Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland!

robguz24 · 06-16-2016, 05:59 PM

Landed in Reykjavik, Iceland today for a 6 day visit. First stop after sleeping was a visit to the Agricultural University of Iceland in Hveragerði, where they've been growing bananas since the 50s.

It was fun and interesting. Almost everything they were growing in there was something I see in Hawaii, including coffee.

The guy who showed us around didn't know the cultivar, but I'm guessing Dwarf Cavendish. He had a couple others that he got from a student a couple years ago. One was probably Ice Cream, and the other probably some AAB type.

Wasn't even planning on doing this, but decided yesterday to try emailing and see if there was a way to see them. The head of their program got right back to me and set it up!

They're doing research on growing other kinds of vegetables mostly. Had some fresh tomatoes better than anything I've had in Hawaii!

The banana fruit were interesting looking. Very rounded tips when they filled out properly, but many did not. Didn't get to taste any. Lots of problems with choking but it was nice seeing so many perfect leaves, not torn, no disease.

If you read some articles online, you'll see mention of 600-700 plants but it was nothing like that. Just most of one full greenhouse row. They all get eaten by staff and students. The Ice Cream was already reaching the top and probably won't have room to fruit.

The likely Ice Cream

He said they get almost all water suckers.

One of the mystery ones that I guess is some AAB type

DC close up

Jamie p · 06-16-2016, 06:11 PM

That's really cool. Thanks for sharing. I'm just curious what they use to heat their greenhouse?

Kegas76 · 06-16-2016, 06:26 PM

hot springs

Jamie p · 06-16-2016, 07:24 PM

That's awesome! Nothing like a free heat source !

Kegas76 · 06-16-2016, 11:06 PM

I saw this clip a few years ago, I can't remember what show it was part of though.

https://vimeo.com/144578786

Hamakua · 06-17-2016, 08:36 PM

Looks like fun!

mushtaq86 · 06-18-2016, 03:15 PM

I would be interested to know what temps the greenhouse is kept at, in winter months.

hdynad · 06-18-2016, 04:15 PM

Thanks for sharing, what an incredible trip!

Darla

robguz24 · 06-18-2016, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushtaq86

I would be interested to know what temps the greenhouse is kept at, in winter months.

I don't know, it was probably high 70s and humid when I was there. Heated with steam from the local vents so very cheap for them.

06-16-2016, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 286,642 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! Landed in Reykjavik, Iceland today for a 6 day visit. First stop after sleeping was a visit to the Agricultural University of Iceland in Hveragerði, where they've been growing bananas since the 50s. It was fun and interesting. Almost everything they were growing in there was something I see in Hawaii, including coffee. The guy who showed us around didn't know the cultivar, but I'm guessing Dwarf Cavendish. He had a couple others that he got from a student a couple years ago. One was probably Ice Cream, and the other probably some AAB type. Wasn't even planning on doing this, but decided yesterday to try emailing and see if there was a way to see them. The head of their program got right back to me and set it up! They're doing research on growing other kinds of vegetables mostly. Had some fresh tomatoes better than anything I've had in Hawaii! The banana fruit were interesting looking. Very rounded tips when they filled out properly, but many did not. Didn't get to taste any. Lots of problems with choking but it was nice seeing so many perfect leaves, not torn, no disease. If you read some articles online, you'll see mention of 600-700 plants but it was nothing like that. Just most of one full greenhouse row. They all get eaten by staff and students. The Ice Cream was already reaching the top and probably won't have room to fruit. The likely Ice Cream He said they get almost all water suckers. One of the mystery ones that I guess is some AAB type DC close up __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

06-16-2016, 06:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jamie p Location: Fair Grove Missouri Zone: zone 6/7 Name: Musamania Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 172 BananaBucks : 62,518 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 240 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! That's really cool. Thanks for sharing. I'm just curious what they use to heat their greenhouse?

06-16-2016, 06:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kegas76 Location: Pasco Co., FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a sandhills Name: Andy Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 221 BananaBucks : 10,787 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 79 Times Was Thanked 337 Times in 120 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 506 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! hot springs

06-16-2016, 07:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jamie p Location: Fair Grove Missouri Zone: zone 6/7 Name: Musamania Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 172 BananaBucks : 62,518 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 240 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! That's awesome! Nothing like a free heat source !

06-16-2016, 11:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kegas76 Location: Pasco Co., FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a sandhills Name: Andy Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 221 BananaBucks : 10,787 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 79 Times Was Thanked 337 Times in 120 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 506 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! I saw this clip a few years ago, I can't remember what show it was part of though. https://vimeo.com/144578786

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06-17-2016, 08:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hamakua Location: Santa Cruz, CA Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 181 BananaBucks : 26,339 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 187 Times Was Thanked 324 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 18 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! Looks like fun! __________________ Currently Growing: Blue Java, FHIA 01, Gros Michelle, Dwarf Orinoco, Maoli Ele Ele, Maoli Manini, Maoli Dwarf Kaualau, Putalinga Kula, Iholena Lele, Iholena Ula Ula, Iholena Iholena, Iholena Kapua, Unknown purple leafed Iholena, Tuu Ghia, Tagomor, Luba, Kokor, Vunumami, Hapai

06-18-2016, 03:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
mushtaq86 mushtaq86's Photo Gallery Location: Hartlepool, UK Name: Mushtaq Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 707 BananaBucks : 78,120 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,709 Times Was Thanked 820 Times in 381 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 46 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! I would be interested to know what temps the greenhouse is kept at, in winter months.

06-18-2016, 04:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
hdynad Location: LaFollette, Tennessee Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Darla Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 462 BananaBucks : 63,086 Feedback: 2 / 75% Said "Thanks" 1,773 Times Was Thanked 797 Times in 318 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 53 Times	Re: Visit to banana greenhouse in Iceland! Thanks for sharing, what an incredible trip! Darla __________________ Currently growing, , DGM Highgate, Blue Java, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Brazilian , Ensete Glaucum, Pitogo, Hoa Moa, Raja Puri, Thai Black, VG Chaing Rai, Manzano, Praying Hands. Yunnan, Hawiaan Crown, Dwarf Red Plantain

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