When to cut flower

Tropicman · 08-04-2010, 03:36 PM

I don't think the bottom fingers will ever mature,so should I go ahead and cut the flower now?

hammer · 08-04-2010, 03:44 PM

I would wait until you see some male blooms before i would cut it.

Tropicman · 08-04-2010, 03:48 PM

But the bananas above has had the flowers already dried up,and if they haven/t been pollinated it is too late now,and the lower hands will never mature.

sunfish · 08-04-2010, 03:52 PM

You can cut it now.

LilRaverBoi · 08-04-2010, 04:14 PM

Looks like the 'fruit' at the bottom have male flowers and won't develop into mature fruit anyway. You can probably cut the bloom off now.

Gabe15 · 08-04-2010, 04:25 PM

You can cut now if you want, but its really not necessary in your case and personally I like to watch them grow. Also, they are extremely useful to leave on for identification and you can better see the differences between varieties.

Tropicman · 08-04-2010, 05:24 PM

Would the above bananas mature faster,if I cut the flower off?
I'm in Kansas,and only have to the middle of October before the frost!

Gabe15 · 08-04-2010, 06:30 PM

The studies I have read that tested that thought found that there was no difference in time to maturity when the bud is attached or removed.

Tropicman · 08-04-2010, 07:07 PM

Thanks
Sometime back on you tube,I watched some videos that on Banana plantations productions they would cut the flower,before they put the blue bag on,saying removing the flower would allow more energy in to the growth of maturing bananas.
In the past I have always cut them off,but they were in a greenhouse maturing,since I have 2 ,1 in fruit and one coming into flower,I might leave one on and cut one off.

pitangadiego · 08-04-2010, 09:13 PM

If you plan to cut off the flower bud, wait till you have about 12" of stem below the last banana. If you cut it off to short, it may dry up into the bunch, and the bananas will then dry up and you will have wasted you plant and time. No benefit to being in a big hurry.

Tropicman · 08-04-2010, 10:40 PM

Yes thats for sure!
Wouldn't want to lose the bunch!

momoese · 08-05-2010, 01:10 AM

I usually leave about 6" after the last hand..when I cut them, which is unusual because I love Humming Birds and they love banana flowers! I've never had any drying that went up more than a few inches.

Tropicman · 08-05-2010, 04:17 AM

Makes me wonder if the variety plays a role in the drying up issue...
The flower were already dried up before the male flowers appeared,but I also noticed a great amounts of ants on the flowers before they dried up,and never saw any bees,as they have been very scarce here the last few years.

island cassie · 08-06-2010, 01:05 PM

I'm with Mitchel as I love to see the birds, bees and wasps attending to the flowers. But then when the flowers and nectar are dripping over a path or paved area, I usually wait until I have about 1ft of clear stem before I cut the bud off. I have lots of red flowers in the garden for the birds anyway - and the wasps can fend for themselves!!

Tropicman · 08-06-2010, 05:52 PM

Come to think about it,haven't seen many wasp this year either.
My garden is full of flowers,and just haven't seen many pollinators this year at all.
Haven't been that many bumble bees this as well,but I have noticed this is the second year in a row for lots of cicadas,Hmm I thought they went in every 17 years cycles......

enigma99a · 09-16-2010, 02:28 AM

So... is it true cutting the flower makes no difference? Winter is coming and I would like to cut if it means it will help

merce3 · 08-04-2014, 07:11 PM

good info here. who cuts and who doesn't? i'm thinking about cutting the heart at around 6" and removing a hand from my praying hands (there are 7 total and the last one looks a little small). thoughts?

Abnshrek · 08-04-2014, 07:33 PM

I cut once I have enough room...

Nicolas Naranja · 08-04-2014, 08:13 PM

I cut as soon as I can tell where the last hand is on bananas and with plantains I cut after the fifth hand.

Dplaza · 08-04-2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropicman

Makes me wonder if the variety plays a role in the drying up issue...
The flower were already dried up before the male flowers appeared,but I also noticed a great amounts of ants on the flowers before they dried up,and never saw any bees,as they have been very scarce here the last few years.

Any chance the bees, wasps, and ant can sense when the plant is ABOUT to flower? I have quite a few on my Namwah... maybe it's wishful thinking but I don't get why I have all the bugs on the stem lately.

08-04-2010, 03:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	When to cut flower I don't think the bottom fingers will ever mature,so should I go ahead and cut the flower now?

08-04-2010, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
hammer Shannon hammer's Photo Gallery Location: Mountain Home, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: Shannon Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 713 BananaBucks : 163,678 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 178 Times Was Thanked 571 Times in 253 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: When to cut flower I would wait until you see some male blooms before i would cut it.

08-04-2010, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower But the bananas above has had the flowers already dried up,and if they haven/t been pollinated it is too late now,and the lower hands will never mature.

08-04-2010, 03:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 998,344 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: When to cut flower You can cut it now.

08-04-2010, 04:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 118,892 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: When to cut flower Looks like the 'fruit' at the bottom have male flowers and won't develop into mature fruit anyway. You can probably cut the bloom off now. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

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08-04-2010, 04:25 PM	#6 (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 : 13,348,045 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: When to cut flower You can cut now if you want, but its really not necessary in your case and personally I like to watch them grow. Also, they are extremely useful to leave on for identification and you can better see the differences between varieties. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

08-04-2010, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower Would the above bananas mature faster,if I cut the flower off? I'm in Kansas,and only have to the middle of October before the frost!

08-04-2010, 06:30 PM	#8 (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 : 13,348,045 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: When to cut flower The studies I have read that tested that thought found that there was no difference in time to maturity when the bud is attached or removed. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

08-04-2010, 07:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower Thanks Sometime back on you tube,I watched some videos that on Banana plantations productions they would cut the flower,before they put the blue bag on,saying removing the flower would allow more energy in to the growth of maturing bananas. In the past I have always cut them off,but they were in a greenhouse maturing,since I have 2 ,1 in fruit and one coming into flower,I might leave one on and cut one off.

08-04-2010, 09:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,488 BananaBucks : 132,619 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,729 Times in 929 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: When to cut flower If you plan to cut off the flower bud, wait till you have about 12" of stem below the last banana. If you cut it off to short, it may dry up into the bunch, and the bananas will then dry up and you will have wasted you plant and time. No benefit to being in a big hurry. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

08-04-2010, 10:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower Yes thats for sure! Wouldn't want to lose the bunch!

08-05-2010, 01:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 3,608 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	Re: When to cut flower I usually leave about 6" after the last hand..when I cut them, which is unusual because I love Humming Birds and they love banana flowers! I've never had any drying that went up more than a few inches.

08-05-2010, 04:17 AM	#13 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower Makes me wonder if the variety plays a role in the drying up issue... The flower were already dried up before the male flowers appeared,but I also noticed a great amounts of ants on the flowers before they dried up,and never saw any bees,as they have been very scarce here the last few years.

08-06-2010, 01:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 383,303 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: When to cut flower I'm with Mitchel as I love to see the birds, bees and wasps attending to the flowers. But then when the flowers and nectar are dripping over a path or paved area, I usually wait until I have about 1ft of clear stem before I cut the bud off. I have lots of red flowers in the garden for the birds anyway - and the wasps can fend for themselves!!

08-06-2010, 05:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
Tropicman Junior Member Tropicman's Photo Gallery Location: Wichita,Ks Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 147 BananaBucks : 37,930 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 131 Times Was Thanked 220 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: When to cut flower Come to think about it,haven't seen many wasp this year either. My garden is full of flowers,and just haven't seen many pollinators this year at all. Haven't been that many bumble bees this as well,but I have noticed this is the second year in a row for lots of cicadas,Hmm I thought they went in every 17 years cycles......

09-16-2010, 02:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
enigma99a enigma99a's Photo Gallery Location: Rocklin, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9b+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 476 BananaBucks : 101,489 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 103 Times Was Thanked 277 Times in 129 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: When to cut flower So... is it true cutting the flower makes no difference? Winter is coming and I would like to cut if it means it will help __________________ Average January Low: 40°F, Average August High: 95°F Typical Low Each Winter: 28-30°F, Typical High Each Summer: 108-110°F, Annual Precipitation: 22 inches

08-04-2014, 07:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
merce3 Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 538 BananaBucks : 70,337 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,093 Times Was Thanked 1,107 Times in 382 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 257 Times	Re: When to cut flower good info here. who cuts and who doesn't? i'm thinking about cutting the heart at around 6" and removing a hand from my praying hands (there are 7 total and the last one looks a little small). thoughts? __________________

08-04-2014, 07:33 PM	#18 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 213,595 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: When to cut flower I cut once I have enough room... __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

08-04-2014, 08:13 PM	#19 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 472,840 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,665 Times in 1,563 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: When to cut flower I cut as soon as I can tell where the last hand is on bananas and with plantains I cut after the fifth hand. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

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