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Eric 07-05-2009 10:03 PM

Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Very recently inherited a 'Fiber' banana & know almost nothing about them. Any info (especially zone-7) would be super appreciated.

natedogg1026 07-05-2009 10:43 PM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
It is probably Musa Basjoo. Japanese fiber banana (actually native to China). It can handle all of the sun you can give it. Lots of water during the summer. Max height is 16'+ but will take about three years to get there. It is very hardy and will winter over in Z7 with ease. The trunk should be protected during the winter so it will come back faster and after 3-4 years produce a flower. It has an edible fruit but is not worth the trouble cause it 's loaded with seeds and taste is marginal. It is grown for it's foliage and to add a tropical look to your garden.Enjoy!

saltydad 07-05-2009 11:24 PM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
I agree with Nate's advice, Jim. I would only add that even if you cut the p-stem to the ground or leave only 1-3 ft., then cover with a foot of straw mulch you'll do fine. My basjoo went from one plant to 4 then next season, and now is up to 19!

Jack Daw 07-06-2009 05:03 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Eric, I don't think it will grow well in your conditions, basjoos are the hardiest (it's also called Japanese Fiber Banana) of all bananas, but they like growing in climates with summer temps of 28 to 33°C, yet you often have 39°C and those temperatures keep there for a very long time in your area, so I think it will grow much slower than in milder areas. It will simply be resting a good part of the year. It stops growing above 34°C and then restarts after exposed to colder wave for a longer period of time.

Lagniappe 07-06-2009 06:17 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
They love the scorching heat at my place and never stop pushing growth, even during weeks of nearly 100F days.

Jack Daw 07-06-2009 06:48 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe (Post 83150)
They love the scorching heat at my place and never stop pushing growth, even during weeks of nearly 100F days.

Mine stop at what I said was ma for them, for sure, basjoo original, basjoo Sakhalin and basjoo Red stop when there's too much heat, they grow only in the night...

Eric 07-06-2009 07:05 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Had to catch zzz's but back now. Thanx guys :)! Could be the different types of climate (LA-/-Slovakia) - Candelabra cactus is real picky too. Challenging. If it's a seed nanner, then it must be diploid. If so, it could be used to attempt hybrid plants, maybe?

Lagniappe 07-06-2009 07:20 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Daw (Post 83152)
Mine stop at what I said was ma for them, for sure, basjoo original, basjoo Sakhalin and basjoo Red stop when there's too much heat, they grow only in the night...

Interesting. Until I read one of your recent posts, I had only heard of one other Basjoo. It's a large one from Miami University and I don't believe it's on the market.
It would be great if you could post more info and pics of the Basjoo that you guys have available to you.

Jack Daw 07-08-2009 10:53 AM

Re: Need help!, Fiber bananas
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe (Post 83155)
Interesting. Until I read one of your recent posts, I had only heard of one other Basjoo. It's a large one from Miami University and I don't believe it's on the market.
It would be great if you could post more info and pics of the Basjoo that you guys have available to you.

I'll post as soon as there's anything to post. :D
Both the plants 'Rubra' and 'Sakhalin' are just small seedlings right now. I was told by another member, that 'Rubra' is unknown hybrid and he thinks it's tropical, well I don't know about that, grows the best at 30°C.

Sakahlin is purely cold liking nana. It grows where the summer temps are the same or cooler as mine, just has much milder conditions in winter (Sakhalin is an island in Russia, much more north of Japan).

Normal basjoo (I watched those in our botanical gardens last year) grow the best in cooler days as well, when we hit our summer maxiumus of 38°C/100°F (last year 40°C/105°F - maximal ever in my region), they really stop growing and take this conditions very badly.


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