voyager

It's been quite a while since I've posted about my banana plants and other related subjects.
So, let's update what's been happening.


1.This was the bunch that formed from the 1st flower that opened right after we moved into our new place, the end of last November.
All but 3 of the bananas aborted. Those that made it to ripening were about 2-1/2" long.
The plants that were there when we moved in were very poorly taken care of and were very weak.
This bunch no longer exists, everything else is with new photos taken today.


2. I began to mulch and fertilize the plants.
This is the bunch from the second flower to open.
They're a little bigger, but don't seem to have more bananas than the 1st.


3. These are from the 3rd flower to open.
They're again a bit bigger, plus more numerous.


4. This is the last flower to open.
The improvement is very noticeable.
The bananas are even larger and many more on the bunch.


5. This is what that group looks like now.
The young plants look very robust and healthy in comparison to the older ones.


6. The second group is also Dwarf Brazilians, but is not doing as well as the 1st group.
Its probably my fault as I have been concentrating on the the 1st group, saving the 3rd group, and other things around the property.


7. This where the 3rd group of Ice Cream Bananas was located.
Everything was grown over by uluhe ferns.
The tips of the leaves of the plants laying on the ground in the foreground were just barely poking out from under the ferns.
There are still a few pups here that I want to transplant to the new location as soon as I get more room for them.


8. This is where I am relocating the 3rd group to, a new raised bed area that I'm making new soil for as I put it together.
I'm also adding a few avocado and tangerine trees plus a longan tree as well as a bunch of pineapples.
As I get more raised bed built I'll be moving the pups from groups 1 and 2 to here, and adding more pineapples and a rambutan tree.
Then, we'll see what else gets put in.
I had a 32yd load of red cinders delivered and am picking up loads of mulch from the green waste site in Hilo with my pickup.
After composting the mulch down, I use it and the cinders to build soil for the raised beds.

NOW, an ID question:
I bought a bunch of these bananas at the Maku'u market last Sunday.


Obviously they're a red banana.
But, what type are they?
I'd like to add this type to what I'm already growing.

AND another question:

To anyone familiar with the repercussions of "banana rustling" in Hawaii.
I have found several clumps of 12' to 15' tall banana "trees" growing on county and homeland land.
They are obviously old, overgrown, untended clumps of many plants.
So, my question is: How stupid of an idea is it to dig a few pups from those clumps?

OK, that's enough for now.
I'm done.

robguz24

The reds are tall or dwarf. The best source of Dwarf Red are the TC ones for $7 at Home Depot.

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

chipboy44

Wild growing bananas......... I saw look both ways and help yourself. They will be soon replaced by new suckers..... lol

rick

voyager

@ robguz24
I was thinking they might be from a Dwarf Red.
The photos in the "Banana Book" led me to think that.
But, I wasn't sure.

I've finished those reds off.
They're not my favorites.
As they ripen and darken up, their taste get very strong and "skunky".
Then, they do make good banana bread, though.


@ chipboy44

I'm sorely tempted to grab a shovel the next time I go by them, and dig up one or two of their pups.
Some of the pups are almost 4' tall and are still pointed swords.

I need to make an area about 20' long as a screen.
The neighbor on that side cleared his building pad right up to the property line.
A hedge of 12 to 15 foot tall or more bananas would do that nicely.
Kinda like a spite fence.
Plus, I could get-off on a few "full size" bananas around just for show.

I forgot to mention about my Zebrinas.
They are doing well.
The bunch that was on one of them ripened and I got to try eating one.
Well, they are edible, meaning that you can choke 'em down and keep 'em down.
They do taste somewhat like a banana.
They just have a few small scattered seeds and leave a mealy texture in your mouth that can be washed out with water.
I'd classify them as "survival food", eaten only for survival.
There are 3 new bunches in the group now.
I'm thinking of transplanting the new pups to another location in the yard.
Now, they're in a somewhat hidden spot way in the back.
I'm thinking of a more viewable spot in the front where they can be more ornamental.

robguz24

Reds aren't my favorite either. With pictures of the plant too, it should be pretty clear if they are dwarf or not. Much shorter, closer together leaves, thicker p-stem.

__________________
My micro-farm

Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

keikikid

In this part of the island, every mat is closely watched. Unless you see yellow bananas eaten by rats, someone considers the bananas "theirs". Some do no more than harvest, others fertilize etc. Although the pups are not food, they can be income now or at harvest. Be aware that there are many levels of ownership.