Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

It's like feast or famine in the musa world. Everybody and their brother seems to have these guys now. I was mildly interested in ordering one, but since I found it locally (and since I'm a sucker) I went ahead with another banana purchase. I can tell by the roots these are very aggressive growers. I am concerned it will have trouble in the full sun in Florida. In any case, here it is...

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

I'm tempted to buy one... but I usually prefer trades-
I've got lots of EE's and Cannas if anyone has a Mekong to trade...

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Are the fruits from this plant for human consumption? Are they cooking bananas like plantains? Is the flavor palatable? I am considering buying one, but I'm more of an edible gardener. If I cannot eat the fruit, I don't want to spend years caring for it.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

It's an ornamental banana, so no.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Where did you get it and how much was it? I doubt I'll come across one up here in my neck of the woods, but maybe when I go down to Panama City Beach. I haven't even seen one that big for sale...anywhere! I'm jealous!

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Hi, I read that Mekong can grow 40ft. Seller on ebay said this. Also said that it is a clumper and spreads a lot. I have been going crazy trying to find thai black and nobody
seems to have them. I have searched ebay & google with no luck. I had them grow here in jersey to at least 15 to 18 ft last summer. I got two very small ones from (oasis
the rip off) and there not doing much. If anyone knows where I could buy thai blk. Let
me know please.
Thanks raggedy

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Northern Tropics Greenhouse - Thai Black musa banana plant :D

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

My local RARE Tropic nursery grows Thai Black. He told me "Dont even try to eat." I might be able to get you a pup from them.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

I've seen a thai black with fruit on it, it's a tall plant, maybe about the same size as an agristarts Ice Cream.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Hi checked them already. Sold out. Florida hills also sold out. They were plentiful the past couple years. Don't know why nobody has them now.
Appreciate if anyone lets me know where to get them. I have become obsessed. Definitely not Oasis. I won't buy from again.
Thanks Raggedy

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

I got them from florida hills Nursery. Nice big healthy plants. They got mad at me because I posted Kudos to Fla Hills,not knowing there were problems
with them on this site. I followed my nice post and said if there was a problem my post can be deleted. Fla hills was snooping around, saw post &
wrote me a nasty email saying they wouldn't sell to me anymore. They have
done this before. Just look for kudos to fla hills nursery & you'll see what I mean. They don't have them now anyway.
Thanks Raggedy:2722:
PS they were $6.99 & on Oasis $11.88 & very small

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Well, I have to say, that's a nice price for such a nice big plant.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Burgess plant and seed sells the Mekong Giant for $14.99. I've never ordered from them, but it might be worth a try.Banana, Giant Mekong - Musa 'Giant Mekong' PPAF at eBurgess.com

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

The Giant Banana grows up to 6' tall in the northern zones, ?:0519:

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Ebay sellers and this one , plant delights (it's "Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant'", right? if not, my mistake!)

I don't know who is the best, all ship to U.S only. [i'd like to find one in E.U]

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Amulree Exotics

This supplier is in the UK, I'm sure will sell to EU. I've used them before and they are generally quite good.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Currently, 3g Mekong Giant and Thai Black can be purchased here in Tallahassee for $24.99.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Burgess is a total rip-off mail order nursery. I ordered from them once and half the plants were dead and the "free replacement" plants were also dead. Of the plants that were still alive at least one (a fruiting pear) turned out years later to be a non-fuiting, flowering type. I still don't know if the apricot and almond tree are the correct plant but they did not appear to be grafted so were probably grown from seed and therefore not really what I ordered. Do not order from Burgess.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Here's the update:

It has been a very mild winter. All of my bananas continue to grow. I received cold damage early in the winter and again in February. Yet, nearly of the bananas did not slow down. The ones that slowed still grew well. The magical, wondrous Mekong did not come close to any of my basjoos, even ones purposely planted earlier in the season at comparable size for testing. Further it wasn't on par with the Darjeeling Giant either. It is indeed hardy but nowhere near the claims being made. It has grown reasonably well and has a unique look to it though, so I am still glad to have it. I know people have been dying to know.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

My Thai Black has just started to flower. I don't want to take pups now. Check back with me in a month or two.

Steve

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Here's another update (see below for more info):

The Mekong Giant is invasive in my climate. You've been warned. The plant is slightly less hardy than basjoo but its invasive roots, now 10 foot from the original plant site, are everywhere. Each root is about 3-4 inches around and are growing thicker and farther by the day. I cut the thick roots into sections, planted them as an experiment, and the plant grows from the cut roots. No other banana in my collection (past or present) grows in the manor.

P.S. Yeah, I know this thread is worthless without pictures.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Can you post some pictures of the rhizome? Mine is in a pot, but I do want to plant it out.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

At some point I may post pictures, but they are all planted now. They are just fat running tubes with roots hanging about every foot or so. They are very stringy when pulled apart. They will root separately.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

Is anyone selling this banana online? I can't find it anywhere. I doubt it would be invasive in my climate and having a ton of pups everywhere sounds appealing to me.

Re: Market Flooded with Mekong Giant
 

You have got to be kidding me... They sent you a nasty letter for saying something good about them on this site where they earned the rep of selling the wrong thing and now don't like the rep they have earned? :ha: :ha: :ha: