Darkman

Here is a couple different angles from February 21, 2011 when I started unwrapping.




and here is a look down the fence June 20, 2011 just four months later.


The Orinoco flag leaf


and finally the bloom today July 2, 2011.


close up but blurry



OK! What are the odds of ripe fruit before December 15, 2011?

Hydro this is from that first big Orinoco you gave me. Thanks

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

sunfish

Did you get the short leaf before the flag ?

hydroid

WOW!!!
That's great Charlie, and the timing is perfect, it sould be around 90 days from first fruit. If you need anymore, just come on by, I need to make room for Dwarf Namwah and Raja Puri.

bananimal

Charles --- on that Orinoco -- you can cut down your harvest time by cutting the bunch when filled out but still green. Orinoco makes great chips and tostones.

When does the first frost date come?

Dan

Darkman

Sunfish,
Yes I did get a short leaf first.

Hydroid,
I'd love to take you up on that but I have to have a place to put them. LOL Maybe I could come by for a cup of coffee one day or your family and mine can catch a dinner over there.

Bananimal,
Around the end of November but sometimes I don't see one before the end of December. Frost is so finicky about where it lays down. I'm hoping for yellow fruit on the P-stem.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

ron_mcb

here in my area orinoco has started to ripen in 2- 2 1/2 at 3 mo.they started to split
i may have less humidity which may allow my temps to rise a little higher in the summer than you guys who are nearer the gulf coast area.. i may be able manipulate conditions a little in my plot some too.

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naw mek smaddi ditate fi yuh. naw wan gwan a pawty yuh naggo.

Darkman

From what Hydro and Ron mcb said I should have fruit no problem. Now I'm looking at the pup that is now bigger than the fruiting P-stem. I suppose it could conceivably produce a bloom this year too!

__________________
Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

aupoet

Hi Darkman, we are neighbors as I am over here in little old LA - Lillian Ala that is. Your bananas look really nice. How are you keeping them well watered in this dry year so far. I have two plants and this is their third summer. I sure to get at least one to bloom this year and make a crop before it turns cold. I have an ice cream and a blue java, just don't remember which is which. Have you ever had a problem with squirrels chewing on the new leaves before they unfurl? One of my trees, out away from the house, was repeatedly attacked until I tied the dogs out there to guard it. Let me know if you would like to get one of my suckers.

Darkman

Thanks,

I have my bananas planted on the edge of my blueberry patch that I planted this year. I have to water the blueberries so the banana gets watered every day. Yes I had an unreal water bill but until I get my plants on microsprinklers I just have to put up with it.

Not yet on the squirrels. I do have a lot of them. One thing is that recently a stray kitten has started hanging around and it has been dropping little treasures at my front door. Things like mice, feathers, moles, snake heads and yes several squirrel tales. If he keeps up the good work he can stay.

I believe I have a ice cream/blue java but I was looking at it today and I'm not sure. Maybe we can get together and visit.

__________________
Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

ron_mcb

Ive heard some debate about a certain bananas doing this.. suckers pop up and fruit the same year they were formed.. almost effortlessly and or consistently..

i wont say whats impossible... at harvest time on my Orinoco i had a couple followers that were taller than the mother stem. nothing else happened that year. i think the corm connected to a stem have to be a certain age/size no matter how big the plants look on the surface.

i will have to try that teepee you are using for winter protection. what kind of material is that??

__________________
naw mek smaddi ditate fi yuh. naw wan gwan a pawty yuh naggo.

Jose263

Charles, congrats on your success with the orinoco - still hoping for a flag here.
I'll be trying your winterizing methods this year.
TJ

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

Darkman

It is standard builders plastic (visqueen). It comes in several widths. I went with the 10' x 100' roll. I made about three wraps and taped it using a tape dispenser. All in all I was happy with the results. There are a few pictures in this post When do I uncover them?
that will give a better idea at what I did. I used a few diferent methods.

__________________
Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.