The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Not sure of the variety but my grandparents planted this a little over twenty years ago and have only cut down the pseudo stems once they flowered. I remember this plant as a kid and now I get the honor of removing it! It's approximately 7' wide and 4' deep. Any idea how I should go about removing this thing?

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Judging from the orange fruits on the tree next to the clump, you are not in the Seattle area. It's a pity, I could help you out if you were.

You need to dig out the perimeter pups, 1 or 2 at a time, deep enough preserve the corm and some roots, and work your way towards the middle. If you intend to grow them, either get some pots to plant them in, or prepare other planting sites where you intend to plant them.

Check out Jarred's step-by-step procedure for separating a pup in this thread: http://www.bananas.org/f2/time-separ...ring-1814.html

Granted that his illustration is for a single pup, and that should work for you if you want to separate individual pups. But if you want to just remove the clump, having 2 or 3 pups to plant in another spot would make your work faster.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

id use a Cat and move it but good luck she is a beautiful plant.

be patient and Careful thats actually a heirloom in your family .
I have a Apple tree thats as old as i am i got to plant a seed at 1 yr old and well it grew. Tammy

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Step 1: cut down to corm.
Step 2: Dig up corm.
Step 3: attach shipping label and mark it for Youngstown, OH and attention: Shaggy

I'm sure I'll see something that big rollin thru town and grab it. ;o)

Seriously though, if you aren't going to keep or give away just remove, then, take a chainsaw and start hacking the p-stems down to root. Take said chainsaw and cut manageably squares or chunks off the corm after making a perimeter with a spade or even a long trenching shovel. Worked for me when I had to take out a 15' diameter "ornamental grass" type of plant with a massive root system. If you are going to give them away....enlist the help of the naner recievers to get it out properly.

Shaggy

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Wish you were closer, I'd be right over!

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Are you planning on permanently removing those? If so you should offer the corms up for auction. Or ask for postage for willing takers (hint, hint)

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Why not place an auction for it on Craig's list. Then just make it a condition that they come to remove it themselves. Charge them whatever you feel it is worth. Save a few pups for yourself and any takers here. You could place an ad here for selling a few of the smaller pups.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Id definatly buy a pup or Part of it But thats up to you . tammy

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Where are you located? You might want to get some help (everyone here is very helpful).

For a 6 pack and a couple of corms, you'd get these out in no time!

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

A Bobcat would handle that job, no problem!

Frank

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Was the fruit ever eaten? They look like Musa balbisiana from those photos.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

wow thats big it is probly full of bugs and rats all living in the cracks of it i would sell it cut it into pieces and put them for sale on here

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Fairly upright growth habit, quite interesting. I can't find a good leaf base to see whether it is lobed or not.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Holy crap! That's tall....ridiculously tall. Sounds like you've got quite a project ahead of you. I'd recommend cutting off the plants to the ground and separating the corm into pieces (preferably at pre-delineated places if possible) as you dig it up.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Thanks for the input guys! I will tackle this plant this week and will try to preserve as many pups as possible. A bobcat won't have access to the backyard so it looks like I'll be doing this with a spade and pick axe.

Also, My grandparents say the fruits aren't edible but they use the leaves for culinary purposes.

I will keep you updated!

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Dynamite! Yeah, how cool is that? It could be just like when they knock down huge buildings by controlled blasts.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Good luck! I thought moving my 3 yards of sand and 4 yards of mulch this weekend was going to be fun???? I would rather seperate bananas and share them with everyone.

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Hey Andrew! Welcome back! Haven't heard from you for a long time. Still have that Maurelii for me? (The crooked one)

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

Hello Scot,

I am happy to be back (thanks for noticing). I went to Maui and then the Big Island for Thanksgiving. I brought home 42 plants (only one nana but lots of heliconia's). I then got hooked on my ebay sales (plants and house crap). If you have ever sold on ebay, it is a full time job. You know I was also busy with the financial markets and my clients. There is only so much time in the day.

How is the first Maurelii I sent you? I have many more. The crooked one straightened out and I sold it. I have two 7 footers I need to get in the ground. My plants did well this winter and my greenhouse was packed with 23 varieties of Alocasia's, 30 bananas, Gingers, Colocasia's, and many other plants. I will be planting, mulching, digging and in pain this weekend.

Great to hear from you!

Andrew

Re: The Monster Corm! 20+ yr old corm
 

It is doing great! It got a bit of cold damage in my unheated greenhouse, but it is coming back strong as ever. I would like another one sometime in the not-to-distant future. PM me when you have the time. I will be suspending my purchases until I get back from China in mid May.