2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

This is how my patch has developed this year so far. Good height for this time of year but with lots shredded leaves.

My first Namwa flower emerged two weeks ago from "Son of Monster Namwa" who stands 13' tall. The first hand contains 14 fingers and the last full hand contains 18 with 17 hand total. I might revoke "monster status" since he didn't clear the 300 finger margin like his parent.

This year's tallest Namwa is 15'9" and has a very large flower. Its is showing three hands so far with the first hand containing 18 fingers. It is located in the corner behind the pvc support. The photo angle is a bit miseading but this plant's is much higher than the other although based on the leaves it does not appear to be. Expecting big things from this one!

I also have a small bunch from one of my Unkown's that emerged in May. Its located in a dark corner so doesn't get much light, has numerous cracks and splits up and down its pstem. I think I counted seven layers were split so the pstem is quite weak and requires support. The bunch is light and the bananas quite small even after two months. This plants doesn't have very many leaves either but at least it has plenty of time. This Unknown comes from a different original plant than last year's Unknown.

Main banana patch:



Son of Monster Namwa


Godzilla Namwa


Unknown

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Very nice!!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

WOW 😮!!!!!!! What do you do to to get that kind of a bunch? And if you run out of names for your massive racks, maybe Atlas would be fitting.

Keep it up whatever it is.:goteam::goteam::goteam::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonane r::0519::nanadrink:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Godzilla Namwa Bunch



This one is 15-16 hands with 18 fingers per hand except the last hand which is pretty good. This plant is just shy of 16' and I was expecting something around 20 hands like I got last year from my big namwa that was only 14'. The only major difference I can identify that might have impacted the number of hands is that my area has had 20 inches less cummulative rainfall vs. the prior year.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Donald,




Congrats!.....Still looking impressive!.....






:2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Still a super good looking Bunch for our area. ... Temps are dropping. night temps are into the in our area and Night temps are dropping to mid & upper 60s. So I hope we don't get a early frost this year. ... Our bunches need the time.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thanks fellas!

I think my area has three good months of temps remaining which should be enough to get some good filling if we get adequate rainfall. My flowers came in mid September last year and I got pretty good results. It was very mild winter but there wasn't much filling going on after temps were below 50-55F overnight.

I should get a few a more flowers in the coming weeks and those bunches will be pruned. 25% prune for August flowers and 50% prune for September flowers.

We shall see. I'm hopeful. My plants look strong.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Darn ... after re-reading my above post, I would think that I was drunk. I'm not ... may be just not awake when I made the post.


Anyway, the low last night was 66 deg F and at 1:30pm today the temp got up to 70 deg.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Your banana trees are awsome! They are very healthy. Congratulations!
:nanadrink:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Small three hand namwa bunch at my Mother's house that's almost ready to be harvested. Very low maintenace. No fertilizer, no watering, and no winter protection. The plant's pstem is probably about 6' vs. 13'-16' for the same type of plant in my patch.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Beautiful, what an excellent back drop for the pool :woohoonaner:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Picked a few namwa fingers to check to see how long it will take them to turn yellow. Although a bit short (4") they are very fat (1.75") fingers! These fingers are from my the patch at my Mother's house. See post No. 10 above for the bunch they were taken.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Impressive, you definitely know how to grow bananas!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thanks Rmplmnz! I learned everthing from all you guys who have shared your knowledge and passion on this site over the past fourteen years. Thanks for making those cool video tours of your yard!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I think I got the same variety as ya bro...…..

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thank you for the compliment!!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I added to my collection this year and started a new banana patch on the west side of my yard. From left to right there is Raja Puri, Dwarf Brazilian, Raja Puri, Blue Java, and Pisang Klotek. I didn't have this ground prepared in time to put in the Patupi that I aquired this year but plan to put switch him out with the center area Raja Puri.

My Pisang Klotek (Mysore) is not doing as well as the other plants in this location that gets a ton of son and is very hot. Has anybody noticed Pisang Klotek (Mysore) seems to like a bit shadier area of their yard/more sun protection than other banana plants? Thanks for any tips on growth habits and likes of Pisang Klotek (Mysore).

July 19, 2019:


September 13, 2019:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Looking awesome! Now that’s a namwa! Especially flowering that early! Amazing job man!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Donald,




West side new Banana Patch is looking beautiful!....Keep it up buddy!...Musa Patupi (Kokopo, Vudu Papua) will do awesome in the new spot, location!...





:2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Ripe small namwa bunch from post #10 above. The individual test fingers were blah but after harvesting the bunch and letting it ripen on the back patio they turned out really good! Maybe I ate the test fingers to early or letting them ripen in the house (colder temp) effected the taste. Regardless these came out great in the end! Even found two quarters inside one of them ala PR Giants! Haha.

Perfectly ripe namwa hand with comparison to store bought:


Namwa finger

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Nice...,

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I pruned my 4th Namwa bunch today. The bunch consisted of 11 hands pre-pruning and 6 hands post-pruning. Painful! This plant was located a bit deep into the corner of my patch and doesn't get the best light hence I only got 11 hands on this one. Sunlight is important!

I have one more Namwa that should flower in a week or so.

Namwa (No. 4) September 22, 2019


Pruned fingers (sad face)

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

It’s always sad 😞 to prune baby 👶 bananas 🍌 but necessary :nanadrink:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

What fertilizer are you using to get such big bunches of bananas.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Looking good Donald!....At least you will be able to taste some nice Namwah bananas!....






:2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Hello Mari!

I fertilize monthly using urea for nitrogen and potassium sulfate or muriate of potash for potassium. I apply postassium sulfate during the first half of the season and then switch to murate of potash after getting a flower. I apply my fertilizers based on a 8 month season. I also heavily mulch with St. Augustine grass on a weekly basis.

If my plants show signs of overfertilization then I skip a month to let the plant sort it self out. I've noticed that different plants can take different amounts of fertilizer. Namwa's eat it up! Others not so much so I pay attention to how the plants are growing.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thanks, where to buy your 'stuff'? I can't seem to find anything like what you use around here (big box stores).

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Mari,

I get my "stuff" from a local supplier to the landscape and lawn service industry (Ewing Irrigation) but any Farm and Tractor Supply store will have urea and muriate of potash in 50 lb bags. I order the potassium sulfate in 5 lb bags from the internet.

In previous years I used a blended Palm Fertilizer that was perfect and included all the minors which I got from my supplier at a super price but sadly they sold out and didn't restock.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thanks for the info, there is a Farm & Tractor Supply store near here that I will check out tomorrow.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Any feed and farm store usually had it. Places that sell farming equipment. Especially mom and pop type stores. Sadly Tractor Supply doesn’t have any.

If you absolutely can’t get any! Watch the greenhouse megastore sales. They often give free shipping! Then you can buy it from them!

Looking awesome Donald! You always have some amazing bunches! Amazing work my friend!

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Awesome fertilizer info. Thank you!

Do you prune off the hands to get larger remaining bananas? Are there other reasons?

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Yes but in addition to larger finger size I believe the remaining fingers develop slightly faster since more resources are available per banana finger after pruning. I'm not sure if that last part is a fact or "bro science".

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Hahah awesome, 'bro science'.

I have read the commercial growers do this pruning too, so for whatever reason, it must be effective at improving the 'last bananas standing'. The plantations would surely only do it if the payoff was good.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Neither Tractor Store nor Farm & Home Store here has any gardening products...it has all been put away for Christmas 'stuff'. Since viewing your pruning.....I'm wondering if I should go ahead and cut off the male blossom and the very small hand of fingers on the Orinoco plant. I will soon be taking this up and putting in basement for winter. Someone mentioned to leave it alone cause cutting might introduce a disease to the bunch. I'm wondering if a lot of needed nutrients for the small bunch of bananas are going into the little fingers and male bud.[IMG][/IMG]

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

It should be fine to cut the bloom as long as it is cut 10-12 inches away from the bunch. And I would remove the last hand of hermaphrodite flowers as well :08: :woohoonaner: :08: :woohoonaner:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

There should be a few places within your area that sell fertilizer stuff. Farm supply stores in the country or landscaping supply stores in the city. Urea and Muriate of Potash are very common fertilizers. Keep looking! Good luck!

I always cut off the flower a minimum of 6" below the last hand. Be warned the cut will drip latex staining sap like crazy for fifteen minutes or so.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I think the weather forecast for next Thursday (week from today) has answered my questions...….the temps are okay through next week but Thursday is a high of 66* and a nite low of 50*. Think out nice warm days are soon gone. I looked back at last years picture and it was about this time (10/10/2018) that I had taken my non-hardys in. I think I have a couple weeks yet, so will start root pruning and cutting the leaves back half...…...What are you talking about 'hermaphroite' flowers?, are you talking about the 'very small bananas' at the end of the bigger bunch? Do I just snip each off since I am leaving a foot+ of the stock above the bud?

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Is this small 'bunch' of bananas what you call "hermaphrodite" ? Are these what I should cut off?[IMG][/IMG]

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I have never removed those hermaphrodite/transition bananas from the bunch. They are a little to too close to the good bananas. Others might though.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

My neighbor has been awarded the rights to cut off the blossom from each of my banana bunches here, after the rachis is done. She cooks them, a lovely Filipino dish with coconut milk.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I have read of such dishes, but looks confusing to me...and a lot of work. I will be digging this plant and taking it in for winter very soon, so don't know about cutting the blossom off. Thinking of doing it now so in a week or two, when digging, some of the pruning will be done.....root pruning, cutting the leaves back, etc. Our forecast temps are getting very iffy now, night low of 50's* in about a week. We are in our Fall now and can turn cold very fast. Thanks for the information. The bloom here doesn't look like it will ever get done.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

I got two new flowers that popped this week. These are from an Unidentified plant that I have in my patch. Photos quality is not very good. I will make some photos as it develops and submit them at one time for identifcation on a different thread. I wish the flowers had come earlier as this is a really tasty banana and wanted to see it fully developed. Oh, well, someday!

October 6, 2019

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Could it be an Orinoco?[IMG][/IMG]

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Thanks for taking a look Mari. I don't think so. I have tried Orinoco bananas (one time) and these don't taste like them. These have a great flavor when they are yellow and as I remember Orninoco needed to have lots of brown on the peel.

Couple other points. Just measured both plants and the pstems are 14'. There is a lot of sap on the newly opened female flowers and its very sweet. I can only compare to Namwa sap which is less in volume with a slight bitter flavor.

Again I will collect photos over the next month or so and then post them up in one thread for identification purposes.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Temps are ranging from mid 50's to high 70's now. Bagged all my bunches to protect them from the cold. I expect to harvest my first big bunch of Namwas the first week of November which would be exactly 4 months since flowering.

I used large clear trash bags I bought at HD. I leave them open at the bottom to minimize the risk of condensation/moisture on the bunches. Look like ghosts hanging from the bananan trees for Halloween.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

looking well tended. wish I could get mine to grow in a straight line like that. :ha:

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Do you have pics of the bunches before they were bagged? Especially Son of Monster namwa?

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Unfortunately not BBJ. Son of Monster Namwa is pretty much filled out and I'm just waiting for one of the bananas to turn yelllow. November 5th will be 4 months from the flower appearing. The bananas at the top of the bunch (about five inches long) are twice as large as the bananas at the bottom of the bunch (about three inches long) but they are filled out/rounded too.

I'll take a pic of the bunch and post it when harvested.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Just harvested my first big bunch from Son of Monster Namwa this morning. I was a bit worried about crashing onto the pool deck but I got it down under control. Sorry no video of that! This was a one man operation! Chopped the upper third of the pstem and then sorta eased it down while removing the support. Very heavy and confirmed by the scale at 78 lbs!!

I let the whole bunch mature. No pruning on this one. Took a total of four months in Pensacola, Florida. The top fingers are huge and twice as big as the bottom fingers in both length and thickness. Invividual fingers are all pretty plump but not nearly as plump as the small bunch I harvested earlier this year from a plant at my Mother's house which are shown above.

Today is cloudy with rain so not the best pics unfortunately.

Re: 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
 

Again, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!