The humming birds are killing me!

Magilla Gorilla · 09-16-2008, 09:53 AM

The humming birds are knocking off the flowers on my Brazilian bunch. Has anyone had this problem before? Tonight I am going to put netting around the bunch. Will this work? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Andrew

Lagniappe · 09-16-2008, 10:06 AM

If a hummingbird can knock them off,they're probably male flowers and can be knocked off just my looking at them too hard. I've watched them fall with bees still attached and they just held on for the ride and continued feeding after it hit the ground. Do you have a pic ?

Magilla Gorilla · 09-16-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

If a hummingbird can knock them off,they're probably male flowers and can be knocked off just my looking at them too hard. I've watched them fall with bees still attached and they just held on for the ride and continued feeding after it hit the ground. Do you have a pic ?

I have attached pictures. How do I tell a male flower from a female? (Keep it clean!)

This happend last year and I had a few bananas as the rest of the flowers fell off. You can see in the second picture a pile of flowers that are at the base of my plant.

Andrew

momoese · 09-16-2008, 10:54 AM

The flowers falling off won't matter. It's best you leave them uncovered so the hummingbirds can get some nectar. In the winter I leave the male buds hanging just so they can feed when most of the other flowers they like are done for the season.

Magilla Gorilla · 09-16-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

The flowers falling off won't matter. It's best you leave them uncovered so the hummingbirds can get some nectar. In the winter I leave the male buds hanging just so they can feed when most of the other flowers they like are done for the season.

So the flowers falling off are normal? What is the difference between the male and female flowers? Do the female flowers turn into bananas?

Thanks,

Andrew

Lagniappe · 09-16-2008, 11:48 AM

The female flowers will have an apparent fruit(usually) and the male flowers will be tapered.
Male flowers :

Fermale flowers:

Notice the bulbous pistols in the female flowers and the star of stamens in the males.

momoese · 09-16-2008, 12:55 PM

I couldn't see the picture before but can see it now. Yes those are male flowers that are falling off. You can cut the whole male bud off at this point or leave it for looks or for food for the hummingbirds.

Magilla Gorilla · 09-16-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

The female flowers will have an apparent fruit(usually) and the male flowers will be tapered.
Male flowers :

Fermale flowers:

Notice the bulbous pistols in the female flowers and the star of stamens in the males.

Thanks for the reply! What determines how many male and how many female flowers the plant will have? It looks like all the flowers that fell off are male. I see pictures of bunches of bananas on the forum that look to be 50 to 60 pounds and then I look at my Brazilian bunch and it won't feed my family. Why? I have many varieties but only the Brazilian is flowering now.

Thanks,

Andrew

momoese · 09-16-2008, 01:00 PM

Bunch size is determined early on by the amount of food, water, and sun the plant receives. Consistently good growing temps and the size of the corm are also big factors.

09-16-2008, 09:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Magilla Gorilla Magilla Gorilla's Photo Gallery Location: Holualoa, HI Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Andrew Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 727 BananaBucks : 290,577 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 612 Times Was Thanked 1,183 Times in 357 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 79 Times	The humming birds are killing me! The humming birds are knocking off the flowers on my Brazilian bunch. Has anyone had this problem before? Tonight I am going to put netting around the bunch. Will this work? Any input is greatly appreciated! Andrew __________________ Andrew

09-16-2008, 10:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 319,651 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: The humming birds are killing me! If a hummingbird can knock them off,they're probably male flowers and can be knocked off just my looking at them too hard. I've watched them fall with bees still attached and they just held on for the ride and continued feeding after it hit the ground. Do you have a pic ?

09-16-2008, 10:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,569 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,899 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: The humming birds are killing me! The flowers falling off won't matter. It's best you leave them uncovered so the hummingbirds can get some nectar. In the winter I leave the male buds hanging just so they can feed when most of the other flowers they like are done for the season.

09-16-2008, 11:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 319,651 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: The humming birds are killing me! The female flowers will have an apparent fruit(usually) and the male flowers will be tapered. Male flowers : Fermale flowers: Notice the bulbous pistols in the female flowers and the star of stamens in the males.

09-16-2008, 12:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,569 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,899 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: The humming birds are killing me! I couldn't see the picture before but can see it now. Yes those are male flowers that are falling off. You can cut the whole male bud off at this point or leave it for looks or for food for the hummingbirds.

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09-16-2008, 01:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,569 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,899 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: The humming birds are killing me! Bunch size is determined early on by the amount of food, water, and sun the plant receives. Consistently good growing temps and the size of the corm are also big factors.

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