harveyc

I have a few plants that started out the season small but have been growing vigorously for the past couple of months and I am afraid that some (my Dwarf Brazilian, in particular), may decide to flower soon. Each time a new leaf comes I stare at it to see if it is a flag. I don't want it to flower now since it would not ripen before cold weather set in (I'm in zone 9 and we sometimes get freezeing weather in December). Are there steps I can take to reduce the likelihood of flowering. I'd rather not perform drastic steps like "whacking" (sorry for borrowing someone else's term...LOL).

Thanks,

Harvey

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JoeReal

Harvey,

If that is the Dwarf Brazilian you just got from me, I am sure it will not bloom until after early summer next year. No need to worry.

Joe

JoeReal

The sibling of that pup which are bigger than yours, I don't think they will bloom this year, most likely, early spring next year they will bloom.

harveyc

Thanks, Joe. How tall is your DB that just bloomed?

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JoeReal

About 6 and half feet at the trunk. This one is the oldest in the bunch. Last year, I was confident and hoping that it would bloom in mid-spring this year but the arctic blast delayed its blooming, I was instead worried about its survival instead of the blooming. And it did survive but the blooom was postponed. Now all I have to do is to find ways to preserve the fruits and some leaves the entire winter. It can be done, as some of my bananas in the lower canopy are able to preserve their leaves intact the entire "normal" winter.

pitangadiego

Harvey, dig it up amd put it in a walk-in refrigerator till Spring, and then replant, and it should bloom when yu want it to. ;-)

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harveyc

Hmm....my Dwarf Brazilian or 6,000 pounds of chestnuts.....? I store chestnuts at about 30F (they freeze at 25-26F). I should sell out of chestnuts by early November and can move the bananas into the cooler then, I suppose, but it would actually be MUCH cheaper for me to keep them warm in the winter than to keep them cooled until spring (I have a VERY low cost heat source but expensive electricity).

Thanks, Jon.

Harvey

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JoeReal

Harvey, if you dig them out, keep them around 35 - 50 deg F in the dark for perfect hibernation. Certainly not inside the heated house unless you intend to keep them potted.

harveyc

I have about 24 cultivars in pots and 4 in the ground and I plan to keep them there, though I do plan on probably migrating bananas next to our new above-ground swimming pool which should help them in cold weather. The existing ones are not close to the pool but I will probably build a tent over them for the winter. I am less concerned about the DO and Rajapuri but want to make sure my Cal Gold and Dwarf Brazilian make it. My Dwarf Brazilian has a new pup that is emerging rapidly but it would probably break off if I were to try to dig it up in a couple of months or so.

Thanks,

Harvey

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