Bananas.org - Need some advice!

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Need some advice!

Hi, my husband and I are raising our grandson, he is 13yrs old and has been diagnosed with ADHD and pervasive developmental delay. He is totally absorbed in his model trains, one track mind!! We would love to find something else that he could become involved with.
Since I have become so interested in bananas and other tropicals, I would like to get him interested in some part of it too!
I would appreciate some advice on a couple seeds I could start with him that would sprout relatively quickly and look interesting enough to keep him involved!
Would like to know where to get the seeds too if info is available.

Any help would be appreciated!!
Carla:nanerwaveytrain:

Re: Need some advice!

Try Ensete seeds, avoid Musas, Ensetes are easyier from seeds and grows relative fast. Palms are slow grower but more interesting in long terms.
Good luck there
:nanadrink:

Re: Need some advice!

Use the seedlings as part of the layout for the trains perhaps a jungle theme, or find small artificial banana plants that are scaled to his trains.

He may show interest in growing full size plants if he has them for his trains.
Many kids with his characteristics love trains, because they are consistent, predictable, and controllable.

Re: Need some advice!

Hi Carla,

While bananas are great plants and are great conversation pieces in places like Ohio and here
(HZ6), they take quite some time to develop from seed. And 13 year old boys do not have a
whole lot of attention span, especially if they are victims of ADHD.

Here is, what I would suggest instead of or concurrently with the bananas: Try castor beans
instead, more specifically the New Zealand purple.

I have received some seeds from a friend, living in Ontario, but due to a screw-up by Canada
post (their automated equipment read the sender’s address instead of the recipient’s and
promptly returned them :( ), they arrived quite late on May 15. I have no record when I actually
soaked/planted them, but it must have been on May 16/18 respectively or thereafter.

This picture of the sprouting plant was taken on May 25

Another shot of the same plant on June 14

And here toward the end of the season on October 24, a truly magnificent plant, 6 feet
high and seven wide, dwarfing the two year old basjoo banana behind it

A detail of some of the leaves.

Your Hardiness Zone is slightly warmer than mine. Therefore your son should have no problem
duplicating the above growth pattern. Unfortunately it will not be winter hardy in our climes.
Dave’s Plant Files specify it as hardy to -12^C (10^F), but it froze to death at -8. :(

If you are interested and give me your street address by private mail, I can spare 2 or 3 seeds
without costs to you (seeds I can be sure about germinating are scarce this year because of the
late planting) and if you include your email address, I can send you a copy of a write-up I did
for the local garden club, comparing the New Zealand purple with the common purple.

Good luck in your search for diversions for your son,
Olaf

Re: Need some advice!

Poisonous

Canna would be a better choice :) Papaya would work

Re: Need some advice!

Right, Tony,

I should have mentioned that, thank you, but so are rhododendron, azalea and a host of other
broadleaved evergreens, as are rhubarb leaves. The dark purple seed pods of the NZ are not
as tempting for little children to put into the mouth as the bright red ones of the common
purple.

Re: Need some advice!

I'd start with making a banana split and use the stickers to make a
Chiquita car for his train set. Maybe he'll show an interest on his own.

If you're intent on getting him interested in germinating seeds, perhaps
start with an avocado. The seeds are big, ugly, sprout quickly and can be
done in a glass of water for easy viewing.

Good Luck

Re: Need some advice!

PS: Tony,

Carla lives in Zone 6-7. Papaya won't survive the winter there.

Re: Need some advice!

On second thought he's 13, buy him a weight set.

Re: Need some advice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olafhenny (Post 209468)

PS: Tony,

Carla lives in Zone 6-7. Papaya won't survive the winter there.

I believe they will indoors

Re: Need some advice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish (Post 209470)

I believe they will indoors

They grow indoors.. I have 3 inside.. :^)

Re: Need some advice!

Everything will survive indoors, providing you have enough heat, light and in some cases humidity. :)

Re: Need some advice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnshrek (Post 209474)

They grow indoors.. I have 3 inside.. :^)

Hi Migael, ok, tell me about the papaya you have inside, do they fruit as well and how big do they get? I just looked at your profile, you have more bananas than I knew existed!:woohoonaner:
Also see you are retired military, I am an Army Brat!:nanertank:

Thanks,
Carla

Re: Need some advice!

If of any help. I have sugar apple, papaya and I can spare only pups of some bananas that I have( no seeds though.