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cowsRmeat
Don't step on the MomeRaths



Registered: 04/23/14
Posts: 3,153
Loc: Wonderland
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Banana tree in flower!
#22238175 - 09/14/15 07:12 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hey everybody! As most of you know, I just got finished with my pineapple plant thread where my pineapple finally fruited. After being kind of bummed that that was all done with, I made my way past my banana tree today, and was amazed that it was actually flowering!
A little background on the tree - I only recently acquired this tree from a friend. I think I got it sometime on June. It was growing over there for a few years before I guess he just got tired of it being in his way and offered it to me. When I showed up to get it, the landscapers had already taken a chainsaw to it and cut it down to the ground and had dug up the massive (probably nearly 100lbs) rootball. I had planned originally to keep the whole thing intact and just transplant it if possible, but that decision was taken from me.
Anyway, I brought it to the house, dug a big hole, threw it in the ground, and left it to it's own devices. Now, in my area, there are plenty of people that grow 'banana' plants (IDK what they really are, but they aren't 'true' bananas that make bananas), and a few that have actual banana trees, but to my knowledge there are probably few that actually do flower and fruit. This is the only tree that I have ever heard of in my area that has actually set fruit. That's one reason that I jumped on the opportunity to get this tree from my friend.
When I planted it, I thought to myself that it would be cool if this tree would repeat its performance and maybe flower again one day after a year or two of recovery, but it has suprised me with a flower pod after only a few months of growing at my place!
Anyway, enough talking - here's some pics!
Sept 14-

Whole tree. You can't really see the base, but it threw out three (I think) little shoots. The largest of which is about 7 or 8 feet tall at the moment...

Bit of a closer shot of the flower.

Upskirt shot...
-------------------- One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know', Alice answered. 'Then', said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'
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Oggy
Stranger Danger


Registered: 12/05/14
Posts: 1,276
Loc: Planet Remulak
Last seen: 6 months, 29 days
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: cowsRmeat]
#22238615 - 09/14/15 08:54 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,318
Loc: Texas
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: Oggy]
#22238754 - 09/14/15 09:32 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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From what I've heard seeds are almost non existent. It's propagated through base cuttings. I maybe wrong. :condmfused2:
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Very nice The plants I have produce miniature banana's,but they are in a pot,so, I wont ever see any.
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cowsRmeat
Don't step on the MomeRaths



Registered: 04/23/14
Posts: 3,153
Loc: Wonderland
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You know, I don't know the exact lineage of this banana tree. The bananas it produces though, aren't exactly what I would call miniature, but the bunch I saw it put out a couple years ago was a little bit smaller than a store bought sized banana. And, sadly the fruit was never offered for me to try, so IDK if there are going to be seeds or not.
IF seeds do result from this pod, then you all can expect a thread over in the MP with them up for grabs! Heck, next spring, I may even divide the roots and offer up some of those for growing, who knows?
-------------------- One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know', Alice answered. 'Then', said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: cowsRmeat]
#22241774 - 09/15/15 03:06 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dude,I think you have the same cultivar as I do. It doesn't produce miniature bananas so to speak,but they are quite a bit smaller,and fatter than a regular banana.
That being said,it takes along time for them to ripen,what's your grow zone again,8A? They may not have time to finish before your first frost.
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: Oggy]
#22241808 - 09/15/15 03:19 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Oggy said: What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
Domesticated types don't produce seeds,it's been bred out of them over along period of time. Wild uncultivated bananas in the tropics do produce seeds though. Pups are the only way to get extra plants from these types of non seed producing banana plants.
I just grow my plants for the beauty of them,even though they will never produce fruit. My plants are years old too,and in the same big container.
Edited by kactus.brand.g (09/15/15 03:26 PM)
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kizatzhaddarak
Fairy Tail



Registered: 10/13/14
Posts: 775
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Last seen: 5 years, 9 months
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I know of a company in Germany that sells seed for some of the more exotic and rare varieties. Feel free to message me. I have always wanted to try growing some from seed.
There are other Kinds of Banana plants, (Ensets) that do not make the kinds of yummy fruits that we are used to.. But In Ethiopia, Ensets are used to make a kind of starch (Bula), and (Kocho) that is made into a pancake/flat bread, and eaten
CowsRmeat, You might really like this article I found on Ensets. http://permaculturenews.org/2010/11/04/enset-the-false-banana-gives-food-security-and-more/
-------------------- The Sleeper Must Awaken! (I do not advocate the ingestion of any substance without extensive research, and or the advice of trained medical and or spiritual personelle)
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Oggy
Stranger Danger


Registered: 12/05/14
Posts: 1,276
Loc: Planet Remulak
Last seen: 6 months, 29 days
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Quote:
kactus.brand.g said:
Quote:
Oggy said: What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
Domesticated types don't produce seeds,it's been bred out of them over along period of time. Wild uncultivated bananas in the tropics do produce seeds though. Pups are the only way to get extra plants from these types of non seed producing banana plants.
I just grow my plants for the beauty of them,even though they will never produce fruit. My plants are years old too,and in the same big container.
I'm aware that that cavendish(normally the bananas you find in walmart or some place) bananas don't produce seeds. I was asking if he knew if they were cavendish or a type with seeds. If he had a chance to eat a fruit from it, he would know as soon as he bit into it, haha.
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Edited by Oggy (09/15/15 05:24 PM)
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cowsRmeat
Don't step on the MomeRaths



Registered: 04/23/14
Posts: 3,153
Loc: Wonderland
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: Oggy]
#22242881 - 09/15/15 07:10 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
kactus.brand.g said: Dude,I think you have the same cultivar as I do. It doesn't produce miniature bananas so to speak,but they are quite a bit smaller,and fatter than a regular banana.
That being said,it takes along time for them to ripen,what's your grow zone again,8A? They may not have time to finish before your first frost.
Yeah, 8a. They might not finish, and if they don't, that's okay. I'll be a bit bummed, but then again I wasn't expecting it to do anything this year anyway...
You say yours will not produce fruit - that's because you have it potted, I assume? If you get a place to live that you are able, do you plan on putting it in the ground???
Quote:
kizatzhaddarak said: I know of a company in Germany that sells seed for some of the more exotic and rare varieties. Feel free to message me. I have always wanted to try growing some from seed.
There are other Kinds of Banana plants, (Ensets) that do not make the kinds of yummy fruits that we are used to.. But In Ethiopia, Ensets are used to make a kind of starch (Bula), and (Kocho) that is made into a pancake/flat bread, and eaten
CowsRmeat, You might really like this article I found on Ensets. http://permaculturenews.org/2010/11/04/enset-the-false-banana-gives-food-security-and-more/
Thanks for the link, that was a pretty interesting read. It's amazing the amount of plants that can be used for food or other reasons that most of the world still doesn't know about/refuses to use.
Quote:
Oggy said:
Quote:
kactus.brand.g said:
Quote:
Oggy said: What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
Domesticated types don't produce seeds,it's been bred out of them over along period of time. Wild uncultivated bananas in the tropics do produce seeds though. Pups are the only way to get extra plants from these types of non seed producing banana plants.
I just grow my plants for the beauty of them,even though they will never produce fruit. My plants are years old too,and in the same big container.
I'm aware that that cavendish(normally the bananas you find in walmart or some place) bananas don't produce seeds. I was asking if he knew if they were cavendish or a type with seeds. If he had a chance to eat a fruit from it, he would know as soon as he bit into it, haha.
No kidding! I've seen banana seeds in pics before! If I bit into one of those it might mean a trip to the dentist!
Honestly, I doubt they will end up being the type with seeds, but who knows?
-------------------- One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know', Alice answered. 'Then', said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: cowsRmeat]
#22243950 - 09/15/15 11:26 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Oggy said:
Quote:
kactus.brand.g said:
Quote:
Oggy said: What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
Domesticated types don't produce seeds,it's been bred out of them over along period of time. Wild uncultivated bananas in the tropics do produce seeds though. Pups are the only way to get extra plants from these types of non seed producing banana plants.
I just grow my plants for the beauty of them,even though they will never produce fruit. My plants are years old too,and in the same big container.
I'm aware that that cavendish(normally the bananas you find in walmart or some place) bananas don't produce seeds. I was asking if he knew if they were cavendish or a type with seeds. If he had a chance to eat a fruit from it, he would know as soon as he bit into it, haha.
Oh,I got ya
Quote:
cowsRmeat said:
Quote:
kactus.brand.g said: Dude,I think you have the same cultivar as I do. It doesn't produce miniature bananas so to speak,but they are quite a bit smaller,and fatter than a regular banana.
That being said,it takes along time for them to ripen,what's your grow zone again,8A? They may not have time to finish before your first frost.
Yeah, 8a. They might not finish, and if they don't, that's okay. I'll be a bit bummed, but then again I wasn't expecting it to do anything this year anyway...
You say yours will not produce fruit - that's because you have it potted, I assume? If you get a place to live that you are able, do you plan on putting it in the ground???
Quote:
kizatzhaddarak said: I know of a company in Germany that sells seed for some of the more exotic and rare varieties. Feel free to message me. I have always wanted to try growing some from seed.
There are other Kinds of Banana plants, (Ensets) that do not make the kinds of yummy fruits that we are used to.. But In Ethiopia, Ensets are used to make a kind of starch (Bula), and (Kocho) that is made into a pancake/flat bread, and eaten
CowsRmeat, You might really like this article I found on Ensets. http://permaculturenews.org/2010/11/04/enset-the-false-banana-gives-food-security-and-more/
Thanks for the link, that was a pretty interesting read. It's amazing the amount of plants that can be used for food or other reasons that most of the world still doesn't know about/refuses to use.
Quote:
Oggy said:
Quote:
kactus.brand.g said:
Quote:
Oggy said: What type of banana does it produce? Do you know if the seeds are viable? That would be a lot of fun to try and grow for a lot of people, even if it results in nothing.
Domesticated types don't produce seeds,it's been bred out of them over along period of time. Wild uncultivated bananas in the tropics do produce seeds though. Pups are the only way to get extra plants from these types of non seed producing banana plants.
I just grow my plants for the beauty of them,even though they will never produce fruit. My plants are years old too,and in the same big container.
I'm aware that that cavendish(normally the bananas you find in walmart or some place) bananas don't produce seeds. I was asking if he knew if they were cavendish or a type with seeds. If he had a chance to eat a fruit from it, he would know as soon as he bit into it, haha.
No kidding! I've seen banana seeds in pics before! If I bit into one of those it might mean a trip to the dentist!
Honestly, I doubt they will end up being the type with seeds, but who knows?
You know,mine came from a big group of plants someone planted along a creek in Fort Walton beach Florida,grow zone 8B,back when I lived there.
The parents produced bananas every year too,and I'm thinking yours just might make it to maturity,8A,and 8B aren't that far apart.
So,yeah,mine would definitely produce bananas in the ground here,in 9B,but alas,it just wasn't meant for me to live in Florida I already have to move back to shitty grow zone7B The cost of living is way too high here,and I can't afford to live here any longer. I really want to cry,because,I'm really missing out on a nice warm winter living here,and where I'm going back to will be freezing cold all winter,but what can I do.
Anyway,enough of my sob story,keep us posted on it's progress
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cowsRmeat
Don't step on the MomeRaths



Registered: 04/23/14
Posts: 3,153
Loc: Wonderland
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We'll see how it does. I have no doubt that the season is long enough here for em to mature. But they didn't get transplanted in the ground until mid summer, like June or July even now that I have thought back. And they were nothing but a root ball at that point. So they didn't have the whole summer to work with this year.
Either way, I'll update as the flower pod develops until they either make bananas or freeze to death...
Bro, this is the first I've heard that you are having to move back! I really hate to hear that! I know how much you seemed to be enjoying it down there. Maybe one day you can make it back down that way again. I understand that FLA is just expensive to live in though...
-------------------- One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know', Alice answered. 'Then', said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'
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kactus.brand.g
Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 6,886
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Banana tree in flower! [Re: cowsRmeat]
#22252104 - 09/17/15 04:49 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
cowsRmeat said: We'll see how it does. I have no doubt that the season is long enough here for em to mature. But they didn't get transplanted in the ground until mid summer, like June or July even now that I have thought back. And they were nothing but a root ball at that point. So they didn't have the whole summer to work with this year.
Either way, I'll update as the flower pod develops until they either make bananas or freeze to death...
Bro, this is the first I've heard that you are having to move back! I really hate to hear that! I know how much you seemed to be enjoying it down there. Maybe one day you can make it back down that way again. I understand that FLA is just expensive to live in though...
You know,I was really depressed,and bummed about it at first,but this area is dirty and nasty,and there are just too many people in this state! I also got stuck living in an overpriced apartment,with no yard to do what I came down here for,grow lots of plants,and have a massive garden.
I also would have never been able to move from here or find a another place because of how overpriced the rent is here. There is also one whole apartment building they evacuated,because it's sinking in a sink hole out here!!!
Better to get out while the getting is good
Warm weather or not,I'm done with living here,and I can't wait to get back to my good old Kentucky home. Kentucky is clean,and pristine,and I don't have to worry about bum encampments,and wading through tons of trash when I want to walk through the very few wooded areas that are left here.
Kentucky has miles and miles of beautiful wilderness,that you can actually get lost in!
Florida has turned into one big cesspool,and they have destroyed most all of the wilderness along all of the coasts here,and it's working it's way inward
I thought this was the state for me,but boy was I ever wrong!
Anyway,I hope your banana plant makes it to maturity man,nothing better than your own home grown tropical fruit
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cowsRmeat
Don't step on the MomeRaths



Registered: 04/23/14
Posts: 3,153
Loc: Wonderland
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Glad to hear you are having a positive outlook on the situation! That's the best way to be! Are you going back to the same place you left?
-------------------- One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know', Alice answered. 'Then', said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'
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