Book all about bananas?

scwritinglady · 09-24-2008, 10:39 PM

Hey ya'll! This is my first post. My dear hubby (jcderrick) has introduced me to the fun world of banana growing :-)

I was hoping to find a good book just about bananas. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

pitangadiego · 09-24-2008, 11:52 PM

There really isn't much, sad to say. Stokes Nursery has a short one. Your best source of info is this forum and figs4fun home

Gabe15 · 09-25-2008, 12:25 AM

Welcome!

There is actually a couple really good ones, but they might be more technical than what you are looking for. But for rather comprehensive books on bananas, look for N.W. Simmonds' "Bananas" (most recent addition was published in 1987) and "The Evolution of the Bananas" (from 1962). Together, they cover in rather great depth things like: history of the plants in general, some ethnobotany, history of the commercial fruit trade, growing requirements, botany, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, morphology and many more areas. They are usually fairly expensive though and you would need to find them online.

If you are looking for just a general, more hobbyist type book, then as pitangadiego mentioned, the book "Bananas You Can Grow" from Stokes is a good one to start with, though it has many technical errors. Also there is "The Complete Book of Bananas" by W.O. Lessard, though I must say its very far from"complete", filled with errors and not worth the normally high end list price in my opinion.

Bob · 09-25-2008, 07:23 AM

Good post! Some of the experts here should collaborate on something. I at least would snap it up in a flash.

Richard · 09-25-2008, 11:49 AM

Our own Pito (inkcube) is currently finishing his passiflora book and working on a banana book. See post: Congrats inkcube!

JCDerrick · 09-25-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob

Some of the experts here should collaborate on something. I at least would snap it up in a flash.

I agree, I'd love to see something from the folks here. I've learned a lot in the few weeks I've been here. POD makes books easier than ever to publish now - even in color. Tasha and I used Lulu for a while, a little pricey, but good quality.

Thanks for the suggestions above too.

pitangadiego · 09-25-2008, 09:16 PM

I have the W O Lessard book, and was very underwhelmed,.esp for the $$$$.

scwritinglady · 09-25-2008, 09:32 PM

Thank you all for the replies! I was hoping for just a hobby gardener's guide. Thank heaven for the internet.

09-24-2008, 10:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
scwritinglady Location: Lexington, SC Zone: 8 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 10,335 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Book all about bananas? Hey ya'll! This is my first post. My dear hubby (jcderrick) has introduced me to the fun world of banana growing :-) I was hoping to find a good book just about bananas. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

09-24-2008, 11:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,481 BananaBucks : 129,628 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,707 Times in 923 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? There really isn't much, sad to say. Stokes Nursery has a short one. Your best source of info is this forum and figs4fun home __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

09-25-2008, 12:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,339,811 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,237 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? Welcome! There is actually a couple really good ones, but they might be more technical than what you are looking for. But for rather comprehensive books on bananas, look for N.W. Simmonds' "Bananas" (most recent addition was published in 1987) and "The Evolution of the Bananas" (from 1962). Together, they cover in rather great depth things like: history of the plants in general, some ethnobotany, history of the commercial fruit trade, growing requirements, botany, evolution, genetics, taxonomy, morphology and many more areas. They are usually fairly expensive though and you would need to find them online. If you are looking for just a general, more hobbyist type book, then as pitangadiego mentioned, the book "Bananas You Can Grow" from Stokes is a good one to start with, though it has many technical errors. Also there is "The Complete Book of Bananas" by W.O. Lessard, though I must say its very far from"complete", filled with errors and not worth the normally high end list price in my opinion. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties. Last edited by Gabe15 : 09-25-2008 at 02:23 AM.

09-25-2008, 07:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bob Orang Puteh Bob's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Twp N.J. Find me on the map! Zone: 6a Name: bob Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,528 BananaBucks : 205,636 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 9,537 Times Was Thanked 4,058 Times in 1,694 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 565 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? Good post! Some of the experts here should collaborate on something. I at least would snap it up in a flash. __________________

09-25-2008, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,558 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? Our own Pito (inkcube) is currently finishing his passiflora book and working on a banana book. See post: Congrats inkcube! __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

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09-25-2008, 09:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,481 BananaBucks : 129,628 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,707 Times in 923 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? I have the W O Lessard book, and was very underwhelmed,.esp for the $$$$. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

09-25-2008, 09:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
scwritinglady Location: Lexington, SC Zone: 8 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 BananaBucks : 10,335 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Book all about bananas? Thank you all for the replies! I was hoping for just a hobby gardener's guide. Thank heaven for the internet.

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