abjones116

Hello All-

New to the site and just getting started in banana growing. Been doing a lot of reading and little posting but here it goes.

Want to thank David. for getting me setup with some plants and good advice.
For starters, I am in Zone 10, South Texas - Rio Grande Valley Area so winters are mild and summers are hot, sunny and humid.

Here is what I am starting with.

Thanks to sddarkman619



2 Gros Michel TC Plants Prior to trimming the leaves.

Thanks to David.

Musa Orinoco Just Planted. Going to further prepare the ground this week to include compost and mulch.


About 4' Manzano Planted. About 5' from the Orinoco. The area will be as well mulched and composted.

I also have an unknown which is about a foot tall which was potted in a 5 gallon pot. I thought I took a photograph of that but I will take one soon and post.


I received a "Ice Cream/Blue Java from Martha's Secret's. The packaging was Ok and slightly damaged during shipping but the tree appears to be good and healthy. It is currently potted in the greenhouse.

The next two are TC Plants from Well Springs Gardens.

Blue Java/Ice Cream TC


Dwarf Red TC Plant





And just because, a few variegated TC pineapple plants, a black pineapple TC plant and 2 crowns from local farm bought.

All are in the gallery and I will keep their progress up to date.

Thelazybanana

looks great!! I used to live in CC so if i can help/ advise, just let me know. good luck!

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Everything's Irie Mon...

abjones116

Sounds good. Thanks very much.

Just took a picture of the Unknown Pup I had received. I will post it shortly.

Kostas

Looking good! Wish you fast growth on your bananas and other tropicals!!!

__________________
''To try,is to risk failure......To not try,is to guarantee it''

Chance1945

Looks like you're off to a good start. I'm like you, I have an unknown. Actually now I have a mat of the unknown and the mother of all of these has a big fat bud at the top.

I'm interested, where did you get the pineapples?
They look great. I especially like the variegated and would like to get a couple. I've never seen them before. You can PM me.

Welcome to the forum, you'll like it here.

Terry

abjones116

Thanks Terry, - The unknown I got locally and at this point I'll take anything and see where it ends up. A few of the pineapples are crowns from local fruit that I purchased. They've started rooting and Pineapples love the sun. They don't require alot of maintainence. I got the other three from Well Springs Gardens. They're TC Plants but they were bigger than I expected.

I have some more preparing to do with the area I have the two planted in. Hopefully I'll have that done within the next few days.

What are you currently growing?

abjones116

Thanks much. Likewise. I'm hoping for the same.

abjones116

On a side note - Has anyone used banana fuel from Well Spring Gardens? Is it worthwhile?

abjones116

Some updates:

The Unknown Plant that I had, the dog and I were fighting over some territory so she was able to get to a good portion of it. I was able to save the corm so I apologize for not having a before picture, but here is an after the picture about 1 1/2 week after the incident:

Unknown:




The first new set of leaves rolled in off the Manzano and Dwarf Red. Unfortunately, in the last dog attack I did lose the Blue Java/Ice Cream (supposedly from Marthas Secrets).

Manzano:


Dwarf Red:


My Orinoco appears to have a leaf ready to roll out but hasn't done so. It's been looking like this for about a good week now at least.


I also have just acquired two new trees which are being planted at the moment. Not sure of their type so hopefully once the leaves grow back some of the experts can ID these. They both are the same, one is a 7' tall and the other is about 4'. I'll get some pictures shortly, hopefully today.

abjones116

Some updates and since I failed to upload some new pictures of the two unknowns I got.

All of these were taken this morning:

One of the two unknown trees I purchased from a local farmer in the area. It looks like the characteristics of a Orinoco in which if it is I have about 3 orinocos:


The Ice Cream/Blue Java that I purchased from Jon starting to grow:


Orinoco:


Manzano:




My TC manzano hasn't done much. Those two above are the same just different shots. They've been inground since late February.

I lost both of the Gros Michel. I might end up purchasing two more from sddarkman, as he just bought another flat. I have a bunch of new TCs that are being babied, a 1000 Fingers, Williams Hybrid, Manzano (not really new), Dwarf Red and a Cavendish. I also have two other three others not pictured which are all doing well. I have a 7ft unknown which I will get some pictures that I purchased from the same local farmer. Another unknown that the dog got to has 4 flowers right now and a Dwarf Cavendish that I picked up at Lowes.

Most are on a fertilizer program that I got from Richard.

Zacarias

abjones,

Your bananas pics look great! Pictures so are so great on this forum. I'm glad you got bit by the banana bug and where you live is great for nanners! I have been to the Rio Grande Valley and love it. I had interviewed for several jobs in Brownsville/Harlingen back in 2002 but decided not to move for other reasons. But I love the climate!
I have ordered from WellSpring Gardens too and while they send small TC plants, I have been happy with them. TC babies for me are so slow to take off but they look good. I also am curious about the Banana Fuel from them. It's got a great macronutrient concentration so it is definitely good for bananas and others too.
I just got a shipment from sddarkmen (Thank you!) and as they just literally came out of the box, I'll wait a few days or less to take pictures.

Z

abjones116

Guerote,

Thanks for viewing. I'm glad you liked the pictures. They continue to push out growth everyday with new leaves coming every few days. I still need to post some pictures of the new TC plants that I've been babying for a month in light shade in the greenhouse. They were of Ok size but have been putting out constant growth since arriving. The fertilizer I use comes from Richards site, it's done great things thus far.

Just bought a Malliki Mango Tree and have a few more in mind to try to keep a good supply of mangos.

The climate down here makes growing things very easy. You can pretty much create the environment that you need and has a long growing season. I've been here since 2008.

abjones116

Been a minute without an update. This week has been pup week. I've discovered on one Unknown (believe it is an Orinoco however) three pups. Found another pup on a known Orinoco.

The Unknown..Suspected Orinoco.






Third Pup


The Known Orinoco

abjones116

Some New Additions:

Cali Gold (abnshrek)




Jamaican/PR Morado (pr-giants)


Ice Cream/Blue Java (pitango/Jon - Encanto)

abjones116

These were home grown from seed - Ensete Glaucum

They have been growing for about 3-4 weeks now. Took about two weeks to germinate.

abjones116

On the tissue culture front, two of my recent TCs have been growing rapidly. I've had these for about a month possibly a little longer.

Williams






1000 Fingers




Think that's all I have for now.

abjones116

A few more updates:

Namwah:




Red/Green:




Second Morado:


Manzano:

abjones116

I also have 2 Orinoco pups that will be ready in two weeks and about 3-4 more ready towards the end of this month from confirmed Orinoco mats. If anyone is interested please let me know.