Steve L

Harvey, it should be getting close to fruiting. Mine fruited a 9.5 ft last June. Good luck.

Steve

harveyc

Wow, I hope I get more leaves first! I only have 2 full leaves and 3 partial leaves right now. I've seen photos of some that have flowered at 16' so I figured I had quite a ways to go,but I imagine that those taller plants are in conditions with less stress.

Thanks, Steve.

Harvey

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Steve L

You're probably right about less than ideal conditions we both experience during our winters. I know I'll never get my bananas to produce as much fruit as those in south Florida. I'm happy with 5 or 6 hands and 50 to 75 fingers. I think my Ae Ae last year had 5 hands and about 50 or more fingers. I'd expect the same or better for you judging the size of yours. I hope so.

Steve

harveyc

I know that last photo I posted doesn't look great, but moving it out of the greenhouse was a big challenge (leaves were mixed in with mister lines and my door is only 6' tall!!!) and then we had frost the next morning after moving outside. I trimmed off the dead portions yesterday and it looked much better (I'll soon need a taller ladder than my 16' orchard ladders). While I was up there around 4pm I was looking to see if there was another new leaf on the way but I didn't see any. Now it's noon the next day and I just looked and I see one that's emerged about 16". The quick growth of bananas is the thing that thrills me the most. This momma appears happy!

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harveyc

Today the third new leaf since transplating about 9-10 weeks ago unfurled on my large Ae Ae. We've had a cooler spring than normal other than a few very hot days in early May, so growth has been going a bit slow. I trimmed off the dead leaves since the prior photo in late May so it looks nicer now. I believe some of the five Ae Ae pups that existed when I transplanted the plant have grown a tiny bit. I'm hoping some of these will be large enough for removal by the end of the summer so that I can pot them up and grow out in my greenhouse (I hope to have 4-5 mother plants in the ground eventually).

My smaller plant was a pup bought on eBay around last September. It's still in a pot and it's growth rate is pretty good. It will probably go in the ground soon, though I've been waiting for some signs that the pups on the larger plant will be getting larger. If I don't get pups to survive from my larger plant this smaller one will spend next winter in my greenhouse.

I'm also hoping for my large plant to fruit for me this summer. The psuedostem is now about 11 feet tall.

Thanks for looking,

Harvey

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harveyc

If it's not obvious in the photo above with the red circles, those are areas with small pups. You can click on the photo a couple of times to get a larger resolution, but they're not much to look at.

There were some comments made to my photos in the gallery which I'll also respond to here for the benefit of others.

I don't plan on sharing any pups for 2-3 years. My primary goal at this point is to get 4-5 mother plants established in the ground and always keeping a couple of back-ups protected in the greenhoue over the winter. After that, my focus will be sharing pups with friends, especially those on the west coast, and also forum members that have shown generosity here on the forum. If I get as many pups as I hope, I may give a few away, sell some at discounted prices, and then sell some on eBay in an effort to recoup some of my cost.

Regarding the older leaves being shredded, I don't know that I'll be able to avoid leaves getting shredded as we have quite a bit of winds in my area year-round. Our Delta breezes during the summer pick up in the late afternoons on all but the hottest 5-10 days. These so-called breezes often get up to 15mph or more. The house and the lemon tree should help protect the Ae Ae to an extent from those prevailing winds in the months ahead. In April and May we get quite a few days with gusty winds from the north (this year wasn't as bad as most years) and the location I planted the Ae Ae only has protection from my small shop (8 feet tall), so that's what did most of the leaf shredding. I've learned to live with it and have read somewhere that the shredding actually makes the leaves more efficient at photosynthesis.

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Bananaman88

I'm not one to argue, Harvey, but I don't see how the shredding of the leaves could possibly aid in photosynthesis. I realize you're only saying that's what you read somewhere, but it makes no sense to me. Just my two cents worth. Probably only worth a penny though!

harveyc

I believe I heard it here on the forum and I believe it was based on a report done at the University of Hawaii or some professor in Hawaii. I remember thinking about how it might be possible at the time. My best guess is that it allows the breezes to move the leaves around and occasionally exposing all surfaces in he direction of the sun.

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Bananaman88

Hmmm...interesting.

harveyc

One other thought came to mind, Brent. In researching grow tubes for seedling trees I once found information that photosynthesis was reduced when wind speeds increased to over 8mph. I don't know why this is, but I have since observed that plants in wind sheltered areas do grow more (not just taller due to shading) than plants in windy areas. This is especially noticeable in one of my alfalfa fields located about 100 feet away from a row of very tall eucalyptus trees. I'm now wondering if a torn banana leaf is able to reduce the effects of wind.

I've sent e-mails to a couple of people that I thought may have posted the information or seen it. This is bugging me now.

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enigma99a

For your sake and your wallet too, I hope all the pups are variegated! Any bargains for your neighbor?? lol I'll drive to you and pick up!

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Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F
Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches

Bananaman88

I would hypothesize that as wind speed increases, photosynthesis may go down due to the fact that the leaf is moving around more; thus the suns rays are not hitting it as directly or for as long. That was sort of my line of thinking on the torn leaves as well. If the leaves are torn, there is slightly less leaf area held together for the sun to shine on as they are all tattered and not one big surface. That could be flawed thinking, though!

harveyc

Hey, Brent, when I finish irrigating alfalfa in 3-4 days I might just kick back in a chair, get drunk on a beer, and stare at my banana leaves for a while and come up with some more ideas! LOL

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Bananaman88

Well, depending upon how much beer you consume, you should come up with some doozies!

harveyc

One beer should do it for me, Brent. I may have two and get wild. A six pack lasts about six months around here!

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microfarmer

Good to see the new growth, Harvey! It's looking good!! I should bring up a growler of some homebrew for you to sample...



Keep up the good work!

Jeff

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My new hero...

Lagniappe

I read somewhere that bananas and banana relatives had leaves that would seperate at the segments to prevent their p-stems from snapping in high winds. Kind of like vent holes in banners. Such a wide leaf would otherwise act as a sail and be a serious liability for the plant. At the same time,they need those large panels to fuel their insane growth.

Bananaman88

Very wise, young grasshopper.

Lagniappe

If only it were relevant. :P I just heard free beer and decided to get on board.

Patty in Wisc

Harvey, can I be on your list of friends to buy a pup from you if I don't have one by then?

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Got a lite?
Patty




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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.