Bananas.org - Thai Black

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Just got my paper publication of Southern Gardening recently, here is a nice Article about Thai Black:

Article:

Black Thai banana offers staggering beauty
By Norman Winter

MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The Black Thai banana was one of the most sought-after bananas at the early spring Mississippi Garden and Patio Shows. If you were like me, you missed the chance to grab one for yourself. My friend Barbara Harvey in Kosciusko did not miss out on the opportunity to brighten up her landscape with this banana.

The Black Thai can add height to a landscape. Some commercial growers suggest that it can reach almost 18 feet. (Photo by Norman Winter)Barbara says her Black Thai seems to grow a foot a day. I was shocked to see how much it had grown from April through the first of July. Some commercial producers suggest that it can grow to 18 feet tall and reach a second story roof. This plant makes you want to invite the neighbors over to cook out and sit and watch it grow. The Black Thai is the perfect choice for those of us who love tropical plants.

A few weeks ago, I told you about the new and popular Siam Ruby banana, which is dark red with lime green variegation. The Black Thai differs in that it has a deep purple, almost black, color from its pseudostem, or trunk, up to the petioles of the large leaves. The leaves are slightly thinner than most banana plants’ leaves; if you don’t like the torn island look, protect them from the wind.

Botanically speaking, the Black Thai is a selection of Musa balbisiana. The species has played a critical role in banana hybridizing. It is also an important species for the production of yarn and fiber. Additionally, it is another cold-hardy banana choice. The Black Thai is close to rivaling the Japanese fiber banana Musa basjoo, able to survive in zone 7 and possibly zone 6.

Winter hardiness may be attributed to how well the soil drains. There are spots in my landscape that stay wet from December through March. This situation is not suitable for bananas except in zones 9 and higher. But if you have a fertile, organically rich soil, you will see positive results from planting it on raised beds with a good layer of mulch.

While the north has been inundated with rain, the south has been battling heat and dryness. In these brutal conditions the tropical plants have risen to the occasion, and the Black Thai banana is no exception.

A benefit of the Black Thai is that it suckers, or produces new growth shoots. Its shoots give you more to spread around the landscape, share with friends or improve the chances of a spring return in the event of an abnormally cold winter. The Black Thai may be the ultimate thriller plant in a large atrium tub. Like all bananas, it will need plenty of water and some sunlight to reach its true potential.

After my Siama Ruby column, I received a few e-mails and letters from readers who ended up not liking the bananas and wanting to get rid of them. If you are of this mindset, then by all means avoid the Black Thai.

On the other hand, if you have enjoyed trips to tropical destinations such as Martinique or Guadeloupe, you will certainly like the look the Black Thai can help you create at home. Combine them with gingers, elephant ears and hibiscus and you will have smooth sailing, Caribbean style.

-30-

Released: July 9, 2009
Contact: Norman Winter, (601) 857-2284

Article Link Black Thai banana offers staggering beauty (07-09-2009)

Here is my new Thai [b]lack:
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Nice read! Are there any pictures of a mature plant?

here's the picture in the article:
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It looks awesome! Please keep us posted on your plant's progress this winter as us northern gardeners see our bananas take a nice long sleep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01 (Post 93532)

It looks awesome!

I agree with austinl01. I can see it's definately a clean designed and pampared garden. Oh yes, the Thai Black looks very healthy also.

:woohoonaner:

Emy,

Where did you get your Black Thai?

Thanks.

I got it on Thursday at going bananas in Homestead, Fl - goingbananas.com
I am not promoting it ,but it was a great second experience :
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Thanks for the pics. I have ordered from them before. It's nice to see pics from their plantation! I must get a Thai Black in the spring now.

Ditto for me, I have had good luck with all my plants from going bananas and have talked to Don on the phone and emailed Katie. Very nice people with great plants.

i also got :
Left to right :
Blue Java
Siam Ruby
Orinoco
Brazilian
Thai Black (small cont)
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my favorites from Going Bananas is a Kendria and Saba that i got back on May of 2007.
i waiting for then to fruit!
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My Thai Black came from ebay and spent last winter in a friend's greenhouse. I planted a 2 ft plant early in the spring and it is now about 8 ft tall with 2 pups. This one is a real beauty (check it out in my gallery)! I'm eager to see how it makes it through the winter.

I get the publication too and was glad to see the article, thanks for sharing.

Russell

Here’s a little up date .
I Still figuring out where are going to plant it. !!to many bana .....
Meanwhile it see to be growing ok.in the container.
SEP 09 2009
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SEP 12 2009
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SEP 24 2009
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Sep 24 2009
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Growing great!!! :D ~Cheryl

That's just about what mine looked like when I planted it last April.

R

Does anyone have any Thai black pups that they would be willing to part with ? Im just getting a banana garden started and thought a black would look good in there.. If anyone has one just let me know....
thanks

Check ebay I got 2 there. 1 from hirts and 1 from hortus119. The one from hortus was bigger on arival but they are almost the same size now. Both were nice plants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckoinld (Post 99559)

Check ebay I got 2 there. 1 from hirts and 1 from hortus119. The one from hortus was bigger on arival but they are almost the same size now. Both were nice plants.

I would recommend to get from someone else other than Hirts (SeedMart). They just don't know bananas enough, and I've had about 50% mortality rate with them, just because when packing, they either are dried out, or they are over-watered, then by the time you get them planted, they've already begun rotting, and too late, before you know it, you're dead then they give you a really hard time to replace, because they ask why you didn't inform them of the problem when it first arrived. They also seem like they send them too soon, and they are most often VERY tiny with not enough stable root development.

I've bought from both and had no trouble from either. The Thai black in my pictures came from Hirt's last winter and was a beautiful, healthy plant when it arrived. I potted it up and put it in a friend's greenhouse for the remainder of the winter and planted it in March. Karl at hortus119 lives near my parents a couple of hours away and is a good guy. I bought my Ensetes from him.

Russell

Black Thai
Just planted in a 10gal container and is in my recovery zone along with a Sian Ruby,coleus,sweet potatoe vines etc.
I will follow the growing from now on.
Thanks

Nov/06/2009
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Hola Sobemusa

He Visto Las Fotos Que Presentaste Al Foro Y Veo Algunas Plantas En Contenedores Muy Alargadas Como Si Hubiesen Estado En Sombra Y Esto Causara Este Efecto O Se Aplico Mucho Nitrogeno.

En Otra Foto Hay Plantas Ya Mayores Pero Tienen Muchas Hojas Secas Y Esto No Es Recomendable Hay Que Deshojar, Tambien Pude Observar Varios Hijos En, Puedes Dejar Como Maximo Dos Y El Rsto O Eliminarlos O Trasplantarlos A Otro Lugar.

Tambien Observe Un Mata Mayor Cerca De Un Arbol Frondoso Eto Conlleva A Una Mayor Altura De La Planta Y Por Efecto De Sombra La Floración Se Puede Prolongar .

Acerca Del Saba Este Tiene Pocas Hojas Y No Entiendo Porque, Ya Que Este Cultivar Es Resistente A Enfermedades Fungosas(sigatoka) .

Yes you are right Jerry Antonio ,but maybe he has no place in full sun for growing bananas...

Here is some updates:
Thai Black, a sure fast growing Banana compare to a Siam Ruby.A 25 days catch up!

NOV 15 2009
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NOV 28 2009
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DEC 01 2009
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DEC 09 2009
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WOW!
Impresive ;)
:woohoonaner:

DEC 09 2009
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Felicidades Emily

Hermoso El Desarrollo De Tu Planta Comparada Con El Siam Ruby, Pero Me Parece Ver En La Foto Que El Siam Ruby Tiene Vainas Secas En El Pseudotallo Y Me Parece Ver Que Hay Manchas Y Puede Ser Erwinia. Ojala Me Equivoque

Why is there no page for Thai Black in the Wiki? I've been trying to find more info on this variety but haven't found much. Maybe it's under another name in there?

Update:

JAN 29 2010
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And Sian Ruby pups!I think the cold kill the mother plant
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pure beauty
:woohoonaner:

wow it's lookin nice....I'm hoping to get a thai black this spring I can't wait. I'm sure it won't look as nice as yours in that miami sun...lol

We planted a foot tall pup last April and it was 10 feet by July. One of the happiest most vigorous bananas I've experienced. Ours is in partial shade tucked in next to a Live Oak and was happy as a clam. It laughed at 25 with no protection, but 22 was too much. We cut it back and it's grown fairly nicely since.

Exactly the same experience here - I could have almost written that word for word!

Russell

Great Pic's!!!
Thai Black is one of my Fav's..Def a fast grower..

Kylie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kylie2x (Post 121962)

Great Pic's!!!
Thai Black is one of my Fav's..Def a fast grower..

Kylie

Beautiful photo..can i ask you.. I see the picture is from 2006 Do you got to see a fruit or flower?:goteam:

OOOPPS!! That should be '08.. I forgot to reset the camera when I changed batteries.. I held it dormant the first yr and it is in the house and actively growing this Winter.. So maybe this yr..:03:

I finally broke down a bought a Thai Black this week. Its just a little thing now but i cant wait to see how big it gets this year.

SoBe Musa any updates on your plant id like to see how big it is now..

Moved to a different location - some wind damages..still beautiful.
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I also like the coco palms, SoBe. Very nice. You gave it more shade and less sun, will it emphasize the coloring?
Are those coco palms for the front yard? The one you will be re-organizing soon?
:waving:

Love that colouring ;)
:woohoonaner:

Love it. I will have to try another one. Looks like mine croaked.

Hey everyone, I just ordered 2 Thai black from ebay. Ad said 5 to 12", quite a range in size. Probably closer to 5. I saw them and had to have. Don't know if they pup. Anyone
know anything about them?
Thanks Raggedy

I think my Musa Balbisiana is dead to the ground. I wonder if I should dig around and look?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean W. (Post 126032)

I think my Musa Balbisiana is dead to the ground. I wonder if I should dig around and look?

:woohoonaner:I just noticed a small pup coming up!:woohoonaner:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean W. (Post 126782)

:woohoonaner:I just noticed a small pup coming up!:woohoonaner:

I think maybe mines coming back also. The reason why I say think is because I had it in a pot in my unheated greenhouse after winter I had put some of what I thought was dead in the ground well most of them started growing and I beleve one is the thai black. Im very happy because I really like that banana plant :woohoonaner:

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee_greg (Post 126785)

Good luck. Thats my next conquest for a naner. I'm still waiting for you guys to have good luck overwintering them before I do.:nanadrink:

My biggest pstem from last summer is dead, but the 2 pups are back. One is already waist high with 2 leaves, the other is not so far along.

Russell

I have one planted on my farm that made it, I had to leave 5 others outdoors in pots. I lost two of those. They are a tough Musa. Has anyone information as to if it is really balbisiana? :2239:

I have a small one i ordered off of Sandy. Im hoping i can get a pup off of it this year. If i can im going to try to overwinter the mom in the ground like i did my Basjoos. The wiki says they are hardy to Zone 6 so what the hell ill sacrifice the mom if i get a pup.