Valor_X

Last year I made a thread about growing Thai Black - Anyone growing Thai Black?
I acquired a Tissue Culture from Wellspring Gardens... and well it's either something else or a mutated 'green' version.

However it's unlike any other Banana I'm growing with several distinct features.

• It's extremely cold hardy and received very minimal cold damage even down to 28F
• The petiole tips are black and very pronounced even in the pups.
• The leaves are dark in color and very matte
• The 'ribs' on the leaves are very pronounced as well
• The petioles are mostly closed

Wondering if anyone might have an idea of what it is?

Besides that I'm very surprised how much it's grown from a tiny TC in a year and now has 3 big pups. Pics below

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

Maybe some mutant sort of thing? The leaves look like my black and you can see it wanting to blacken up but my no-doubt for sure plant is nowhere near as thick (pstem) and also it won't pup to save it's life. It's very healthy and I didn't protect one bit this winter which saw lows to 22 degrees.

Robbertico18

I also purchased a TC from wellspring gardens back in the fall, it wintered over and didn’t really do much till just a few weeks ago and it has exploded

The p stem is dark but certainly not black

wstrickland1

I'm pretty sure that's where mine came from and last year it got pretty darn black. Maybe it's environmental?

Valor_X

Interesting theory. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it is in fact still Thai Black.

I read somewhere that it turns black once in direct sun / warm temps.
Mine is in direct sun and has been receiving 90F+ all month

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

Today:

2022-05-24_05-26-47 by William Strickland, on Flickr

blownz281

That’s definitely not black Thai.. I have been growing them for years and they remind me of mint chocolate chip colors. Dark green with black stems. Mine keep stalks on the south side of the house even at 17 degrees was a low we had for a hr or two. Even a small mat I have that’s on the northwest side of my yard and more less shady still has dark stems. Musa Balbisiana is what it looks like. Could be Black Thai though maybe time will tell.

Valor_X

Isn't Thai Black just a variation of Musa Balbisiana?

I wonder if Wellspring Gardens was selling seed grown 'Thai Black' instead of Tissue Culture.
Wouldn't that explain getting a 'regular' Musa Balbisiana? Or am I wrong? (assuming that's what I have)
If this is true I'll still be happy if it grows to 20ft as I primarily wanted it to help shade my Florida.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

blownz281

I have never got any of my first bananas from anyone or any local place unless I knew they were true to variety. Being Wellspring could be something different, hybrid or just our ph causes it to look different.

sashaeffer

I have, but not sure if mine made it back this year yet even though we had a mild (temp wise) winter and mostly dry. Last spring mine came back with a late start so holding out hope again for this year. My zone 6a is a challenge for anything other than Basjoo

Robbertico18

Here are some pics of my Thai black purchased from wellspring gardens in the fall of 2021. Seems like the p-stem is getting dark

wstrickland1

I'd say that's one for sure

wstrickland1

Finally got a pup (2 actually)

2022-06-26_08-36-23 by William Strickland, on Flickr

Robbertico18

Nice!

I recently repotted mine into a larger pot until I can figure out where to plant it.

wstrickland1

Anything I plant has to be in a pot. No more room at the Inn