Need a banana ID please.
 

Hello all,

Can I get an opinion on what type of banana I'm attempting to grow here.








They're about two years old now and I had some issues where I couldn't get over 5 leaves on them for a long time using banana specific fertilizers.

I drastically increased the nitrogen to them (most is probably being consumed by the grass) and I'm up to about 10 leaves with a new leaf every 8-9 days in this 80+ heat.

The bananas pup like crazy. I'm removing about 3 every 60 days.

Any hints on what type of banana it might be?

Thanks
Eric

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Nobody knows? or are the pictures not descriptive enough?

-Eric

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Not positive, but they look the same as my Tall Orinoco. The closed petioles are a hint, and the coloration. Mine don't pup extremely fast, but you may live in a warmer climate. Mine get about 10 feet tall at the pstem, and about 18+ feet in overall height before blooming.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Thanks.. I'll keep an eye on them and hopefully they'll flower someday and I guess we'll know for sure then.

-Eric

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Orinoco is a good guess. If so, the fruit should show what you'd need to be sure.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Here is a photo of a pup.. I noticed the pup has definite red margins that the adult leaves don't seem to have.. I'm not sure if that helps narrow down things or not.



Eric

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Still consistent with Orinoco, but lots of varieties have pups that look like that.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Yep, Orinoco pups have the red, when emerging and small, TC plants will have a red edging on the leaves. Saba looks like Orinoco when smaller with similar coloring, powder, red edging, etc. and I was a bit upset at first thinking I was just sold another tall Orinoco, but as it gets older it gets darker lines on the leaf sheath edges around the pstem, and the attachment point of the leaf to the petiole starts to look different and wraps around more, different than the ones in your pics, and eventually much more stocky. My Saba is also slower growing than Orinoco. The bloom will help.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

I'm with everyone on that one. Oronico was the first thing that popped in my mind. We'll definitely know when it flowers.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Well here we are almost a year later and I finally have a flower. Hopefully this helps the ID process some.



Does the flower change anyone's thoughts on what this banana is? PStem is about 8-9 feet tall.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

I still think dwarf Orinoco. You will know for sure when you see how the fruit fatten. Congrats on the flower.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Consistent with my Orinoco.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Great thank you. We'll see how the fruit looks.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Updates with banana pictures.





Eric

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Leave the flower on there and get a pic after about a dozen or more petals fall off after the last hand of real bananas. That is about the best time to identify. 18 is better. Get a close up of the flower and another pic with the whole bunch and flower.
Also, where are you located? Update your profile so nobody else has to ask again in the future.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

I'll get more pictures as they develop. I'm in southern California.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

Updated flower / bunch photo.

Re: Need a banana ID please.
 

The fingers and hands seem too closely spaced to be Orinoco. It's some ABB variety, but I'm not sure which. Maybe Gabe has an idea.