Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

The latest leaf I noticed looks quite a bit smaller than the rest, maybe 2/3 the size of the leaf before it. It's kind of hard to tell from the photo, but more obvious in person. The stem is only a little above 9 ft, a little short for a supposed Namwah. What do you think, is it going to be sending up the flag leaf soon? I have never had a plant fruit yet so this would be a first.

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Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Its called a Pre.. :^)

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

LOL how pre? Several leaves away or only a few?

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Its the leaf before the flag pops up.. :^)

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Really?! Unbelievable! I feel like a kid getting ready for Christmas, just wish it wasn't getting near the end of the growing season. I want to be able to taste my own naners, never had anything but Cavendish from the grocery store.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Can always hope for a late freeze.. You can cover up for frosts.. :^)

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

The bananas may fill out just enough before freeze if the temperature is warm. What I would do is cover the bunch with frost cloth to increase temperature. Namwah bananas here in Homestead, Florida fill out very quickly.


When is your average first frost?

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Last year in November we had our first frost, maybe it will hit December before the first frost if I'm lucky.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Are you saying to wrap the bunch as soon as they develop even if the temp is warm or once there's danger for frost?

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Wrap the bunch in black weed barrier so it draws heat during the day when it starts to cool off.. your best off to cover the whole plant when frost is imminent.. Blanket King sized.. :^)

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Cover the bunch when the average temperature is below 65 F. Maybe October for your area.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Approximately how many days?

In the tropics it's about 135 to 140 days.

@Dplaza, you probably should have postponed the shooting until spring.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

I didn't think it was anywhere near fruiting since the height is a few feet short of typical Namwahs. I haven't fertilized in weeks so I was trying to slow it down. What else do you do to postpone?

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

He was kidding. Mine bloomed late August last year with 88 bananas. Bad winter last year as you know. So I cut the bunch after several frost an being wrapped. They never did color up inside and got moldy.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

3.5 to 4 months from first hand to harvest.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

Approximately how many days from shooting to first hand?

I think in his area it would be much longer.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

My Namwah plant crops shoot at 8'-9', and yours was at 9'.

I have no experience with cold weather but I would have started slowing it down at 6' expecting to go into Winter at 7', produce some leaves in the Spring and then shoot. Slowing leaf production is an easy way to postpone it.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

I appreciate this advice, now I know for my future plants. My target was to be around 9 ft or so before winter thinking it wouldn't fruit until around 12 feet or so, based on what others were saying when their Namwah fruited. Half of me is saying wrap it but I don't think it will make it through nights when it gets in the 20s-30s. The other half of me is telling me to dig it up - anyone ever do this while the plant is fruiting? What affect does this have on the bunch?

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

I harvest velutina in three months from when the bloom opens.

Re: Leaves are getting smaller... Paddle leaf?
 

The time between pup emergence from ground and inflorescence is about 12 to 13 months. The time from inflorescence emergence to first hand is 11 to 14 days.