Bananas.org - Newbie Question

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Re: Newbie Question

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEELVIPER (Post 31729)

If we got enough rain here in Southern California, we could easily commercially grow bananas here. Just does not rain enough.:0491:

Pitadiego who grows a ton of varities said his fastest grower is FHIA 3, and it was basically bred for drought tolerance, and overall hardiness, so that one might be a good choice for a planting of less irigated bananas in So Cal.

Re: Newbie Question

At the moment, all farmers in southern CA are under a mandatory 30% water cut based on last year's usage. They were already being frugal with water to make ends meet. Many growers feel that it is no longer commercially viable to farm avocados and other hydrophilic crops.

Re: Newbie Question

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropicallvr (Post 31714)

Found this on La Conchita, I don't think your banana plant was from there, but it's cool that these people were some of the pioneers in Musa cultivation in California.

1985- La Conchita banana plantation started

From it’s opening until its forced closure in 1996, the Seaside Banana Gardens operated by Doug Richardson and his partner Paul Turner, became the most famous attraction in La Conchita. The Gardens were featured in both national and international publications and made La Conchita a landmark along Highway 101. Although horticultural authorities maintained that bananas could not be commercially grown in California, Richardson and Turner proved them wrong by cultivating over 50 exotic varieties. The unique microclimate of the community’s location was ideal for this purpose. Many subsequent generations of bananas continue to grow and thrive throughout the home gardens of La Conchita today.

On another site, it said they grew M. cavendish, M.manzano, M.mysore, M.ae ae, M.blue java, and M.brazilian was his favorite.

I used to get the Seaside Banana Gardens mailers. One thing that attracted me to their business is that they featured the Saba, Cardaba, and Pitogo in their newsletters. These plants they claim were brought to them from the Philippines by a couple of their workers. When I finally had a chance to visit Santa Barbara for construction inspections of the Costco branch in Goleta, I found out that they'd closed. Bummer! I didn't know until now that they closed in 1996. But people at the site that I talked to told me that their lease was up and could not come into an agreement with the owner.

I believe they said that the area they were in has a subtropical microclimate. That while temperatures may dip in most parts of CA, they rarely, if ever, experience frost. Though in the summer, they do not get too hot, either. So, if anyone lives nearby, who is growing bananas, that should be most encouraging.

Re: Newbie Question

I was talking with one of the financiers of the operation and she told me that the land was taken over by an oil company. I believe Jon (Pitangadiego) Knows Doug and may have more in depth knowledge of what went down.

Re: Newbie Question

Blossom,

When that Ensete Ventricosum fully blooms be sure to collect all the seeds. There should be tons of them. If you sprout the seeds and grow them out you could easily trade them for other banana varieties right here on Bananas.org.

Re: Newbie Question

Quote:

Originally Posted by southlatropical (Post 31787)

Good to know! Thank you...I've got a few friends that want some pups too. The tree is just beautiful and she's got a little fan club around here. I'll try to make sure and save them correctly and get them to others as well.

Re: Newbie Question

Great NYT articles about Seaside Banana Gardens and the varities they grew. Great memories from Ventura.

DE GUSTIBUS; Life After Cavendish, or, Yes, We Have Plenty of Bananas - New York Times

At the Nation's Table: Ventura, Calif. - New York Times