Basjoofriend

Hi all!

I have recently found a banana source in Brazil for my yard in Lucianópolis - see Jardim de Banana Lucianópolis (currently only in German, but English and Portuguese are planned). Frutas Raras has a banana sortiment with about 14 varieties and cultivars:
Família das musaceae

We know some of the culltivars in the list. But anyone said me, that many banana cultivars have other names, but the same like us known cultivars. Who can tell me, which have pseudonyms or are similar? I'm strongly looking for Ice Cream, Saba, Thousand Fingers and Praying Hands for Lucianópolis. But still not any source of Ice Cream, Thousand Fingers, Saba and Praying Handys in Brasil is found. But I found Mysore and FHIA-18, these I will buy in Brazil and plant them in my yard in Lucianópolis out.

I have a problem with a import license for banana pups and corms: I emailed and faxed to the agricultural ministery of Sao Paulo 2 weeks ago and until today I did get any answer from there yet.

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

lorax

I wouldn't be too concerned about the lack of government response. Things work a whole lot slower in South America - give it another week at least, then fax them a reminder.

I'm not sure about some of the cultivars on that list, but Ouro are what are called "Oritos" in the Spanish-speaking world - they're little gold-ripening bananas. I didn't realize they were a Brazilian cultivar! They are very tasty, again superiour to Cavendish or Gran Nain.

Roxas are what we call here Rojitos or Rosados - they ripen red on the outside and pinkish on the inside, and are fatter than regular cavendishes, but about the same length. I personally prefer the flavour to that of yellow bananas, but very few growers sell their Rojitos so I've had a problem getting trees locally. If you don't have them already, I'd encourage you to get them!

2 Cachos (2 bunches) might be the Praying Hands variety, or it might be a re-bloomer; I don't know enough to tell you, as I've never grown them myself. They're sometimes in the markets and they're square yellow bananas.

Velhaca are what we call Seda (silk bananas.) Again, better flavour than export Cavendishes. A bit bigger, too.

Basjoofriend

Hi,

do you also have Praying Hands, Saba, Thousand Fingers and Ice Cream? You live in Ecuador, in South America. If yes, then you might ship pups to my housekeeper Antonio to Lucianópolis. I will give the agricultural ministery one week more to response, then I will fax one reminder and request them to give me the import license quickly. I cannot wait longer, because I go on 23rd August to Brazil for 4 weeks in my chácara in Lucianópolis.

My housekeeper Antonio also has experiences in growing bananas, he is former banana farmer, today he is a trucker.

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

lorax

Unfortunately the lease on the place I was staying where I did have pups of those plants expired about 6 months ago and I'm currently living in Quito, which is too high-altitude for most bananas. Once I've got a place where I can grow again, I'd gladly send you pups - but I'm not sure how long that will be.

rhymechizel

I don't have any help to give but I lived in and around Salvador Brasil for two years and I remember on my way back to the U.S. they searched all my bags before I got on the plane. Needness to say my passion fruit didn't make it home.

Brasil's a great place, I miss it. Good luck getting your bananas.

-DAN

Tropicallvr

Just wondering if there is native Heliconias where you are staying in the highlands?

Basjoofriend

Hi,

yes, I also plan to plant heliconia, ravenala and streletzia. The former first burgomaster and fundador of Lucianópolis, 91 years old, has one heliconia grove in his garden and I spoke with his wife. She told me, that she will give me pups of her heliconia for my yard next time.

@lorax - Why not try Musa basjoo, sikkimensis, balbisiana, Helen's Hybrid and itinerans, also Orinoco and Dwarf Brazilian (alias Prata) in Quito? These are more cold resistant and more suitable for Quito. You live currently in Bolivia in the neighbourhood of Brazil.

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

lorax

@ Tropicallvr. Quite a few, actually, if you travel towards the cloud forests. Quito is technically a paramo, although with the rain we've been wetter than normal. Heliconia will grow here, but very reluctantly at my elevation - better in the valley proper. The QBG has a nice collection. Which species were you interested in?

@basjoofriend. My map pin is not exactly where I live (deliberately so) - I am actually about 500 meters in elevation further up the flank of the volcano. I have tried Basjoo and Prata in the yard of my apartment, and one cold night did them in. I don't think it's my temperature so much as the very real lack of available oxygen that killed them, though. I'm acclimated now, but I used to get terrible altitude sickness living here.

Basjoofriend

Hi lorax,

you have already tried basjoo!!! Where I can get Musa basjoo in South America for Brazil? Any source in South America could ship some pups of Musa basjoo to Lucianópolis? I don't find any source for Musa basjoo in Brazil to solve the problem with the import (lack of the response of the agricultural ministery of Sao Paulo).

I's bad, that Musa basjoo self does not thrive in Quito, although it's hardy in Germany. But you will move in the future. It's dangerous to live in the near of one vulcano, the vulcano might erupt one day. The air there is too thin, the days are warm, but the nights are frosty, so that bananas will not survive.

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

Tropicallvr

I don't really know the species names, just tried growing the two most available cold hardy heliconias on the foggy California coast(really chilly in summer with the fog), and they didn't grow that well. The high elevation types would most likely be a better climate match, because there is a real lack of heat on the coast, but it also doesn't get that cold in the winter.
I always wanted to go into the Andean highlands and check out the species of cerxylon(palm), bamboo, and Heliconia. If you ever have time to post some pictures that would be awesome.
Thanks,
Kyle

shopgirl2

enjoyed this thread.

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Orinoco by the sunlight.