D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan

Ok,

A small local neighborhood nursery and gift shop had a banana plant left over from this summer's plant stock. This guy was in a "display" arrangment, in the center of a large pot, with some sweet potato vines in with him draping over the sides. I asked if they would sell it to me, and they said sure, for $20.00. So I had them dig him out and plop him in a plan old plastic nursery pot just to transport him the few blocks home. There WAS actaully a tag in with him, and it says he is a Musa Grand Nain.

I would like to know if anyone can verify this, or if it might be something else like a basjoo, or cavendish.

He is loaded with pups, about 5 or 6, a couple of which are fairly big, maybe approaching 2 feet.

The main reason I want to know is so I can determine how I am going to handle him for the winter. If its not a basjoo or other cold hardy (corm hardy here in my zone 8) I would like to know so I can figure out how to deal with him indoors for the winter.

Here are the photos:







This last photo below is of one of the large pup's leaves. They have the familliar dark sploches on them, that look like a deep redish to me.




Also, in one of the photos above, you can see the pseudostem is fairly red in color. I did pull away 2 of the oldest, and very small leaves which revealed the more red part of the stem.

Any ideas if this is in fact a grand nain? If it isnt, then what exactly do you think it is? It sure does look ALOT like my basjoo, but its alot smaller. It was grown in a smaller container so far this whole summer as well. My basjoo is in a gigantic pot, which is probably why hes gotten real good hight.

Thanks for the help!

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Last edited by D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan : 08-14-2008 at 07:58 PM.

Taylor

Gran Nain. (Since the tag said so, and it is a Cavendish type...I came to that conclusion. Plus, I have grown Gran Nain).

Not hardy here (z8a).

buzzwinder

Looks very much like Gran Nain,

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D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan

Thanks guys! Anyone else feel free to chime in. The more positive IDs the better!

I thought it looked more like a Cavendish than anything. I just did not trust the tag, because I have seen so many bananas mislabled at nurseries, espeically small ones or places like home depot.

Has anone ever tried to overwinter one of these indoors? If so, howd it go and what exactly did you do? I have removed the largest pup today, and he did have roots of his own. I used a very sharp knive and he came right off very clean, exactly at the point where he came out of the mother corm, so I didnt actally take any of the mother corm with him. I did however take out a good sized chunk of moms roots on the side where I cut the pup off, but I think shell be fine. She has PLENTY of other roots.

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Taylor

Cavendish:
Super Dwarf Cavendish
Dwarf Cavendish
Tall Cavendish
Gran Nain (same as tall???)
Probably others...

It would probably over-einter fine in a pot indoors with some bright light and less water than in Summer.

Dean W.

D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan , thanks for sharing the photos. Good luck overwintering them.

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MediaHound

Do a search for these two words:
overwinter indoors
Bananas.org - Search Forums
Many good threads on the topic. Cheers

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