The amazing Musa Basjoo

austinl01 · 03-02-2008, 07:03 PM

In the spirit of Randy's post, let's look at musa basjoo for a minute.

It starts as just little stumps in early spring. Musa basjoo starts growing quite early for a banana. It seems to like the cool weather. In just a few weeks, it will look like the following.

It grows about 12 feet high by November and looks like this:

And, if you treat this banana right, it will reward you with beautiful flowers.

I consider this banana a gift from heaven for gardeners north of Zone 7. Let's all rejoice for the awesome musa basjoo!

the flying dutchman · 03-02-2008, 07:56 PM

yeah, it's really amazing, and what a beautiful flower too.

Thanks for the pics.

Ron

Randy4ut · 03-02-2008, 09:18 PM

I agree 100%, Austin. To start off with this at the end of March:

And end up with this by the end of September (20+'), is truly amazing:

They are a God send for us northern nanner lovers!!!

Good thread...

austinl01 · 03-02-2008, 09:52 PM

Randy, what kind of soil are you using in that basjoo bed? I think mine would grow better if the clay wasn't so hard around them.

Randy4ut · 03-03-2008, 07:59 AM

Austin,
The soil before I prepped the bed was fairly decent mix with quite a bit of clay. After I turn a bed to about 12", I add what is called "landscape mix". Turn it under and top dress with a good 4" or so of landscape mix. The landscape mix is a combination of pine fines, mushroom compost, sand, perlite, trace elements. I buy it from a fertilizer company that is about 1/4 mile from my house. They sell this, as well as mulches, ferts, sand, gravel. It sure makes it nice to be able to run over and grab a scoop or stop by on the way home from work....

03-02-2008, 07:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 284,553 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	The amazing Musa Basjoo In the spirit of Randy's post, let's look at musa basjoo for a minute. It starts as just little stumps in early spring. Musa basjoo starts growing quite early for a banana. It seems to like the cool weather. In just a few weeks, it will look like the following. It grows about 12 feet high by November and looks like this: And, if you treat this banana right, it will reward you with beautiful flowers. I consider this banana a gift from heaven for gardeners north of Zone 7. Let's all rejoice for the awesome musa basjoo! __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

03-02-2008, 07:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
the flying dutchman the flying dutchman's Photo Gallery Location: HOLLAND Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Ron Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,031 BananaBucks : 183,044 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 244 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: The amazing Musa Basjoo yeah, it's really amazing, and what a beautiful flower too. Thanks for the pics. Ron Last edited by the flying dutchman : 03-02-2008 at 08:06 PM. Reason: checking speelchucker

03-02-2008, 09:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 303,352 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: The amazing Musa Basjoo I agree 100%, Austin. To start off with this at the end of March: And end up with this by the end of September (20+'), is truly amazing: They are a God send for us northern nanner lovers!!! Good thread... __________________

03-02-2008, 09:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 284,553 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 908 Times in 398 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: The amazing Musa Basjoo Randy, what kind of soil are you using in that basjoo bed? I think mine would grow better if the clay wasn't so hard around them. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

03-03-2008, 07:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Randy4ut Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,387 BananaBucks : 303,352 Feedback: 23 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,051 Times Was Thanked 1,324 Times in 444 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 87 Times	Re: The amazing Musa Basjoo Austin, The soil before I prepped the bed was fairly decent mix with quite a bit of clay. After I turn a bed to about 12", I add what is called "landscape mix". Turn it under and top dress with a good 4" or so of landscape mix. The landscape mix is a combination of pine fines, mushroom compost, sand, perlite, trace elements. I buy it from a fertilizer company that is about 1/4 mile from my house. They sell this, as well as mulches, ferts, sand, gravel. It sure makes it nice to be able to run over and grab a scoop or stop by on the way home from work.... __________________

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