 10:54 AM	#18 (permalink)
jewelbaby1224 Junior Grower jewelbaby1224's Photo Gallery Location: Conroe, Texas zone 9a Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Karen Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 76 BananaBucks : 1,112 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 26 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Welcomes: 11	Re: I Have A Bloom In April! Well MsKitty I agree! I'm originally from Ventura,CA and a very adventurous farmer way back when actually bought a few acres of land sandwiched between the 101 freeway on the coast and put in a Banana Farm!!! We had never had them in our area before that. His fruit was so incredible I became determined to raise them someday........... So yeehaa after 4 yrs we're getting there. Our place is right on a 90 acre lake, our soil is hard pan clay, high water table. We rehabbed a summer house for f/t home, now we have the challenge of the yards. We're on a downhill slope, get the road run off and now we are being faced with the possibility of putting in an aerobic septic system (per county) on a lot that is too small for one. Ahhhh, bananas................ __________________ WHEREVER YOU GO, BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE....

04-09-2008, 12:30 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent