Steve L

Well, I finally get an edible banana through the winter without much damage and as it put out a half leaf the temps dropped a few weeks ago into the upper 30's and it stalled. I went exploring and found a dead or dying smaller leaf and to the side of it, the bloom. I'm pretty sure it is choked. I pulled up information in the Wiki and there is lots of discussion on choking but no discussion on how to help the banana correct the problem. I was going to take out the knife and operate on it this afternoon but thought maybe I should post here first. Any suggestions.

Steve

island cassie

Sorry to hear that Steve - and even more sorry that I can't help you with the problm.

Cassie

Gabe15

can you post a picture? if the infloresence is just not coming all the way out, that is easily fixed by just cutting a slit in the pseudostem to allow it room. If it is choked and deformed however, that is a problem that ocurred while it was being made (much before it started to come out) and cannot be helped at this point.

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

Steve L

Thanks Gabe. In fact, I got this one from you; it was a huge corm with no growth but I greenhoused it for a winter and was able to get it to grow. The inflo doesn't look deformed to me but the color doesn't look right. Not vibrant but a muted color. I'll post a picture over the weekend and make a slit in the pseudostem.

Bananaman88

Steve,

I'd definitely make the verticle slit into the pseudostem like we talked about on the phone, and like Gabe suggested too. I don't think you will hurt it at all as long as you take care not to cut into the bud. Maybe the odd coloring you mentioned is due to it not being able to come out like it was supposed to and the color muted somewhat due to lack of light. Best of luck!