Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

I discovered the flag leaf when I was watering the mat on Aug 28; I was thinking that there is way too many pups on this 2 year old plant to not have a flag leaf yet. But yet sure enough I looked up and saw a flag leaf. The picture was taken on Aug 30. The banana is at least 20 ft high from the tallest leaf but I will measure everything tomorrow.








I don’t think we will get bananas because the frost will kill them at the end of the year but at least I can show off and 100% identify my bananas that I have a true Ice Cream 'Blue Java'.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

cutting off most of the hands will speed maturation of whatever you leave

maybe remove 2/3 of hands

it can't hurt if you're expecting to loose them to frost anyway

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Oh and to give you a size comparison here is another older pic. That is a M. Basjoo up front. The Ice cream plants are in the back towering over.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Sweet!

Id hold off as long as you can, before taking them down.
Where did you acquire your Ice cream from?
When is your average first frost date?

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

I got it from here: 100% Free Ice Cream 'Blue Java' Contest!!! - Page 7 - Bananas.org

Our last frost date is November 4

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

That should be plenty of time for the fruit to ripen up. At the very least fill out nicely.

I'm very interested in pictures, if you're willing to keep them posted. :)

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Thats awsome, I just didnt know how long it will take for an Ice Cream.

Oh i will keep yall posted with pics. Im in a camera class and I use their SLR camera, which is a Canon EOS Rebel T2i and i can bring it home once a week or so. Which means once a week I will get a good HD picture and the other part of the week is a point and shoot canon camera, which has good quality ((12.1MP)) but nothing compared to the SLR. lol

I love the SLR cameras, they are just so much better for me then the point and shoot. :nanadrink:

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

The top of the flower is almost 10ft 6in as of today…









Should I be concerned about it leaning? It has just recently started leaning to the side since the flag leaf appeared. It was straight like the other Ice Cream beside it.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

That's normal due to flowering. If it starts leaning too much, you might want to support it.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

yes especially if you get a large amount of fruit and is heavy.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

That might be normal for a Blue Java, maybe the unopened flower is extraordinarily heavy. I do not have any experience with Blue Javas, but if it was my plant I would try to keep it more verticle now by simply putting a strap around the entire mat and later support the bunch. There is no reason to stretch or stress your roots at this time.

You have a beautiful plant,
Good Luck

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

congrats!!!i am expecting my Ice Cream to throw a spike next year..well done..hope the frost holds off for ya..

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

:woohoonaner: Its comin along! :woohoonaner:
















Support:

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

9/17/2012




















9/18/2012

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Thanks Blake: Really nice pics and nice nana bunch - that photo class is paying off :goteam:
Is this the elusive blue java?

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Thanks :08:


Yes it is :bananas_b



( edit 9/19/12 ) ...A little more research and I don’t think it is the real Ice cream blue java






.

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

It looks more like a Namwah type to me....

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Have you seen the photo of the mother plant...?

http://www.bananas.org/f211/100-free...java-9102.html

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

Blake.....are you sure that's an Ice Cream? Sure looks like a Namwah to me.
Bo

Re: Ice Cream ‘Blue java’ flag leaf... In zone 7b!!!!
 

No, it is definitely not. It is a "Namwah" (a Pisang Awak cultivar) for sure. There are several giveaways, but a really obvious one from the photos is the purplish band of color on the banana finger "stems" (pedicels) where they attach to the base of the hand and the bunch stalk.

Great photos and a great plant. Congrats.