Mudturkle

Has anyone figured out about how long bananas take to flower once the base of the p-stem starts swelling in size? I understand that the true stem forcing its way through the p-stem causes it. Does it vary according to the particular banana, or is there a kinda-sorta general timeline? I have a Dwarf Iholena that I got from Baker Cr Seeds that is definitely starting to swell at the base. The leaves at the bottom are clearly splitting. The reason I ask, besides the obvious which is that I'm very eager, is that I'm not sure how tall it is supposed to get before fruiting. It is a little past 6' so far.

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Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.

Tytaylor77

I've tried but can never tell by the pstem swelling. If a flower is splitting the base it will be out of the plant within a few days. Week at the most.

The best way I can tell is by the leaves. They will start getting smaller! Sometimes the pre-pre flag leaf will be noticeable. Most always the pre flag leaf is noticeable.

The pstem splits often during growth. It's normal and doesn't indicate a flower is passing through. Just as the plant grows each leaf causes it to get larger and larger from the inside out. When it reaches the leafs maximum. It splits! Normal sign of growth.

From what I've read about the dwarf Iholena they get from 8'-10'. Watch those leaves! Please post lots of pictures of it blooming if it is! You don't see a lot about these and I would love to see progression pictures of the flower and bunch!

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Richard

Depending on the cultivar, the caretaker, and the climate zone: two week to two years.

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Mudturkle

2 weeks to 2 years! OK, that kinda narrows it down.

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Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.

Mudturkle

Here is what the Kepler & Rust book says in the thumbnail sketch fo Mai'a Iholena: "Easy to identify, the only semi-dwarfed Iholena in Hawaii (6-8' tall trunk). For Subvariety Ha'a it said: "(extinct?: trunk very short 4 ft.)"

So far, everytime I've seen the very bottom of the p-stem get so big that the bottom leaves stretched so much that they split - they bloomed shortly after that. Not saying that what you said is wrong, but I hope you're wrong! At the rate it's going I'd guess that it might make it to 7', but not much more. I'm hoping that it will be a week or so. I'm familiar with the flag leaf and the pre-flag leaf. Pre-pre flag leaf? That I need to watch for! Thanks, Ty.

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Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.

sputinc7

The pre pre flag leaf will drive you crazy. Is it shorter? Is it the same as the others before it? I can't tell for sure..Is it? Isn't it?... Yada Yada Yada... Go with your gut. If you know your plant is close and a leaf comes out that looks 6 inches shorter than the ones before it, it probably is and the next will be the pre flag at about half-3/4 length...
P.S. We all still stand there and keep trying to find out if it is or not...Like I said, drives you crazy.

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Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

bananaT

If you have a straight stalk to start with, sometimes you can see them develop a lean.
The bell pushing up the center and the extra base growth causing it.
It's something I've noticed over the years.

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Darkman

I've never called it a pre flag leaf. I've always called it a half leaf for obvious reason. Most of the time its right at half length. That's what I've observed in my climate and with my varieties.

I've seen bottom swelling in November and with proper protection I'll see the half leaf, flag leaf and bloom the following June. It really depends on the pace of the plant and climate.

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Mudturkle

Update - as of 10-21-2017 it is now 8' tall. Waiting for it to flower. Fruiting Dw Orinoco on left, "Dw. Iholena" on right.

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Central Texas Zone 8B and Gulf Coast zone 9B: Raja Puri, Dw. Brazilian, Dw. Orinoco, Dw. NamWah, Dw. Cavendish, Dw. Green?, Dw. Red? Iholena Tigua, Veinte Cohol, Misi Luki, Pisang Raja.

Tytaylor77

Is that the dwarf iholena from Baker Creek? Wow that’s getting taller than I expected. Looks like it could be close to me. When did you plant it and how large at planting?

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