Bananas.org

Welcome to the Bananas.org forums.

You're currently viewing our message boards as a guest which gives you limited access to participate in discussions and access our other features such as our wiki and photo gallery. By joining our community, you'll have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Go Back   Bananas.org > Other Topics > Member Introductions
Greetings from the Florida Keys Greetings from the Florida Keys
Register Photo Gallery Classifieds Wiki Chat Map Today's Posts

Member Introductions This is the `tell us about yourself` category. Please make an introductory post here, let us know a little about yourself. A perfect place to break the ice.


Members currently in the chatroom: 0
The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009.
No one is currently using the chat.

Reply   Email this Page Email this Page
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 04-19-2012, 10:11 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Drummer Greetings from the Florida Keys
My name is Scottie aka topshotta and currently, I'm growing Gros Michel, Mysore, and Drawf Plantain. I had Lakatan a few years back but lost them.

In addition to my bananas I grow Ackee, Sweetsop, Mango, Pineapple, Key Lime, Breadfruit and Sugarcane. I give away everything I grow in exchange for a donation, in any amount, of which 100% goes to support missionary work in Jamaica.

I really love this site as I have no formal education in agriculture. I'm also a musician and boys FHSAA lacrosse referee.
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
The following 46 users say welcome topshotta to Bananas.org!
a1nipper (05-05-2012), Abnshrek (04-24-2012), amantedelenguaje (04-24-2012), barnetmill (04-20-2012), Bob3 (04-20-2012), BobbyC (04-17-2013), caliboy1994 (04-20-2012), crazy banana (07-04-2012), CTPalm (04-20-2012), Dalmatiansoap (04-30-2012), Darkman (04-27-2012), delonix87 (10-16-2012), DoctorSteve (04-21-2012), H2O (04-20-2012), harveyc (04-19-2012), hope (08-03-2013), Jem24 (04-28-2012), Kelso (04-25-2012), laserlight (05-01-2012), MediaHound (05-02-2012), mksmth (04-19-2012), momoese (04-26-2012), NSW Bananas (04-24-2012), oakshadows (04-24-2012), palmtree (04-26-2012), Pellis1 (04-24-2012), peterentwistle (04-26-2012), PR-Giants (12-20-2012), quepasa99 (05-01-2012), RAINFOREZT (04-20-2012), Richard (04-19-2012), rottiedog46 (04-22-2012), saltydad (04-20-2012), scottu (04-22-2012), Scuba_Dave (04-20-2012), sidpook (04-20-2012), sjh711 (04-24-2012), SoBe Musa (05-01-2012), stumpy4700 (04-20-2012), sunfish (04-19-2012), TalyMon (05-23-2012), tcarpenter (04-28-2012), TRAY (04-21-2012), trebor (04-20-2012), Worm_Farmer (04-25-2012), Yug (04-24-2012)

Join Bananas.org Today!

Are you a banana plant enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:
   

Join Bananas.org Today! - Click Here

Sponsors
Old 04-19-2012, 11:33 PM   #2 (permalink)
Been nuts, gone bananas
 
harveyc's Avatar
 
Location: Isleton, Calif
Zone: 9b
Name: Harvey
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 5,119
BananaBucks : 273,237
Feedback: 5 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 6,025 Times
Was Thanked 4,460 Times in 1,896 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Welcome, Scottie? No lychee, jackfruit, durian, or mangosteen???

Has the Gros Michel fruited for you? Do you know what clone it is?

Hope you enjoy or stay here.
__________________
harveyc is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To harveyc
Said thanks:
Old 04-20-2012, 07:13 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by harveyc View Post
Welcome, Scottie? No lychee, jackfruit, durian, or mangosteen???
LOL, space is at a premium...


Quote:
Has the Gros Michel fruited for you? Do you know what clone it is?
Yes, it is fruiting right now...I am not knowlegable enough to know about clones. I purchased it from Going Bananas years ago. Here is a pic. I will post more later...

[IMG][/IMG]
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Old 04-20-2012, 09:49 AM   #4 (permalink)
Been nuts, gone bananas
 
harveyc's Avatar
 
Location: Isleton, Calif
Zone: 9b
Name: Harvey
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 5,119
BananaBucks : 273,237
Feedback: 5 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 6,025 Times
Was Thanked 4,460 Times in 1,896 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Scottie, keep taking photos and post it in the banana ID thread along with the height, etc. and our ID expert Gabe can give his thoughts. Congrats!

Sounds like you need to offer landscaping "consultations" to neighbors so you can plant things in their yards besides just your own!
__________________
harveyc is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To harveyc
Old 04-21-2012, 12:29 AM   #5 (permalink)
Baha Guy
 
Iunepeace's Avatar
 
Location: Bahamas
Zone: 12b
Name: Dan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,552
BananaBucks : 40,855
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2,453 Times
Was Thanked 229 Times in 147 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
That flower looks great Scottie! How old is the Gros Michel?
__________________
Freeport, BS
Weather
Iunepeace is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Iunepeace
Said thanks:
Sponsors
Old 04-21-2012, 08:57 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iunepeace View Post
That flower looks great Scottie! How old is the Gros Michel?
I'm not quite sure...here are some more pics...

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Old 04-24-2012, 01:43 AM   #7 (permalink)
Baha Guy
 
Iunepeace's Avatar
 
Location: Bahamas
Zone: 12b
Name: Dan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,552
BananaBucks : 40,855
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2,453 Times
Was Thanked 229 Times in 147 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
They look so nice Scottie! I'm a tad jealous lol. Congratulations really; it's amazing to be growing them so well. Are all those pictures of the Gros Michel, and I think what I was trying to ask you before was how long your varieties usually take to fruit?

Thanks in advance. Wonderful plants you have again
__________________
Freeport, BS
Weather
Iunepeace is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Iunepeace
Old 04-24-2012, 08:10 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iunepeace View Post
Are all those pictures of the Gros Michel, and I think what I was trying to ask you before was how long your varieties usually take to fruit?
Yes, those pics are the Gros Michel and it'll take about four months, but at the three month mark we cut off some for boiling. These are some of the best boiling bananas I've ever had...
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Old 04-24-2012, 08:30 PM   #9 (permalink)
amantedelenguaje
 
Zone: 7
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 333
BananaBucks : 33,564
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 832 Times
Was Thanked 599 Times in 200 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,393 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Wow! I wish my nanners grew that well.
__________________
amantedelenguaje is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To amantedelenguaje
Said thanks:
Old 04-24-2012, 08:56 PM   #10 (permalink)
Moderator

 
Gabe15's Avatar
 
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Zone: 12
Name: Gabe
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,892
BananaBucks : 13,348,038
Feedback: 5 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1 Times
Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
In response the specific type of 'Gros Michel' clone ID, it is the standard tall form, just called 'Gros Michel' typically.
__________________
Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.
Gabe15 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Gabe15
Old 04-24-2012, 09:01 PM   #11 (permalink)
Baha Guy
 
Iunepeace's Avatar
 
Location: Bahamas
Zone: 12b
Name: Dan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,552
BananaBucks : 40,855
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2,453 Times
Was Thanked 229 Times in 147 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by topshotta View Post
Yes, those pics are the Gros Michel and it'll take about four months, but at the three month mark we cut off some for boiling. These are some of the best boiling bananas I've ever had...
It takes four months for a stalk to fruit, or four months for the fruit to ripen? I'm trying to figure out how long it takes for a banana, from sucker to mature, to produce a flower bloom.
__________________
Freeport, BS
Weather
Iunepeace is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Iunepeace
Said thanks:
Old 04-26-2012, 04:19 PM   #12 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iunepeace View Post
It takes four months for a stalk to fruit, or four months for the fruit to ripen? I'm trying to figure out how long it takes for a banana, from sucker to mature, to produce a flower bloom.
Four months from flower to ripened fruit...I'm really not sure about the other...I've never tracked that...I just look for the flag leaf to pop out.
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Said thanks:
Old 04-26-2012, 09:52 PM   #13 (permalink)
Baha Guy
 
Iunepeace's Avatar
 
Location: Bahamas
Zone: 12b
Name: Dan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,552
BananaBucks : 40,855
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2,453 Times
Was Thanked 229 Times in 147 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
OK cool; how long have you been growing bananas?
__________________
Freeport, BS
Weather
Iunepeace is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Iunepeace
Said thanks:
Old 04-26-2012, 11:55 PM   #14 (permalink)
 
palmtree's Avatar
 
Location: New York City
Zone: 7b
Name: Alex C
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,016
BananaBucks : 106,960
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times
Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Awesome! Welcome from NYC! You have a great climate down there and I absolutely love the Florida Keys (Key Lime Pie!). Sounds like your growing great plants!
__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b
palmtree is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To palmtree
Said thanks:
Old 04-27-2012, 08:33 AM   #15 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iunepeace View Post
OK cool; how long have you been growing bananas?
Maybe about 10 years now but between 2006 and 2009 I spent a lot of time working out of state and my plants really suffered.

My wife is from Jamaica, and I started growing fruit trees and sugarcane so she wouldn't feel so homesick as there are not a lot of Jamaicans living down here in the Keys.

Up on the mainland, in an agricultural district called the Redlands (Southwest Miami), is a place called Going Bananas.
Welcome to Going Bananas of Homestead, Florida!
The owner has five acres of bananas where I was able to buy what I am currently growing.

I try to compost as much as I can to condition the soil and only throw a little fertilizer around them each month.

We love Blue Mountain coffee and I mix all the grounds into the compost so that the plants have a little "Jamaica" in them. We like to think that is the reason they are doing so well
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Said thanks:
Old 04-27-2012, 08:47 AM   #16 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by palmtree View Post
I absolutely love the Florida Keys (Key Lime Pie!).
I have this Key Lime tree that for years produced hundreds of key limes. Of course you know that key limes are yellow when ripe and a little bit bigger than the size of a golf ball.




A couple of years ago, the tree started producing limes the size of small grapefruits. They still ripen yellow and still taste like key limes but why it is doing this is a mystery to me...maybe someone can enlighten me.
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta

Join Bananas.org Today!

Are you a banana plant enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:
   

Join Bananas.org Today! - Click Here

Sponsors
Old 04-27-2012, 10:04 PM   #17 (permalink)
 
palmtree's Avatar
 
Location: New York City
Zone: 7b
Name: Alex C
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,016
BananaBucks : 106,960
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times
Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Wow, thats a big lime! It must be getting really good nutrients for the fruit to get that big!
__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b
palmtree is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To palmtree
Said thanks:
Old 04-29-2012, 04:49 AM   #18 (permalink)
Baha Guy
 
Iunepeace's Avatar
 
Location: Bahamas
Zone: 12b
Name: Dan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,552
BananaBucks : 40,855
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2,453 Times
Was Thanked 229 Times in 147 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by topshotta View Post
Maybe about 10 years now but between 2006 and 2009 I spent a lot of time working out of state and my plants really suffered.

My wife is from Jamaica, and I started growing fruit trees and sugarcane so she wouldn't feel so homesick as there are not a lot of Jamaicans living down here in the Keys.
That's great that you've been growing bananas for so long! And really cool of your to grow plants your wife's familiar with; Jamaica has awesome agriculture.

Quote:
Up on the mainland, in an agricultural district called the Redlands (Southwest Miami), is a place called Going Bananas.
Welcome to Going Bananas of Homestead, Florida!
The owner has five acres of bananas where I was able to buy what I am currently growing.
I've come across Going Bananas a few times in my banana research. They have lots of variety, and good to know their products are good to buy.

Quote:
I try to compost as much as I can to condition the soil and only throw a little fertilizer around them each month.

We love Blue Mountain coffee and I mix all the grounds into the compost so that the plants have a little "Jamaica" in them. We like to think that is the reason they are doing so well
Excellent that you compost! (and include a little bit of Jamaica in the soil) I'm trying to get into it my self since I'm growing organically and have really poor soil that could use some organic matter, not to mention it's great for the plants. I haven't had much success with it though. Could you give me some advice on it, like things to compost, how to get it to heat up, how long it takes? I'd really like to be able to use it to build up healthy soil for my plants

Thanks in advance!
__________________
Freeport, BS
Weather
Iunepeace is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Iunepeace
Old 04-29-2012, 06:00 PM   #19 (permalink)
un-Retired
 
Richard's Avatar
 
Location: Vista, CA
Zone: USDA 10b
Name: Richard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,674
BananaBucks : 545,450
Feedback: 9 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times
Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Looks like Bearss Lime (aka Tahitian) to me.
__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Richard
Old 04-29-2012, 07:10 PM   #20 (permalink)
 
Location: Florida Keys
Zone: 10-11
Name: Scottie Lake
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 28
BananaBucks : 4,699
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 41 Times in 9 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times
Default Re: Greetings from the Florida Keys
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard View Post
Looks like Bearss Lime (aka Tahitian) to me.
Thanks Richard, but I'm still confused...Wiki says the Bearss is seedless. This has big seeds and is still identical in taste as the hundreds of key limes the tree produced before it morphed into this big thing.
__________________
The heavens declare your greatness,
The oceans cry out to You,
The mountains, they bow down before You,
So I'll join with the earth and I'll sing my praises to You
topshotta is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To topshotta
Sponsors
Reply   Email this Page Email this Page
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Previous Thread: Hello!
Next Thread: Hello from Florida





Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hello to all from Florida RAINFOREZT Member Introductions 9 12-02-2011 11:52 PM
Florida trip. john_ny Tiki Hut 13 01-11-2011 10:53 PM
keys to success in planting bare root bananas? venturabananas Main Banana Discussion 3 08-06-2010 02:38 PM
Hi From Florida chris Member Introductions 13 06-26-2008 10:02 PM
Hi from Florida! springtime_fl Member Introductions 12 01-14-2008 01:55 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:52 PM.

Banana Pics (Member's Photo Galleries) - Contact Us - Bananas Homepage - Archive - Top




All content © Bananas.org & the respective author.