Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Can anyone tell me how many months it takes a Sweetheart to flower after planting? And how many months to harvest after flowering?

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Depends greatly on location and growing conditions; full or part sun, in the ground vs. potted, outdoor all year or indoor & outdoor.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Granted, this is true for all bananas. HOWEVER, it would be nice if we could pick a location, perhaps south Florida where no freezes occur(?), and create a table of months to flower and months from flower to harvest for all cultivars. Then we would have an idea of the RELATIVE differences between the cultivars. Some fruit mature faster than others, and some pseudostems have flowers pop out before others.

For example, what is the difference between Sweetheart and Namwah in the same location without winter freezes?

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Such tables already exist for the tropics (latitudes +10 to -10 at moderate elevations). But this idea of "relative" to a freeze-less place unfortunately has problems.

In my experience in Sweetheart is slightly less cool-tolerant than Namwa -- unless of course your Sweetheart is really Namwa!

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Please - give me the links to those tables. One is never enough.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

The tables I'm familiar with have been absorbed by this quasi-research organization somewhere in their site: ProMusa | ProMusa - the banana knowledge platform

There's also an encyclopedia of banana varieties developed by member pitangadiego at this site: ENCANTO FARMS

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

my sweetheart has been relatively slow growing when compared to some of the other varieties I have. way slower growing when compared to namwa.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

My FHIA-3 Sweetheart (first crop) took approx. 11 months to flower after planting and approx. 3 1/2 months to harvest the bunch after flowering in South Florida!.....Currently, the FHIA-3 Sweetheart second crop it's growing even in a faster rate than the first FHIA-3 Sweetheart main/mother plant!....FHIA-3 it's definitely one of my best Nana growers, a monster grower!....


Check thru the threads!.....Everything is here!.....

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-...s-47210-2.html

http://www.bananas.org/f2/update-my-...8-a-48141.html





:2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

wish mine would grow faster. might have something to do with the freeze last winter. know the draughts I experienced affected all my plants. about killed my variegated florida. even with the sprinklers. got her potted up for the winter will have a different spot in the yard next year.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

In a Dallas TX it took 5 months from flower to fruit ripe

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Planted mine in May (as a 3' pup) and it is flowering now.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Whereabouts are you located? Please add it to your profile :)

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

Merritt Island FL

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

That's about right, 5 to 7 1/2 months for FHIA-3 Sweetheart, as Richard mentioned, everything depends greatly on location and growing conditions!.....


As most of my Nanas, my main/motherplant FHIA-3 Sweetheart had a big setback, thanks to the 2017 hurricane Irma, but recovered flawlessly and put out one of my biggest Nana bunch ever!.....


FHIA-3 Sweetheart pup (second crop) was approx. 2 1/2 ft. tall in August, 2018.....Right now is approx. 11 ft. tall and keeps growing in an amazing rate!.....Looks like is stacking the leaves, it might be flowering soon!.....




FHIA-3 Sweetheart pup (second crop) picture approx. 9 ft. tall from 10/03/2018.....










:2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

thanks hector really is a sweetheart. but your picture brings a question to mind. do they make a banana plant shredder. :ha:

actually I am serious! your compost at the bottom of your plants. pieces of banana plant, stems and such. do they make a machine to shred it up into compost. much like a wood chipper?

sorry had to pick on you again hector, cant help it. I am bad I know.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

No, but if you cut the pstem into roughly 18" sections and let them dry completely then a typical log shredder can handle it.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

I'm getting the impression that Sweetheart roots are slower growing than those of Namwah. The Sweetheart plant takes off only when the roots are finally long enough.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

wood chippers are pretty powerful, but would the fibers from the plant clog up the machine especially if they were wet? my curiosity is up.

I am thinking more of a machine that might squash it first, capture the juices and pulp, and then shred it.

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

How can the fibers be wet if the 18" pstem sections are completely dry?

Re: Sweetheart - Months to Flower and Harvest
 

I was thinking as soon as you cut it down, green leaves, etc.