Musa Orinoco in Memphis

austinl01 · 04-01-2009, 05:11 PM

My buddy Alan has taken some photos of Musa 'Orinoco' over the years growing in different people's yards in Memphis, Tennessee. These plants are not protected other than mulch, and some are fruiting. The groves have become huge over the years thanks to the long growing season of the Mid-South. The pics can be found in my photo album or at the link: Memphis Bananas.

OK, I'll give you a sneak peek!

To me, it looks more like New Orleans than Memphis!

Cheers,
Austin

saltydad · 04-01-2009, 05:12 PM

Austin, I'm drooling. Amazing pics. Thanks.

Bob · 04-01-2009, 05:36 PM

Thanks for posting. The Orinoco's really got a lot going for them, hardiness, height , and edible bananas to boot.

Taylor · 04-01-2009, 10:34 PM

You've got to be kidding! Look at that!

"April fools" ?? ? ?

bigdog · 04-01-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor

You've got to be kidding! Look at that!

"April fools" ?? ? ?

Taylor, it's definitely not an April Fools joke! Alan posted those years ago on another board. They are growing within the heat island of Memphis, which is comparable climate-wise to Atlanta. They are some amazing mats!

Frank

Taylor · 04-01-2009, 10:59 PM

Thanks, Frank. I love to get mine looking like that.

Chironex · 04-01-2009, 11:59 PM

Who sings that song? Was it Marc Cohn? - "Orinocos in Memphis"

You know which one I mean:

Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy -- won't you look down over me
Yeah I got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a boy can be

Orinocos in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Orinocos in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel.....

Bananaman88 · 04-02-2009, 06:16 AM

You're too much, Scot!

austinl01 · 04-02-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor

You've got to be kidding! Look at that!

"April fools" ?? ? ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

Taylor, it's definitely not an April Fools joke! Alan posted those years ago on another board. They are growing within the heat island of Memphis, which is comparable climate-wise to Atlanta. They are some amazing mats!

Frank

Yeah, it's not April Fools! These are really growing in the city of Memphis. Amazing, huh? I think this proves that Orinoco is very cold hardy and can attain incredible heights while fruiting in the Mid-South. They love our heat and humidity all summer long. When the low is near 80 during the dog days of summer, the Orinocos just eat that up!

hammer · 04-02-2009, 11:16 AM

i live 60 miles from memphis i hope my orinocos do that good

austinl01 · 04-02-2009, 08:24 PM

The great news is that Little Rock has a very similar climate to Memphis and Atlanta. In fact, Little Rock is almost exactly the same in terms of average lows and highs compared to Atlanta. Both cities are Zone 8a long-term (30 year average). I haven't crunched the numbers for Memphis, but I'm sure it's Zone 8a as well. Memphis averages a bit more rainfall than Little Rock, however.

If fruiting Orinocos of that size can be grown in Memphis, they most certainly can grow well in other cities in the northern reaches of Zone 8a.

Orinoco is a winner in my book!!!

hammer · 04-02-2009, 09:01 PM

I am wondering if a dwarf orinco would do better in this area than a regular orinco? Do both of them take the same amount if time to bloom, or does the dwarf bloob quicker? Does anyone know of a good place to get a Valentino banana? I am wanting to add this to my collection and I don't know of a good place to get one.

bigdog · 04-02-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01

The great news is that Little Rock has a very similar climate to Memphis and Atlanta. In fact, Little Rock is almost exactly the same in terms of average lows and highs compared to Atlanta. Both cities are Zone 8a long-term (30 year average). I haven't crunched the numbers for Memphis, but I'm sure it's Zone 8a as well. Memphis averages a bit more rainfall than Little Rock, however.

If fruiting Orinocos of that size can be grown in Memphis, they most certainly can grow well in other cities in the northern reaches of Zone 8a.

Orinoco is a winner in my book!!!

Austin, Memphis's 30 year average extreme min. low, from 1971-2000, is right at 10F. I'm sure it's a bit higher than that now because of the string of mild winters we've had (before this one, that is!).

My Orinocos have come back from the corm for 2 years in a row prior to this spring, with no protection at all (not even any mulch). I'll be surprised if they make it this year though. We'll see in a month or so.

Frank

Chironex · 04-02-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

I am wondering if a dwarf orinco would do better in this area than a regular orinco? Do both of them take the same amount if time to bloom, or does the dwarf bloob quicker? Does anyone know of a good place to get a Valentino banana? I am wanting to add this to my collection and I don't know of a good place to get one.

I have have to plead ignorance. A Valentino banana?

hammer · 04-02-2009, 09:28 PM

You should really pay attention when you type (have have). That was my bad I spelled it wrong. What I meant was m. velutina. Now I must pled ignorance.

Chironex · 04-02-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

You should really pay attention when you type (have have). That was my bad I spelled it wrong. What I meant was m. velutina. Now I must pled ignorance.

Nice catch, thanks! Doing too many things at once. Normally, I do check everything for grammar and spelling, but you got me on the redundancy.

BTW, plead is misspelled and genus names are always capitalized, as in Musa velutina. Back to you.

hammer · 04-02-2009, 09:46 PM

Well lets stop the fussing and get back to bananas. Do you know where a good place to get one?

Chironex · 04-02-2009, 09:55 PM

Shannon, just playing - no offense meant. I have seen them offered by other members here. I would post an ad in the classifieds and within a month or so, someone is bound to have one for you. Mine was beat-up this winter, so the sole pup is for insurance. If it puts out another, I will send it to you.

hammer · 04-02-2009, 10:04 PM

I am going to check and see if Green earth offers them but I don't think they do. Thanks for the advice on putting it in the classifieds. I might try it. I just got that Apple Banana and of course the dog got ahold of it, but good news I have a new leaf coming out. I am so happy. Thanks for the offer on the banana. If you get a pup that you want to get rid of let me know I would be happy to pay you for the naner and the shipping.

Chironex · 04-03-2009, 12:09 AM

I would also check with ENCANTO FARMS Jon is a member here as well. He's in SanDiego and has lots of bananas to choose. These are also, and more properly called, Musa dasycarpa now. You will still find them referenced as M. velutina. Going-bananas also has them generally Going Bananas of Homestead Florida Banana & Banana Plant Descriptions

04-01-2009, 05:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 196,283 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Musa Orinoco in Memphis My buddy Alan has taken some photos of Musa 'Orinoco' over the years growing in different people's yards in Memphis, Tennessee. These plants are not protected other than mulch, and some are fruiting. The groves have become huge over the years thanks to the long growing season of the Mid-South. The pics can be found in my photo album or at the link: Memphis Bananas. OK, I'll give you a sneak peek! To me, it looks more like New Orleans than Memphis! Cheers, Austin __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches Last edited by austinl01 : 04-08-2009 at 01:36 PM.

04-01-2009, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
saltydad saltydad's Photo Gallery Location: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Howard Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,552 BananaBucks : 213,847 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 14,712 Times Was Thanked 4,662 Times in 1,778 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 824 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Austin, I'm drooling. Amazing pics. Thanks. __________________ Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men" "Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon "If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal." John F. Kennedy, September, 1960 http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

04-01-2009, 05:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 221,985 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Thanks for posting. The Orinoco's really got a lot going for them, hardiness, height , and edible bananas to boot. __________________

04-01-2009, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 258,508 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis You've got to be kidding! Look at that! "April fools" ?? ? ?

04-01-2009, 10:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 258,508 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Thanks, Frank. I love to get mine looking like that.

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04-01-2009, 11:59 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: 2,788 BananaBucks : 136,631 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Who sings that song? Was it Marc Cohn? - "Orinocos in Memphis" You know which one I mean: Put on my blue suede shoes And I boarded the plane Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues In the middle of the pouring rain W.C. Handy -- won't you look down over me Yeah I got a first class ticket But I'm as blue as a boy can be Orinocos in Memphis Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale Orinocos in Memphis But do I really feel the way I feel..... __________________ Scot

04-02-2009, 06:16 AM	#8 (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 : 248,669 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis You're too much, Scot!

04-02-2009, 11:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 182,336 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis i live 60 miles from memphis i hope my orinocos do that good

04-02-2009, 08:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 196,283 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis The great news is that Little Rock has a very similar climate to Memphis and Atlanta. In fact, Little Rock is almost exactly the same in terms of average lows and highs compared to Atlanta. Both cities are Zone 8a long-term (30 year average). I haven't crunched the numbers for Memphis, but I'm sure it's Zone 8a as well. Memphis averages a bit more rainfall than Little Rock, however. If fruiting Orinocos of that size can be grown in Memphis, they most certainly can grow well in other cities in the northern reaches of Zone 8a. Orinoco is a winner in my book!!! __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

04-02-2009, 09:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 182,336 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis I am wondering if a dwarf orinco would do better in this area than a regular orinco? Do both of them take the same amount if time to bloom, or does the dwarf bloob quicker? Does anyone know of a good place to get a Valentino banana? I am wanting to add this to my collection and I don't know of a good place to get one.

04-02-2009, 09:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 182,336 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis You should really pay attention when you type (have have). That was my bad I spelled it wrong. What I meant was m. velutina. Now I must pled ignorance.

04-02-2009, 09:46 PM	#17 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 182,336 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Well lets stop the fussing and get back to bananas. Do you know where a good place to get one?

04-02-2009, 09:55 PM	#18 (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: 2,788 BananaBucks : 136,631 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis Shannon, just playing - no offense meant. I have seen them offered by other members here. I would post an ad in the classifieds and within a month or so, someone is bound to have one for you. Mine was beat-up this winter, so the sole pup is for insurance. If it puts out another, I will send it to you. __________________ Scot

04-02-2009, 10:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 182,336 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis I am going to check and see if Green earth offers them but I don't think they do. Thanks for the advice on putting it in the classifieds. I might try it. I just got that Apple Banana and of course the dog got ahold of it, but good news I have a new leaf coming out. I am so happy. Thanks for the offer on the banana. If you get a pup that you want to get rid of let me know I would be happy to pay you for the naner and the shipping.

04-03-2009, 12:09 AM	#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: 2,788 BananaBucks : 136,631 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Musa Orinoco in Memphis I would also check with ENCANTO FARMS Jon is a member here as well. He's in SanDiego and has lots of bananas to choose. These are also, and more properly called, Musa dasycarpa now. You will still find them referenced as M. velutina. Going-bananas also has them generally Going Bananas of Homestead Florida Banana & Banana Plant Descriptions __________________ Scot

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