Mekong Giant

Raymond · 04-10-2012, 08:40 AM

Does anybody know exactly how hardy this plant is?? I found one for sale and it says it gets 40' and is extreamly hardy....is this info true? I live in Missouri so if it is so I guess you treat it like Basjoo over the winter?
Thanks,
Ray

floridagrower · 04-10-2012, 11:52 AM

It will not reach 40. I expect over 20 ft here, but that is about max. Certainly you'll never see that height. Furthermore, it is not hardier than a basjoo. I will test mine this year, but best case scenario is that it is close (but not hardier) in hardiness. It is a hardy plant though. Save your money and efforts for something more common so that your not disappointed when you eventually lose it.

George Webster · 04-10-2012, 11:51 PM

Where did you find a variety that claimed 40 feet? I live in St. Louis County MO and would like to try it. Aparently, how hardy has not been tested. I'm hopeing it is as hardy as basjoo, however, I know more than 20 feet cannot be expected unless it is in an environment that that does not experience frost.

sandy0225 · 04-11-2012, 06:58 AM

I'd sure love to have a 40' banana plant, but I think I'd have to add on to the greenhouse...I'm not thinking in a cold climate you could get any banana over 14 feet in a season without major protection steps. And that would be one that was well established for a couple of years.
We do get basjoo here to 9 feet with little effort at all though. I don't even mulch them for winter anymore since I started planting them a foot deeper.

nannerfunboi · 04-11-2012, 05:55 PM

seems alot of "hype" by sellers how tall mekong can get..
one ive been trying to import..or tissue culture is musa ingens,or boman
alas no luck..YET !!!

they have the genetics for big plants..but here in utah.. i doubt id get
anywhere near potential height..
my biggest E.maurelli,glaucums got over 14' they overwintered well
and "if" we get a good summer i hope to beat that..
my sabas are 3yr olds now..and good sized..i might get 14'ish this yr
id like to know what brian from brians botanicals says..hes reliable..

mbfirey · 04-12-2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

id like to know what brian from brians botanicals says..hes reliable..

Mekong Giant is on the market because of Brian's Botanicals- PDN gives him credit for it....
This is what he says on his site:
" I have over wintered this plant in the ground for over 9 years"

So there you have it!

natej740 · 04-12-2012, 08:20 AM

What I thought was kinda weird about the whole mekong giant thing was this was the same description he had for Musa yunnanensis. He said he overwintered it the same way and the same amount of time. The only thing different was the name and how it can magically grow up to 40 feet...Now he doest offer the Musa yunnanensis anymore so is this banana and Musa yunnanensis the same plant but with a new catchy name? Crazy he's had it for 9 years and didn't offer it for sale till last year...I'm not to familiar with Musa yunnanensis or the mekong giant can anybody tell a difference between the two? He has some awesome plants and can't wait to order some off of him I just noticed that and have been wandering...

mbfirey · 04-12-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Now he doest offer the Musa yunnanensis anymore so is this banana and Musa yunnanensis the same plant but with a new catchy name? Crazy he's had it for 9 years and didn't offer it for sale till last year...I'm not to familiar with Musa yunnanensis or the mekong giant can anybody tell a difference between the two?

I thought the same thing. 9 Years seems kind of odd for something to have just come on the market.

I'm guessing that it's a special Yunnanensis-PDN sells it as separate (though they do say Yunnanensis is sold out)....
PDN seems to know their stuff so I doubt they'd sell it like that if it was just a separate name...

natej740 · 04-12-2012, 11:18 AM

Here's another thread on it...

Musa itinerans var. xishuangbannensis!!!

floridagrower · 04-12-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natej740

What I thought was kinda weird about the whole mekong giant thing was this was the same description he had for Musa yunnanensis. He said he overwintered it the same way and the same amount of time. The only thing different was the name and how it can magically grow up to 40 feet...Now he doest offer the Musa yunnanensis anymore so is this banana and Musa yunnanensis the same plant but with a new catchy name? Crazy he's had it for 9 years and didn't offer it for sale till last year...I'm not to familiar with Musa yunnanensis or the mekong giant can anybody tell a difference between the two? He has some awesome plants and can't wait to order some off of him I just noticed that and have been wandering...

No. It is neither Musa intinerans var. xishuangbannaensis nor yunnanesis. It is just some type of Itinerans.

mbfirey · 04-12-2012, 11:53 AM

It is strange that a reputable company like PDN markets it as
Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant' PPAF (Mekong Giant Hardy Banana)
If that's not the case.
Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant', Banana Tree-Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

floridagrower · 04-12-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

It is strange that a reputable company like PDN markets it as
Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant' PPAF (Mekong Giant Hardy Banana)
If that's not the case.
Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant', Banana Tree-Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

They simply called whatever their source called it. Nothing more. I'm sure they sell other types of plants that are not 100% correctly identified. This has nothing to do with them being a reliable business. They provided the best information they had (from Brian I suppose).

mbfirey · 04-12-2012, 01:44 PM

I think any one selling any plants has some responsibility to make sure they're presenting honest info... for example PDN does lots of trials- especially when listing zones, they can do their homework for other plants.

Bananaman88 · 04-16-2012, 02:06 PM

I have a friend who is trying one out here in the Houston area. We'll see how tall it gets this year.

mbfirey · 05-04-2012, 02:40 PM

I just noticed that Brian has changed a little of the description that explains the "growing for years" sentence and the Intinerans confusion:

"It is a selected clone of Musa itinerans (MeKong Giant) I have grown and treated this plant much like Musa basjoo for the past few years and it has shown to be a just as fast in returning for spring and can easily out grow basjoo given the right conditions"

I think this is what it should have said from the beginning. Chances are, if you bought an itinerans from Brian in the past you got a "Mekong Giant"

Raymond · 05-04-2012, 02:45 PM

Unfortunately I may not even see this plant get 4' much less 40'...out of 7 plants it looks the worst, all other plants though very small look good

mbfirey · 05-04-2012, 02:48 PM

I am totally a fan of Brian's Botanicals I just think original marketing/description gave the impression that it was some completely new "super banana" and that the new description is much more accurate.

ryanalan · 05-06-2012, 11:17 PM

Attached is a pic of mine. Purchased from PDN. Was about 1/3 of this size when delivered. Growing like crazy. Plated late March.

From Drop Box

04-10-2012, 08:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raymond Raymond's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Hill Missouri Zone: 6 Name: Ray/Scubadude Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 72 BananaBucks : 41,449 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Mekong Giant Does anybody know exactly how hardy this plant is?? I found one for sale and it says it gets 40' and is extreamly hardy....is this info true? I live in Missouri so if it is so I guess you treat it like Basjoo over the winter? Thanks, Ray Last edited by Raymond : 04-10-2012 at 08:43 AM.

04-10-2012, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
floridagrower floridagrower's Photo Gallery Zone: 9 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 169 BananaBucks : 96,603 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 73 Times Was Thanked 312 Times in 104 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Mekong Giant It will not reach 40. I expect over 20 ft here, but that is about max. Certainly you'll never see that height. Furthermore, it is not hardier than a basjoo. I will test mine this year, but best case scenario is that it is close (but not hardier) in hardiness. It is a hardy plant though. Save your money and efforts for something more common so that your not disappointed when you eventually lose it. __________________ Find me on YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/tropicfinder Last edited by floridagrower : 04-10-2012 at 12:01 PM.

04-10-2012, 11:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
George Webster Location: St. Louis, Missouri Zone: 6 1/2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 137 BananaBucks : 24,654 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 302 Times Was Thanked 139 Times in 70 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 99 Times	Re: Mekong Giant Where did you find a variety that claimed 40 feet? I live in St. Louis County MO and would like to try it. Aparently, how hardy has not been tested. I'm hopeing it is as hardy as basjoo, however, I know more than 20 feet cannot be expected unless it is in an environment that that does not experience frost.

04-11-2012, 06:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 355,182 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Mekong Giant I'd sure love to have a 40' banana plant, but I think I'd have to add on to the greenhouse...I'm not thinking in a cold climate you could get any banana over 14 feet in a season without major protection steps. And that would be one that was well established for a couple of years. We do get basjoo here to 9 feet with little effort at all though. I don't even mulch them for winter anymore since I started planting them a foot deeper. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

04-11-2012, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
nannerfunboi nannerfunboi's Photo Gallery Location: provo utah Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 393 BananaBucks : 33,451 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 692 Times Was Thanked 481 Times in 251 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 23 Times	Re: Mekong Giant seems alot of "hype" by sellers how tall mekong can get.. one ive been trying to import..or tissue culture is musa ingens,or boman alas no luck..YET !!! they have the genetics for big plants..but here in utah.. i doubt id get anywhere near potential height.. my biggest E.maurelli,glaucums got over 14' they overwintered well and "if" we get a good summer i hope to beat that.. my sabas are 3yr olds now..and good sized..i might get 14'ish this yr id like to know what brian from brians botanicals says..hes reliable..

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04-12-2012, 08:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 193,018 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Mekong Giant What I thought was kinda weird about the whole mekong giant thing was this was the same description he had for Musa yunnanensis. He said he overwintered it the same way and the same amount of time. The only thing different was the name and how it can magically grow up to 40 feet...Now he doest offer the Musa yunnanensis anymore so is this banana and Musa yunnanensis the same plant but with a new catchy name? Crazy he's had it for 9 years and didn't offer it for sale till last year...I'm not to familiar with Musa yunnanensis or the mekong giant can anybody tell a difference between the two? He has some awesome plants and can't wait to order some off of him I just noticed that and have been wandering...

04-12-2012, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 193,018 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Mekong Giant Here's another thread on it... Musa itinerans var. xishuangbannensis!!!

04-12-2012, 11:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 90,118 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Mekong Giant It is strange that a reputable company like PDN markets it as Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant' PPAF (Mekong Giant Hardy Banana) If that's not the case. Musa xishuangbannaensis 'Mekong Giant', Banana Tree-Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

04-12-2012, 01:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 90,118 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Mekong Giant I think any one selling any plants has some responsibility to make sure they're presenting honest info... for example PDN does lots of trials- especially when listing zones, they can do their homework for other plants. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

04-16-2012, 02:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 216,927 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Mekong Giant I have a friend who is trying one out here in the Houston area. We'll see how tall it gets this year.

05-04-2012, 02:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 90,118 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Mekong Giant I just noticed that Brian has changed a little of the description that explains the "growing for years" sentence and the Intinerans confusion: "It is a selected clone of Musa itinerans (MeKong Giant) I have grown and treated this plant much like Musa basjoo for the past few years and it has shown to be a just as fast in returning for spring and can easily out grow basjoo given the right conditions" I think this is what it should have said from the beginning. Chances are, if you bought an itinerans from Brian in the past you got a "Mekong Giant" __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

05-04-2012, 02:45 PM	#16 (permalink)
Raymond Raymond's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Hill Missouri Zone: 6 Name: Ray/Scubadude Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 72 BananaBucks : 41,449 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 22 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant Unfortunately I may not even see this plant get 4' much less 40'...out of 7 plants it looks the worst, all other plants though very small look good

05-04-2012, 02:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 90,118 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Mekong Giant I am totally a fan of Brian's Botanicals I just think original marketing/description gave the impression that it was some completely new "super banana" and that the new description is much more accurate. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

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