Gabe15

Leaf count can only be used if you are tracking a single variety, in a single environment over multiple generations. Basically it equates to how many leaves are produced in a certain amount of time, and the time it takes from planting or from sucker to emergence to flowering is easily predictable if you have consistent growth. Counting leaves at best ends up being a different (but harder) way to measure time (calendars and dates are much easier to work with), and at worst is just confusing because it gives the impression (such as above) that a plant is obligated to flower after so many leaves.

The exact mechanism for banana flowering initiation is not known, but it does not have any direct connection to the number of leaves produced.

__________________
Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.