The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm

Overgrown · 04-08-2009, 01:52 AM

Not sure of the variety but my grandparents planted this a little over twenty years ago and have only cut down the pseudo stems once they flowered. I remember this plant as a kid and now I get the honor of removing it! It's approximately 7' wide and 4' deep. Any idea how I should go about removing this thing?

chong · 04-08-2009, 03:07 AM

Judging from the orange fruits on the tree next to the clump, you are not in the Seattle area. It's a pity, I could help you out if you were.

You need to dig out the perimeter pups, 1 or 2 at a time, deep enough preserve the corm and some roots, and work your way towards the middle. If you intend to grow them, either get some pots to plant them in, or prepare other planting sites where you intend to plant them.

Check out Jarred's step-by-step procedure for separating a pup in this thread: Time to separate the pups for the Spring

Granted that his illustration is for a single pup, and that should work for you if you want to separate individual pups. But if you want to just remove the clump, having 2 or 3 pups to plant in another spot would make your work faster.

Westwood · 04-08-2009, 05:01 AM

id use a Cat and move it but good luck she is a beautiful plant.

be patient and Careful thats actually a heirloom in your family .
I have a Apple tree thats as old as i am i got to plant a seed at 1 yr old and well it grew. Tammy

alpha010 · 04-08-2009, 05:06 AM

Step 1: cut down to corm.
Step 2: Dig up corm.
Step 3: attach shipping label and mark it for Youngstown, OH and attention: Shaggy

I'm sure I'll see something that big rollin thru town and grab it. ;o)

Seriously though, if you aren't going to keep or give away just remove, then, take a chainsaw and start hacking the p-stems down to root. Take said chainsaw and cut manageably squares or chunks off the corm after making a perimeter with a spade or even a long trenching shovel. Worked for me when I had to take out a 15' diameter "ornamental grass" type of plant with a massive root system. If you are going to give them away....enlist the help of the naner recievers to get it out properly.

Shaggy

Bob · 04-08-2009, 08:55 AM

Wish you were closer, I'd be right over!

tophersmith · 04-08-2009, 12:32 PM

Are you planning on permanently removing those? If so you should offer the corms up for auction. Or ask for postage for willing takers (hint, hint)

Chironex · 04-08-2009, 02:25 PM

Why not place an auction for it on Craig's list. Then just make it a condition that they come to remove it themselves. Charge them whatever you feel it is worth. Save a few pups for yourself and any takers here. You could place an ad here for selling a few of the smaller pups.

Westwood · 04-08-2009, 09:33 PM

Id definatly buy a pup or Part of it But thats up to you . tammy

bepah · 04-08-2009, 09:37 PM

Where are you located? You might want to get some help (everyone here is very helpful).

For a 6 pack and a couple of corms, you'd get these out in no time!

bigdog · 04-08-2009, 09:50 PM

A Bobcat would handle that job, no problem!

Frank

Gabe15 · 04-08-2009, 10:27 PM

Was the fruit ever eaten? They look like Musa balbisiana from those photos.

just j · 04-08-2009, 10:39 PM

wow thats big it is probly full of bugs and rats all living in the cracks of it i would sell it cut it into pieces and put them for sale on here

Chironex · 04-09-2009, 01:21 AM

Fairly upright growth habit, quite interesting. I can't find a good leaf base to see whether it is lobed or not.

LilRaverBoi · 04-09-2009, 01:32 PM

Holy crap! That's tall....ridiculously tall. Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead of you. I'd recommend cutting off the plants to the ground and separating the corm into pieces (preferably at pre-delineated places if possible) as you dig it up.

Overgrown · 04-10-2009, 10:11 PM

Thanks for the input guys! I will tackle this plant this week and will try to preserve as many pups as possible. A bobcat won't have access to the backyard so it looks like I'll be doing this with a spade and pick axe.

Also, My grandparents say the fruits aren't edible but they use the leaves for culinary purposes.

I will keep you updated!

Chironex · 04-10-2009, 10:13 PM

Dynamite! Yeah, how cool is that? It could be just like when they knock down huge buildings by controlled blasts.

Magilla Gorilla · 04-10-2009, 10:37 PM

Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone.

Chironex · 04-10-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magilla Gorilla

Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone.

Hey Andrew! Welcome back! Haven't heard from you for a long time. Still have that Maurelii for me? (The crooked one)

Magilla Gorilla · 04-10-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chironex

Hey Andrew! Welcome back! Haven't heard from you for a long time. Still have that Maurelii for me? (The crooked one)

Hello Scot,

I am happy to be back (thanks for noticing). I went to Maui and then the Big Island for Thanksgiving. I brought home 42 plants (only one nana but lots of heliconia's). I then got hooked on my ebay sales (plants and house crap). If you have ever sold on ebay, it is a full time job. You know I was also busy with the financial markets and my clients. There is only so much time in the day.

How is the first Maurelii I sent you? I have many more. The crooked one straightened out and I sold it. I have two 7 footers I need to get in the ground. My plants did well this winter and my greenhouse was packed with 23 varieties of Alocasia's, 30 bananas, Gingers, Colocasia's, and many other plants. I will be planting, mulching, digging and in pain this weekend.

Great to hear from you!

Andrew

Chironex · 04-10-2009, 11:25 PM

It is doing great! It got a bit of cold damage in my unheated greenhouse, but it is coming back strong as ever. I would like another one sometime in the not-to-distant future. PM me when you have the time. I will be suspending my purchases until I get back from China in mid May.

04-08-2009, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Overgrown Overgrown's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 74 BananaBucks : 10,354 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 144 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Not sure of the variety but my grandparents planted this a little over twenty years ago and have only cut down the pseudo stems once they flowered. I remember this plant as a kid and now I get the honor of removing it! It's approximately 7' wide and 4' deep. Any idea how I should go about removing this thing?

04-08-2009, 03:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,772 BananaBucks : 46,045 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,149 Times Was Thanked 1,458 Times in 671 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 833 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Judging from the orange fruits on the tree next to the clump, you are not in the Seattle area. It's a pity, I could help you out if you were. You need to dig out the perimeter pups, 1 or 2 at a time, deep enough preserve the corm and some roots, and work your way towards the middle. If you intend to grow them, either get some pots to plant them in, or prepare other planting sites where you intend to plant them. Check out Jarred's step-by-step procedure for separating a pup in this thread: Time to separate the pups for the Spring Granted that his illustration is for a single pup, and that should work for you if you want to separate individual pups. But if you want to just remove the clump, having 2 or 3 pups to plant in another spot would make your work faster.

04-08-2009, 05:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Westwood Green Thumb Westwood's Photo Gallery Location: Oregon Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tammy But Nick is Westwood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 281 BananaBucks : 27,585 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 58 Times Was Thanked 64 Times in 34 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm id use a Cat and move it but good luck she is a beautiful plant. be patient and Careful thats actually a heirloom in your family . I have a Apple tree thats as old as i am i got to plant a seed at 1 yr old and well it grew. Tammy

04-08-2009, 05:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
alpha010 Metal Nanners!! alpha010 's Photo Gallery Location: Mineral Ridge, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 on arborday 5b on USDA Name: Bob aka Shaggy Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 470 BananaBucks : 42,751 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 121 Times Was Thanked 229 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Step 1: cut down to corm. Step 2: Dig up corm. Step 3: attach shipping label and mark it for Youngstown, OH and attention: Shaggy I'm sure I'll see something that big rollin thru town and grab it. ;o) Seriously though, if you aren't going to keep or give away just remove, then, take a chainsaw and start hacking the p-stems down to root. Take said chainsaw and cut manageably squares or chunks off the corm after making a perimeter with a spade or even a long trenching shovel. Worked for me when I had to take out a 15' diameter "ornamental grass" type of plant with a massive root system. If you are going to give them away....enlist the help of the naner recievers to get it out properly. Shaggy __________________ LOL! My house doesnt exist on the member map! Get a little Love in your life. Jump in a Mosh Pit! The only place where every emotion one person can feel will join together and express all at once.

04-08-2009, 08:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
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04-08-2009, 12:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
tophersmith 4th Yr Subtropical Addict tophersmith's Photo Gallery Location: Cary, NC. Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Chris Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 892 BananaBucks : 27,986 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 169 Times Was Thanked 275 Times in 116 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Are you planning on permanently removing those? If so you should offer the corms up for auction. Or ask for postage for willing takers (hint, hint)

04-08-2009, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,787 BananaBucks : 16,591 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,346 Times in 777 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Why not place an auction for it on Craig's list. Then just make it a condition that they come to remove it themselves. Charge them whatever you feel it is worth. Save a few pups for yourself and any takers here. You could place an ad here for selling a few of the smaller pups. __________________ Scot

04-08-2009, 09:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Westwood Green Thumb Westwood's Photo Gallery Location: Oregon Zone 9 Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tammy But Nick is Westwood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 281 BananaBucks : 27,585 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 58 Times Was Thanked 64 Times in 34 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Id definatly buy a pup or Part of it But thats up to you . tammy

04-08-2009, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
bepah Freelance Botanoeconomist bepah's Photo Gallery Location: Brentwood CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: bepah Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 308 BananaBucks : 9,164 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 25 Times Was Thanked 211 Times in 120 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 406 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Where are you located? You might want to get some help (everyone here is very helpful). For a 6 pack and a couple of corms, you'd get these out in no time! __________________ John Case Rookie Gardener, Veteran Drinker

04-08-2009, 09:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
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04-09-2009, 01:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,787 BananaBucks : 16,591 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,346 Times in 777 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Fairly upright growth habit, quite interesting. I can't find a good leaf base to see whether it is lobed or not. __________________ Scot

04-09-2009, 01:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,780 BananaBucks : 8,673 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 527 Times Was Thanked 1,991 Times in 1,135 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 676 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Holy crap! That's tall....ridiculously tall. Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead of you. I'd recommend cutting off the plants to the ground and separating the corm into pieces (preferably at pre-delineated places if possible) as you dig it up. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

04-10-2009, 10:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
Overgrown Overgrown's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 74 BananaBucks : 10,354 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 144 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Thanks for the input guys! I will tackle this plant this week and will try to preserve as many pups as possible. A bobcat won't have access to the backyard so it looks like I'll be doing this with a spade and pick axe. Also, My grandparents say the fruits aren't edible but they use the leaves for culinary purposes. I will keep you updated!

04-10-2009, 10:13 PM	#16 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,787 BananaBucks : 16,591 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,346 Times in 777 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Dynamite! Yeah, how cool is that? It could be just like when they knock down huge buildings by controlled blasts. __________________ Scot

04-10-2009, 10:37 PM	#17 (permalink)
Magilla Gorilla Magilla Gorilla's Photo Gallery Location: Holualoa, HI Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 717 BananaBucks : 69,142 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 593 Times Was Thanked 1,130 Times in 349 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 66 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone. __________________ Andrew

04-10-2009, 11:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,787 BananaBucks : 16,591 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,346 Times in 777 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm It is doing great! It got a bit of cold damage in my unheated greenhouse, but it is coming back strong as ever. I would like another one sometime in the not-to-distant future. PM me when you have the time. I will be suspending my purchases until I get back from China in mid May. __________________ Scot

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