Randy4ut

Musa Sikkimensis varities. I lost my two small 'Red Tigers' and want to add to my collection of bananas. Not sure what is out there, but if anyone has some that will be pupping next spring, pm me and let me know what you have. I want to try several different ones as far as their hardiness goes, as well as their growth rate, appeal, and vigor. I currently packed to the gills this winter, so it will have to be this spring, but I wanted to get this out to everyone so I get figure out what I want. Thanks in advance...
Randy

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D_&_T

how about a Musa sikkimensis X paradisica seedling if we get several to germ. and grow

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Randy4ut

D & T,
I was just reviewing some of my old posts and realized I did not respond to your post. If you have success with the seed germination, I would love to try one. Don't cut yourselves short, though...
Thanks for the offer, and let me know how they do...
Randy

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D_&_T

was slow getting them sowed, just did like Monday sow and now setting in cold garage will move inside in couple weeks, should have heat pad by then

Dan

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Randy4ut

Keep us all up to date on your experiences... Thanks for the response...
Randy

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mm4birds

looking for ornamental bananas because in new york the growing season outdoors is too short for fruiting. anybody with pups of variegated plants for sale please let me know. thanks

Bananaman88

Randy,

I have some 'Red Tiger' seed going. Now, don't get your hopes up, as I sowed these last Feb and they still haven't come up. I did dig down recently and check on the seed to make sure it had not rotted and they are still there. If they come up and I have extras I'll be sure to let you know.

D_&_T

No sign of life in ours either, hope wasn't to cold out in garage before moving them back in house!

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D'Andra

Hi D & T.

I was in kind of the same situation last year with seeds. The only place to germinate them without getting the rest of the house mad at me was in the garage. I know this sounds stupid and was probably dangerous but here's what I did.

I found a large sterilite plastic bin, took some heavy wire and fashioned a cage to fit inside the bin that stood about a foot above the top of the bin. I found some light plastic wrap that fit over the whole thing. Inside I put some bricks to keep the seed trays out of the water which I poured to a level just below the top of the bricks. Next I used an old aquarium heater that my koi didn't need and fastened it to the side of the bin. Placed the trays inside, tucked the plastic wrap inside the bin and set the heater (I don't remember what temp I used). I topped the whole Mini-greenhouse (major electrical hazard) off with a 4' Flourescent light fixture that I got at a building demolition. I did buy some plant grow light tubes for it but, for the most part is was just stuff laying around.

Building it was really easy and it worked great! I germinated 10/10 E. Ventricosum, 10/10 musa ornata, and 16/20 roystonea regia (palms).

Now to address you other situation.

I Too need a greenhouse. Out of the 20 bananas I germinated that time, 1 E. Ventricosum died for lack of water (bad location, but hey, I have 19 others right?), the other 19 were eaten by birds in a matter of hours after they found them! %^$@$!!!!. The ornata met the same fate save 4. I rescued the remaining 4 and put them in 2 inch pots. That was Nov. They've been inside since and looking really bad. 1 I'm sure is lost, 2 look like they will be gone soon, and the other I doubt will make it.

In my quest to rid the plants of the extreme temps of sitting in the window, the delicate balance of light and water, I decided it's time for me to get a greenhouse! Now since I'm pretty sure I can't find enough scrap things in the yard to build the size I need, I think I gotta buy one.
I've been looking for some time and I think I'm going to get a EZ-Build & Gro greenhouse/coldframe from growerssupply.com with end kits. Actually we have the tools to make the ends so we figure that we can get 2 of them 10'x20' for less than $1000. I need to have seperate ones because we grow tomatoes and tobacco and need to keep them seperated.

If anyone has any experience with growers supply please let me know how they are.

D & T. I hope this may help you out some.

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D'.