Bananas.org - ice cream!

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my friend gave me a free ice cream pup!! .....do you think it will fruit in zone 8b? I HOPE SO!!!!!!!:birthdaynana::birthdaynana::birthdaynana:

I have a friend in Charleston who got one to fruit 2 years ago (inground). He says the pups should bloom & fruit this year. Just protect it from frost.
I would put some 8-10ft 2x2's on either side so you can hang a big blanket over it in case. And, you can use them to support the weight of the fruit bunch later.

so if it gets hit by frost it wont fruit?:(

Frost will likely kill it to the ground. Prolonged cold temperatures may kill it entirely, but a quick bout with frost will probably just kill off the above-ground portion. Definitely keep it sheltered from extreme colds/frost as IC are not super cold-hardy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchAngeL01 (Post 76481)

so if it gets hit by frost it wont fruit?:(

No, it can handle a frost and still fruit. Mine took lows of 27 twice this winter and fruited a few weeks ago, although I only have two hands of fruit.

Steve

my little one handeled a frost the other nite didnt even hurt any leaves but the newest one

it shouldn't flop over to mush here its not that cold ,it should stay standing ,...so u think it'll fruit.....well we will have to see! :P:lurk:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchAngeL01 (Post 76475)

my friend gave me a free ice cream pup!! .....do you think it will fruit in zone 8b? I HOPE SO!!!!!!!:birthdaynana::birthdaynana::birthdaynana:

you will do fine.. you have to learn thru a few mistakes.send me one of her pups at the end of the season. that way if you make a fatal mistake you can always get a pup from me.. i have a new bordelon if youre interested. i will help u grow your collection for your new house.:nanadrink:

Last spring I planted my IC in ground & they called for frost during night. I wrapped the p stem with old blanket & left the 2 leaves out. It got to low of 29 -30 that night. The leaves turned brown & died but plant was OK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldmcblunder (Post 76515)

send me one of her pups at the end of the year..i dont care if its a water sucker..:nanadrink:

What's a water sucker??

a water sucker is like the oppisite of the sword sucker...the ones that produce off the mother corm not the underground rhizome ,thnxx for all the advise! i cant wait to get it in the mail! ill keep u updated!:2623:

I'm in 9b (or is it 9a) and still had most of my plants turn to mush but they all came back. Thinking about cutting them next year. Its much easier to protect a stump than the entire plant.

ronald .........did you get my pm?

Frost won't kill them. A hard freeze won't kill them, but will just knock them back a bit.

I have had them fruit in Charleston on multiple occasions.
Here are 2 of the 3 bunches from summer '08.

WOW! that's very impressive! i cant wait!!!! so excited!! how did they taste? beutifull!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Bananas (Post 76545)

Frost won't kill them. A hard freeze won't kill them, but will just knock them back a bit.

I have had them fruit in Charleston on multiple occasions.
Here are 2 of the 3 bunches from summer '08.

Simply, are you sure that those are Ice Cream and not Belle or something else? The first looks like it has a semi-blue sheen on the fruit skin but the second pic doesn't look at all like Ice Cream. There is a local grower here that has grown Ice Cream for 30+ years. The plants are 16-18ft, mature canopy is spread wide open with 9-10ft leaves. The fruit have very tight upright hands that curve slightly toward the stem, uniformly light bluish-green and semetrical like cavendish hands. The reason i ask is because I have heard a number of people say that Ice Cream tastes the same as grocery store bananas and I just don't understand how that can be unless they only think that they are eating Ice Cream 'Blue Java.'

Quote:

t shouldn't flop over to mush here its not that cold ,it should stay standing ,...so u think it'll fruit.....well we will have to see! -ArchangeL

Up north, zone 6-7 they only top the leaves (not the pstem) if it begins to rot. You can wrap it in R15 insulation (paper facing out) wrap that in burlap and wire tie to finish. I really don't think all that is necessary, after all and insulation could rot the pstem with or without fugicides. Instead, fashion a cage out of chicken wire at least 3ft tall and 24in away from the pstem. You can also use plastic chicken wire from ACE. Back fill your cage with mulching material. I don't know what material, i.e. leaves, hay, pine bark. I use Eucalyptus mulch, it is reportedly poisonous to bananas but I have it around my container plants and they are fine. Plus Eucalyptus is regarded as having natural antifungal and insect resistant properties. Ask the others just to make sure.

I also agree with the others, your will probably do fine this winter if any hard freeze doesn't last for too long. Good luck with your new nanner! I know the video below has been refered to here more than once, but it should give you some ideas other than digging up your nanners.

Chris P.

thnxx fer the video ,i may just do that just to be safe idonno im so clueless ,iv'e never grown them here in zone 8 b4 i live in a condo=no yard yet untill i move so i have no idea hahaha