As some of you know, I help run the student farm at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In the past year, we have made an active effort to relocate our activities from our college's research station on the other side of the island, to campus. It has been a challenge to secure lands, but it's all coming together and one of the first major projects we did was to set up a new banana production area.
These plants were put in the ground in April of this year. There are currently 9 cultivars, much less than our previous 35, but it is only 2/3 planted right now, so I will add a few more. We have narrowed it down mostly to our best cultivars, but I still am planting a few new ones to keep it interesting.
Phase 1 section in August, about 4 months in the ground.
Phase 1 section in November, about 7 months in the ground.
And we also have our first bloom, 'Niyarma Yik', which threw up it's flag at about 6.5 months from planting. I feel sorry reading about all of the fruiting this late in the season for you folks on the mainland, but I am happy to say it is no problem here!
This is phase 2, planted in November.
Phase 3 is not yet planted, but will be an additional 10 or so plants.