Newbie to growing bananas
 

How's it going.
I'm TommyG. New to growing bananas, but I'm going to give it a shot as I love fruit.
I live in Massachusetts and as you know winters can get pretty cold up here. So I'm going to try to grow my plants in my sunroom where I should be able to keep much warmer than outside.

I ordered and received two Super Dwarf Cavendish plants and they are doing wel. I'm only on week one, but they seem to be adjusting.

Any tips, advice and questions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

tommyG, Welcome from Florida. Best advise is to review all of the posts about what you want to know. This site is more complete with info than any you may find. There are even referrals to other places to gain info. My advise is to look at the plants that are small and grow fast enough for you to get a plant to fruit. It stays fairly warm here compared to your area but we still watch the weather so we can insure safety to our plants. Wishing you good luck.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Welcome from california

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Thanks everyone.
Im excited and hope to learn a lot from everyone.
Ive been looking at pictures in here to see what my plants will eventually look like.
Anyone on here growing bananas in new england?

Tommyg

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Welcome From Florida
Hey Tommyg
Ya came to the right place to learn!
I use to live in Boston but only for about 12 summers, now I keep my self in Florida ..

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

At this point I wish I could myself in Florida as well, but I'm going to try to manage and grow some bananas and wow my local spectators. People already think i'm crazy haha... but I think with proper care I should have some nice healthy plants come summer time.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

My two sdc s are doing well and in the last two days have each grown a leaf.
Today i got my hardy chicago fig tree. Its about 10 inches high with four leaves and is looking good.

The weather is cooperating so far.

Learning a lot on here.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Welcome Tom from Socal... Enjoy the Board :03:

Big Tony

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Here are a couple pictures of my SDCs!
They seem healthy, I hope they continue that way.


This plant just grew a leaf you should see it on the right side.


This one is trying to unravel a leaf, but its been cloudy. Tomorrow it should open up.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

I got my basjoo today!
It is so different to my sdc plants. It only has four leaves right now.
I hope it gets accustomed to its new pot.

Tommyg

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Welcome from Mansfield.

:nanerwaveytrain:

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Thanks!
Here is my basjoo. Sorry, but i'll have to figure out how to shrink my pictures.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Hello, they look like they are very happy! I got some TC velutina's a couple weeks ago and one's gone and I think the other is soon to follow :( sometimes those suckers can be picky!

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Did you try different soil and less fertilizing?
Thats sad.

Thanks!

Are you growing more banana plants?

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

I think i just got lucky with the samples i ordered. I ordered from hirts from amazon.
I wish they had more banana plants but thats ok.

Tommyg

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

I didn't repot them and I think that was my mistake :( I only had them not even a week.... I have I think 20 varieties now maybe a few more! You can look in my photo albums and see some pics. I'm actually going to take some more tomorrow to update because I haven't posted updates in FOREVER! I bought a Siam Ruby and the Chinese yellow from a different seller and they're flourishing so I don't know. I really believe the seller shipped them too wet to me and it caused rot. I don't know if I want to try buying some from a different seller or what I want to do. Maybe I could trade someone for some!

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

That could of been the case, sometimes they are in plastic or something else.
If you find a new seller or catalogue ket me know.
Id be interested in trying another hardy banana plant, or dwarf i can grow indoors.

Wow you have 20+?

You must have a lot of room.

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

I have a half acre. I have 20+ varieties but about 50 in the ground. I sell pups when I have them and just bought some TC of Basjoo and Ensete Maurelii. Here is a list of my varieties

Ensete Maurelii
Musa 'African Rhinohorn'
Musa 'Basjoo'
Musa 'Bronze Orinata'
Musa 'Chinese Yellow'
Musa 'Dwarf Brazilian'
Musa 'Dwarf Cavendish'
Musa 'Dwarf Red'
Musa 'FHIA 21'
Musa 'Ice Cream'
Musa 'Lavender Orinata'
Musa 'Monkey Fingers'
Musa 'Mysore'
Musa 'Orinoco'
Musa 'Pisang Raja'
Musa 'Pitogo'
Musa 'Praying Hands'
Musa 'Raja Puri'
Musa 'Rose'
Musa 'Saba'
Musa 'Siam Ruby'
Musa 'Zebrina'


I might have left some out LOL I'm not sure! Let me know if you're interested in any and maybe we can work something out!

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

That basjoo does not look very stable as it looks like it has either been in the shipping box too long or neglected of sufficient light.

It is quite a bit stringed out so you may want to watch how much it gets watered, make sure it gets full sun, and once there's a threat of frost, I would suggest taking it indoors, and perhaps have it by a south facing window, or use a commercial grade light like a metal halide or HPS to get this looking healthy.

The basjoos I got from eBay last year in the spring were in far better condition, and started growing almost immediately. Here's the day I got them in 2 gallon pots.
[IMG][/IMG]

Re: Newbie to growing bananas
 

Yes my basjoo plant is tiny and was not packaged correctly. I think it is ok but has not grown at all. I will keep my eye on it. It is indoors right now. Thanks.