Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Hi Everyone....

I'm new to this board. I just started growing bananas this year. I live on Long Island, NY and bought what said "African Red" on the label. This plant was about 1ft when I bought it in May. I re-potted into a much bigger pot and started fertilizing every 2 weeks with a time-release formula from Shultz. Well, this banana plant got to be 8ft tall and has since put on 3 big purple flowers and has small bananas growing. My question is: are these edible? and if so, how long till they'll get big. I don't have to worry about the cold as I have a heated greenhouse that I can keep above 80-F. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Bobby

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Your 'African Red' grew taller than mine, and mine's in the ground! I have had three blooms on mine this year also, but the pseudostem height (which is how you measure the height of a banana) is only about 3 feet. The bananas are not edible. I think I got a genetic dwarf somehow. There are more pictures in my gallery.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Are these plants putting more than one flower/bunch each, like the "double-mahoi"? That would be interesting.

Carlos

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

hey Bigdog..

Yup that is EXACTLY what mine looks like. I now have (3) inflorescance on mine. I will post a picture tomorrow.

Bobby

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

It's just one flower per pseudostem.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Bigdog,

what would you say is the best banana to grow which is edible? Also, one that doesn't get too tall (like over 8ft)

Bobby

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

You should ask others with more experience. I've heard Raja Puri is very tasty, but my plant hasn't produced a bunch yet, and even if it does next year, my season is probably too short for the bunch to mature and ripen properly. Pseudostem height is usually under 8 feet, but overall height will be higher than that by several feet. That is if you plant it in the ground. I would post this topic in a separate thread, and get the opinion of many others.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Thanks Bigdog....

I'll look for Raja Puri... I'm in a colder climate than you but I have Greenhouse setup in my backyard with 10ft of height and it's heated so hopefully I can keep these growing throuought the winter.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Raja Puri is #1 in my book but at only 10ft height in your greenhouse it would be stuffed in the rafters or pushing through your greenhouse poly by the time if fruited.
Raja can get up to 8ft (trunk + leaves). Southerngrower is walking a fine line keeping them in his greenhouse at 12ft.
Look at Dwarf Cavendish or Mauritaus.
Mike

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

I have fruited Raja and Gran Nain both outdoors in S FL at under 10 ft total.

Terry

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Terry, one must also not forget that they will get taller under greenhouse plastic.
Mike

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Just for positive ID... Here is a picture of My "African Red"

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Bobby-Looks like an "African Red" to me and a very healthy one at that. In the way of shorter edible varieties, the shortest fruiter I have is Double Mahoi. Mine blooms consistenly at about 5 feet of pseudostem height. My Dwarf Cavendish usually blooms at about a foot taller. The "Double Mahoi" also produces a very nice stalk of fruit.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

GATrops,

Oh.. nice.. Double Mahoi.. I'll have to check that one out.. Can anyone possible identify this one that I bought at Home Depot.. It was 6 inches when I got it and It's growing like crazy.. but, as with all home depot's tropical plants, all they ever say on the tag is "Assorted Tropical Foliage"... Is this an edible type?...

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Looks like a Cavendish of some sort with the semi-erect leaves. Maybe Dwarf Cavendish?
Mike

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Welcome Bobby! I agree with Mike on 'Dwarf Cavendish' on your Home Depot banana.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Did you already got more than a bunch per plant?
the one at my parent's home in Puerto Rico only have had two bunches per plant so far.I've read that you can even get three bunches when grown under appropriate conditions.

Carlos(tropicalkid):cool:

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Yeah, Carlos... I have (3) bunches already.

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Sorry Bobby, but I meant to say about the "double mahoi".I should have made myself more clear.This one it's an edible variety that you can get more than a bunch of fruit at a time.Sometimes three.Cool, isn't it?

Carlos(tropicalkid):cool:

Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here
 

Cool... thanks Carlos.. I'll look for that one too.