40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

So my friends went into the rural part of my city near the highway going to a party and they saw a mat of bananas; knowing me they get me to check it out yesterday and seeing as my friend has no fear (Or California Attique) he randomly knocks on the door of someone he doesn't know and starts talking to the owner.

Turns out the stand comes from some bananas brought over from hawaii from his parents 40 years ago; they grew the bananas in Fremont and used them for decoration and to wrap pigs when they did tradtional bbq's. He told me he moved them to Vacaville later and put them at the side of his house; the original stand at the current house grew on poor soil and didn't get watered and they thrived but he removed them and put them at the front of his property as a marker with equally poor, rocky and very clayey soil but is watered daily.

He has mat on another house a few yards away that was a complete mat on a completely eastern facing side his parents tend to.



Here are two pictures; he said he never has eaten them because he cuts the trunk in the winter (even though in our weather there is no need for it other then aesthetic reasons) and because ants get to them first. In about 8 mo. growth they're about 6' 6" so its really fast growing.

I got two; a water pup and a pup with no roots (beggars can't be choosers) but I am so interested in what they are! I planted both in a 2 and a half foot x two foot hole with a mix of the clayey soil from the hole, Dr.Earth microzoria potting soil, alfalfa, and the soil from the stand (hopefully with some bacteria and fungi that has been beneficial to the stand).

So what are they?

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

*Bump*

Come on people I gotta know !!!!!!:goteam:

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

I tried to look at the pictures I saved but I could not find it. So, sorry. Gabe is the one who can tell you so email him. Can you make the picture bigger? Specially the fruit.

Re: 40y/o Hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

moa or maybe Elle its got to be a Hawaiian variety

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...astor/bbp2.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...mastor/bbp.jpg

Here are the bigger pictures abit grainy though

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

Much better. I still can't find my cheat book. Sorry. I hope someone can help you.

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

Musa balbisiana. It is very common in Hawaii, people sometimes eat the male bud, but more often it is just escaped (since it sets seeds) and grows in the forest and along roadsides. It is a very tough plant that can grow under very poor conditions, so is good for ornamental use and other non-fruit uses.

Re: 40y/o hawaiian Bananas in Sac Valley?
 

That's what I want. Anyone who wants to trade with a Sweetheart? Or I'd like to buy a pup. I need the leaves for cooking. I hate (mumble silently ) when my wife from time to time ask me to cut a banana leaf so she can finish her cooking. From the Ones that I keep looking everyday for any changes however slight (lol).
Thanks, Gabe.