Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here

BobbyinNY · 10-14-2005, 09:11 AM

Hi Everyone....

I'm new to this board. I just started growing bananas this year. I live on Long Island, NY and bought what said "African Red" on the label. This plant was about 1ft when I bought it in May. I re-potted into a much bigger pot and started fertilizing every 2 weeks with a time-release formula from Shultz. Well, this banana plant got to be 8ft tall and has since put on 3 big purple flowers and has small bananas growing. My question is: are these edible? and if so, how long till they'll get big. I don't have to worry about the cold as I have a heated greenhouse that I can keep above 80-F. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Bobby

bigdog · 10-14-2005, 11:43 AM

Your 'African Red' grew taller than mine, and mine's in the ground! I have had three blooms on mine this year also, but the pseudostem height (which is how you measure the height of a banana) is only about 3 feet. The bananas are not edible. I think I got a genetic dwarf somehow. There are more pictures in my gallery.

tropicalkid · 10-14-2005, 12:26 PM

Are these plants putting more than one flower/bunch each, like the "double-mahoi"? That would be interesting.

Carlos

BobbyinNY · 10-14-2005, 12:39 PM

hey Bigdog..

Yup that is EXACTLY what mine looks like. I now have (3) inflorescance on mine. I will post a picture tomorrow.

Bobby

bigdog · 10-14-2005, 02:27 PM

It's just one flower per pseudostem.

BobbyinNY · 10-14-2005, 02:43 PM

Bigdog,

what would you say is the best banana to grow which is edible? Also, one that doesn't get too tall (like over 8ft)

Bobby

bigdog · 10-14-2005, 06:48 PM

You should ask others with more experience. I've heard Raja Puri is very tasty, but my plant hasn't produced a bunch yet, and even if it does next year, my season is probably too short for the bunch to mature and ripen properly. Pseudostem height is usually under 8 feet, but overall height will be higher than that by several feet. That is if you plant it in the ground. I would post this topic in a separate thread, and get the opinion of many others.

BobbyinNY · 10-15-2005, 07:37 AM

Thanks Bigdog....

I'll look for Raja Puri... I'm in a colder climate than you but I have Greenhouse setup in my backyard with 10ft of height and it's heated so hopefully I can keep these growing throuought the winter.

Bananavilla · 10-15-2005, 12:24 PM

Raja Puri is #1 in my book but at only 10ft height in your greenhouse it would be stuffed in the rafters or pushing through your greenhouse poly by the time if fruited.
Raja can get up to 8ft (trunk + leaves). Southerngrower is walking a fine line keeping them in his greenhouse at 12ft.
Look at Dwarf Cavendish or Mauritaus.
Mike

tlturbo · 10-15-2005, 12:52 PM

I have fruited Raja and Gran Nain both outdoors in S FL at under 10 ft total.

Terry

Bananavilla · 10-15-2005, 01:15 PM

Terry, one must also not forget that they will get taller under greenhouse plastic.
Mike

BobbyinNY · 10-15-2005, 03:19 PM

Just for positive ID... Here is a picture of My "African Red"

GATrops · 10-15-2005, 10:04 PM

Bobby-Looks like an "African Red" to me and a very healthy one at that. In the way of shorter edible varieties, the shortest fruiter I have is Double Mahoi. Mine blooms consistenly at about 5 feet of pseudostem height. My Dwarf Cavendish usually blooms at about a foot taller. The "Double Mahoi" also produces a very nice stalk of fruit.

BobbyinNY · 10-16-2005, 04:17 PM

GATrops,

Oh.. nice.. Double Mahoi.. I'll have to check that one out.. Can anyone possible identify this one that I bought at Home Depot.. It was 6 inches when I got it and It's growing like crazy.. but, as with all home depot's tropical plants, all they ever say on the tag is "Assorted Tropical Foliage"... Is this an edible type?...

Bananavilla · 10-16-2005, 06:12 PM

Looks like a Cavendish of some sort with the semi-erect leaves. Maybe Dwarf Cavendish?
Mike

Gabe15 · 10-16-2005, 07:28 PM

Welcome Bobby! I agree with Mike on 'Dwarf Cavendish' on your Home Depot banana.

tropicalkid · 10-17-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GATrops

Bobby-Looks like an "African Red" to me and a very healthy one at that. In the way of shorter edible varieties, the shortest fruiter I have is Double Mahoi. Mine blooms consistenly at about 5 feet of pseudostem height. The "Double Mahoi" also produces a very nice stalk of fruit.

Did you already got more than a bunch per plant?
the one at my parent's home in Puerto Rico only have had two bunches per plant so far.I've read that you can even get three bunches when grown under appropriate conditions.

Carlos(tropicalkid)

BobbyinNY · 10-17-2005, 12:41 PM

Yeah, Carlos... I have (3) bunches already.

tropicalkid · 10-17-2005, 04:15 PM

Sorry Bobby, but I meant to say about the "double mahoi".I should have made myself more clear.This one it's an edible variety that you can get more than a bunch of fruit at a time.Sometimes three.Cool, isn't it?

Carlos(tropicalkid)

BobbyinNY · 10-18-2005, 07:48 AM

Cool... thanks Carlos.. I'll look for that one too.

10-14-2005, 09:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Hi Everyone.... I'm new to this board. I just started growing bananas this year. I live on Long Island, NY and bought what said "African Red" on the label. This plant was about 1ft when I bought it in May. I re-potted into a much bigger pot and started fertilizing every 2 weeks with a time-release formula from Shultz. Well, this banana plant got to be 8ft tall and has since put on 3 big purple flowers and has small bananas growing. My question is: are these edible? and if so, how long till they'll get big. I don't have to worry about the cold as I have a heated greenhouse that I can keep above 80-F. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Bobby

10-14-2005, 11:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,003 BananaBucks : 748,297 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 213 Times Was Thanked 1,788 Times in 503 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Your 'African Red' grew taller than mine, and mine's in the ground! I have had three blooms on mine this year also, but the pseudostem height (which is how you measure the height of a banana) is only about 3 feet. The bananas are not edible. I think I got a genetic dwarf somehow. There are more pictures in my gallery.

10-14-2005, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
tropicalkid Senior Member tropicalkid's Photo Gallery Location: Durham, North Carolina Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 233 BananaBucks : 125,344 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Are these plants putting more than one flower/bunch each, like the "double-mahoi"? That would be interesting. Carlos

10-14-2005, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here hey Bigdog.. Yup that is EXACTLY what mine looks like. I now have (3) inflorescance on mine. I will post a picture tomorrow. Bobby

10-14-2005, 02:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,003 BananaBucks : 748,297 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 213 Times Was Thanked 1,788 Times in 503 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here It's just one flower per pseudostem.

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10-14-2005, 02:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Bigdog, what would you say is the best banana to grow which is edible? Also, one that doesn't get too tall (like over 8ft) Bobby

10-14-2005, 06:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,003 BananaBucks : 748,297 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 213 Times Was Thanked 1,788 Times in 503 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here You should ask others with more experience. I've heard Raja Puri is very tasty, but my plant hasn't produced a bunch yet, and even if it does next year, my season is probably too short for the bunch to mature and ripen properly. Pseudostem height is usually under 8 feet, but overall height will be higher than that by several feet. That is if you plant it in the ground. I would post this topic in a separate thread, and get the opinion of many others.

10-15-2005, 07:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Thanks Bigdog.... I'll look for Raja Puri... I'm in a colder climate than you but I have Greenhouse setup in my backyard with 10ft of height and it's heated so hopefully I can keep these growing throuought the winter.

10-15-2005, 12:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bananavilla Senior Member Bananavilla's Photo Gallery Location: Crescent City California Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 211 BananaBucks : 69,181 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Raja Puri is #1 in my book but at only 10ft height in your greenhouse it would be stuffed in the rafters or pushing through your greenhouse poly by the time if fruited. Raja can get up to 8ft (trunk + leaves). Southerngrower is walking a fine line keeping them in his greenhouse at 12ft. Look at Dwarf Cavendish or Mauritaus. Mike

10-15-2005, 12:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
tlturbo WUTSA V8 tlturbo's Photo Gallery Location: Bokeelia, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Terry Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 365 BananaBucks : 111,610 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 87 Times in 51 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here I have fruited Raja and Gran Nain both outdoors in S FL at under 10 ft total. Terry

10-15-2005, 01:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bananavilla Senior Member Bananavilla's Photo Gallery Location: Crescent City California Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 211 BananaBucks : 69,181 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Terry, one must also not forget that they will get taller under greenhouse plastic. Mike

10-15-2005, 10:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
GATrops Member GATrops's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 153 BananaBucks : 62,319 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 42 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Bobby-Looks like an "African Red" to me and a very healthy one at that. In the way of shorter edible varieties, the shortest fruiter I have is Double Mahoi. Mine blooms consistenly at about 5 feet of pseudostem height. My Dwarf Cavendish usually blooms at about a foot taller. The "Double Mahoi" also produces a very nice stalk of fruit.

10-16-2005, 06:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Bananavilla Senior Member Bananavilla's Photo Gallery Location: Crescent City California Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 211 BananaBucks : 69,181 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Looks like a Cavendish of some sort with the semi-erect leaves. Maybe Dwarf Cavendish? Mike

10-16-2005, 07:28 PM	#16 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,349,490 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Welcome Bobby! I agree with Mike on 'Dwarf Cavendish' on your Home Depot banana. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

10-17-2005, 12:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Yeah, Carlos... I have (3) bunches already.

10-17-2005, 04:15 PM	#19 (permalink)
tropicalkid Senior Member tropicalkid's Photo Gallery Location: Durham, North Carolina Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 233 BananaBucks : 125,344 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Sorry Bobby, but I meant to say about the "double mahoi".I should have made myself more clear.This one it's an edible variety that you can get more than a bunch of fruit at a time.Sometimes three.Cool, isn't it? Carlos(tropicalkid)

10-18-2005, 07:48 AM	#20 (permalink)
BobbyinNY Member BobbyinNY's Photo Gallery Location: Long Island, NY (zone 7a) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 116 BananaBucks : 43,147 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Hi, I'm Bobby... I'm new here Cool... thanks Carlos.. I'll look for that one too.

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