Cohiba

I stumbled across this website--bananaplantation.biz--a few minutes ago. They seem to have a reasonable selection and reasonable prices. They also offer several sizes of each variety. I'm curious if any of you have ever ordered from them. If so, was it better or worse than expected?

MediaHound

Never stumbled upon them before.

__________________
Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

pitangadiego

Ditto. The prices are unbeatable.

__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

bananalover

Looks good, they have a couple I would like. If anyone buys from them please let us know.

Casa Del Gatos

I just placed an order with them (they take PayPal!)

Will advise on receipt.

sean

I met the owner at a plant show a few months back...their place is not too far from me...I was planning to take a trip over at some point to take a look. I'll send details when I return

rsieminski

I ordered 4 plants a few days ago. I will let you guys know how they turn out.

Casa Del Gatos

Anybody who was waiting for a review of bananaplantation.biz, here it is:

Holy crap! What a deal!

On Friday I ordered 6 plants - 2 Dw. Brazilian, 2 FHIA-SH3008, 1 FHIA-18 and 1 M. Lasiocarpa. Total price $40 - shipping $21.15 - Grand Total $61.15

I received today (Wed.) 2 boxes, one rather large. The FHIA-18 is taller than I am for only $10!!! The 2 Dw. Brazilians look healthy, as does the one FHIA-SH3008 that is visible.

I am assuming the huge bundle that contains the FHIA-18 also has the Lasiocarpa and the other FHIA-SH3008 since they aren't in the one box. I hesitate unwrapping the big bundle until I get it home as it needs to ride in the passenger seat of a Mazda Miata for 50 miles.

Overall, I am throughly impressed and satisfied. Unless I am missing a plant or two, I will be highly recommending these guys to everybody!

Gabe15

Just curious, can you get a pic when you get them all setteled in?

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

rsieminski

My mistake I thought I ordered from banana Plantation, but I ordered from http://www.banana-plants.com or http://store.yahoo.com/green2995/bananaplants.html they are 1 in the same.

My reaction is the same as above WOW! Ordered on Fri. They said the SDC wouldn't be ready until the 27th, and here it is the 28th and they are here. He even included a fertalizer plug with each one. I ordered 1 SDC, 1 Williams, 1 Dwarf Red, and 1 Saba. Total..$44.90. He gave me an extra SDC for free. The plants are prestine, no brown on any of the leaves. I am pleased!

Casa Del Gatos

OK,

So they forgot one of my FHIA-SH3008. Now we get to see how their customer service is. I will call them today to tell them. I may actually buy a couple more and they can just slip it in with them. Maybe a Kofi, they are relatively short and only $10 each for the 3-4 ft ones.

Gabe, I will take some pix (hopefully this afternoon) and post them ASAP.

The plants all look real healthy. They got a little squished and leaves broken by FedEx Ground, but I expected that.

LOL, we had rain at the office yesterday so I couldn't even take the big ones home in my little convertible, have to take the SUV in just to carry them!

Bananavilla

What exactly is a FHIA-SH3008?
Mike

Casa Del Gatos

Mike,

From the going-bananas list:

SH 3008 - Bred in the Honduras Research Station. It has beautiful large leaves with maroon under side and splotched maroon and green on the top side of the leaves. Resembles the Zebrina/Sumatrana except larger and fuller. Height 6 ft.

I called Bananaplantation.biz and asked about my missing plant. Oliver (very helpful) said the second plant wasn't quite big enough to ship but would be ready in a couple weeks. I said I would probably order another plant and they can just stick the other one in with it.

I also really like the fact that they take PayPal. The convenience of eBay auction payments without the big question mark about who you are dealing with.

So, I am giving these guys a BIG thumbs up, go see them now! A lot of plants are on sale.

http://www.bananaplantation.biz

Bananavilla

Casa Del Gatos, are the plants they shipped anything like this beauty?
Mike

Casa Del Gatos

Mike,

The $10 FHIA-18 is twice as tall and about 5 times as big around. No ****!

The $5 Dwarf Brazilians are about that tall, but much thicker.

I'm telling ya' - screaming deals.

My wife is supposed to be getting the fixins for my soil today, and I am getting the pots so, hopefully I can get them planted tonight and get some pix.

bananalover

Think I will wait to see what they do about your missing plant. I am bothered by the fact that you had to contact then instead of them telling you right off why the plant wasn't included and I am also bothered by the fact that they have plants on the list to sell that aren't large enough to sell yet. To me one missing plant is not good.

Casa Del Gatos

Actually, if I had looked at the packing list, I would have seen the one showing backordered. As to size, the smallest one I got from them is twice the size of just about every other banana I have ever bought online. They have several sizes of each for sale, so I think mine was just in between sizes at the time of shipping. Also, I spent more than a few bucks on TC plants at the beginning of spring that are just now starting to get some decent size on them. I could have saved myself a season of growing if I had gotten them from these guys.

I'll tell you this: If I had seen the actual plants I was going to receive in advance, I would have gladly paid TWICE what I did. Apparently, their parent company Redland Nursery has been producing liners and such for the wholesale grower for 35 years. They have about 200 acres in South Florida where they grow a huge number of Palms and stuff too. Here is their retail website

I hope I don't come off as too rabid a promoter of them, but I wish I had known about them a year ago when I really started getting more into bananas. I would have saved literally hundreds of dollars. I have a client who is a wholesale grower and developer of new plants for the industry (they are the producers of the Encore Azalea, Endless Summer Hydrangea and Knockout Rose) and they would have a hard time selling me plants of this size for what I paid.

Long story not so short - I have nothing to gain by others buying from them, just trying to "spread the good word."

If you choose not to - more for me!

Casa Del Gatos

Pictures in my gallery. Still haven't quite figured out how the gallery works, though.

Bananavilla

Ross, which ones are the plants that they sent? I don't see any pics defining such.

If they are a large grower it is quite possible for them to send monster sized plants if they that is how large their inventory has become before the demand arrose. Was the charge on shipping appropriate for the size/weight of the packages in your oppinion? Or are they loosing money on freight?

Will have to keep an eye on these guys and see if the service remains consistant.

Mike

Casa Del Gatos

This is the picture

it's in my album, but not with the other photos I uploaded.