SoBe Musa

Just got my paper publication of Southern Gardening recently, here is a nice Article about Thai Black:

Article:

Black Thai banana offers staggering beauty
By Norman Winter

MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The Black Thai banana was one of the most sought-after bananas at the early spring Mississippi Garden and Patio Shows. If you were like me, you missed the chance to grab one for yourself. My friend Barbara Harvey in Kosciusko did not miss out on the opportunity to brighten up her landscape with this banana.

The Black Thai can add height to a landscape. Some commercial growers suggest that it can reach almost 18 feet. (Photo by Norman Winter)Barbara says her Black Thai seems to grow a foot a day. I was shocked to see how much it had grown from April through the first of July. Some commercial producers suggest that it can grow to 18 feet tall and reach a second story roof. This plant makes you want to invite the neighbors over to cook out and sit and watch it grow. The Black Thai is the perfect choice for those of us who love tropical plants.

A few weeks ago, I told you about the new and popular Siam Ruby banana, which is dark red with lime green variegation. The Black Thai differs in that it has a deep purple, almost black, color from its pseudostem, or trunk, up to the petioles of the large leaves. The leaves are slightly thinner than most banana plants’ leaves; if you don’t like the torn island look, protect them from the wind.

Botanically speaking, the Black Thai is a selection of Musa balbisiana. The species has played a critical role in banana hybridizing. It is also an important species for the production of yarn and fiber. Additionally, it is another cold-hardy banana choice. The Black Thai is close to rivaling the Japanese fiber banana Musa basjoo, able to survive in zone 7 and possibly zone 6.

Winter hardiness may be attributed to how well the soil drains. There are spots in my landscape that stay wet from December through March. This situation is not suitable for bananas except in zones 9 and higher. But if you have a fertile, organically rich soil, you will see positive results from planting it on raised beds with a good layer of mulch.

While the north has been inundated with rain, the south has been battling heat and dryness. In these brutal conditions the tropical plants have risen to the occasion, and the Black Thai banana is no exception.

A benefit of the Black Thai is that it suckers, or produces new growth shoots. Its shoots give you more to spread around the landscape, share with friends or improve the chances of a spring return in the event of an abnormally cold winter. The Black Thai may be the ultimate thriller plant in a large atrium tub. Like all bananas, it will need plenty of water and some sunlight to reach its true potential.

After my Siama Ruby column, I received a few e-mails and letters from readers who ended up not liking the bananas and wanting to get rid of them. If you are of this mindset, then by all means avoid the Black Thai.

On the other hand, if you have enjoyed trips to tropical destinations such as Martinique or Guadeloupe, you will certainly like the look the Black Thai can help you create at home. Combine them with gingers, elephant ears and hibiscus and you will have smooth sailing, Caribbean style.

-30-

Released: July 9, 2009
Contact: Norman Winter, (601) 857-2284

Article Link Black Thai banana offers staggering beauty (07-09-2009)

Here is my new Thai [b]lack:
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austinl01

Nice read! Are there any pictures of a mature plant?

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

SoBe Musa

here's the picture in the article:
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austinl01

It looks awesome! Please keep us posted on your plant's progress this winter as us northern gardeners see our bananas take a nice long sleep.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

Kim

I agree with austinl01. I can see it's definately a clean designed and pampared garden. Oh yes, the Thai Black looks very healthy also.

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

austinl01

Emy,

Where did you get your Black Thai?

Thanks.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

SoBe Musa

I got it on Thursday at going bananas in Homestead, Fl - goingbananas.com
I am not promoting it ,but it was a great second experience :
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austinl01

Thanks for the pics. I have ordered from them before. It's nice to see pics from their plantation! I must get a Thai Black in the spring now.

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Austin
Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

Bob

Ditto for me, I have had good luck with all my plants from going bananas and have talked to Don on the phone and emailed Katie. Very nice people with great plants.

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SoBe Musa

i also got :
Left to right :
Blue Java
Siam Ruby
Orinoco
Brazilian
Thai Black (small cont)
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SoBe Musa

my favorites from Going Bananas is a Kendria and Saba that i got back on May of 2007.
i waiting for then to fruit!
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coast crab

My Thai Black came from ebay and spent last winter in a friend's greenhouse. I planted a 2 ft plant early in the spring and it is now about 8 ft tall with 2 pups. This one is a real beauty (check it out in my gallery)! I'm eager to see how it makes it through the winter.

I get the publication too and was glad to see the article, thanks for sharing.

Russell

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SoBe Musa

Here’s a little up date .
I Still figuring out where are going to plant it. !!to many bana .....
Meanwhile it see to be growing ok.in the container.
SEP 09 2009
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SEP 12 2009
[IMG][IMG]http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/SEP092009PLANTS2.jp
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SEP 24 2009
[IMG][IMG]http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/BlackThaiSep24200900
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[IMG][IMG]http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/zz77/SoBe_Musa/BlackThaiSep24200902
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SoBe Musa

Sep 24 2009
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CValentine

Growing great!!! ~Cheryl

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coast crab

That's just about what mine looked like when I planted it last April.

R

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xmoose

Does anyone have any Thai black pups that they would be willing to part with ? Im just getting a banana garden started and thought a black would look good in there.. If anyone has one just let me know....
thanks

mckoinld

Check ebay I got 2 there. 1 from hirts and 1 from hortus119. The one from hortus was bigger on arival but they are almost the same size now. Both were nice plants.

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GOOOO TIGERS

planetrj

I would recommend to get from someone else other than Hirts (SeedMart). They just don't know bananas enough, and I've had about 50% mortality rate with them, just because when packing, they either are dried out, or they are over-watered, then by the time you get them planted, they've already begun rotting, and too late, before you know it, you're dead then they give you a really hard time to replace, because they ask why you didn't inform them of the problem when it first arrived. They also seem like they send them too soon, and they are most often VERY tiny with not enough stable root development.

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you will never have enough bananas ^_^

coast crab

I've bought from both and had no trouble from either. The Thai black in my pictures came from Hirt's last winter and was a beautiful, healthy plant when it arrived. I potted it up and put it in a friend's greenhouse for the remainder of the winter and planted it in March. Karl at hortus119 lives near my parents a couple of hours away and is a good guy. I bought my Ensetes from him.

Russell

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