Author Topic: Banana Growing in a temperate climate (Read 49690 times)

ato2 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2012, 12:54:23 PM »

That is true dedication to the Musa cause, beteljuice!

ato2 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2012, 12:57:01 PM »

OK, another pix: here is closer shot of bananas in flower and fruit, taken the other day.

Rwood · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2012, 01:27:40 PM »

Nice shot that Tom!

ato2 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 25, 2012, 03:00:46 PM »

Thanks, Rupert.

ato2 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2012, 04:00:39 PM »

Here's another look at a hand of bananas: the fruit forms quickly after flowering. I usually cut the "bell" of flowers below the fruit off: it will continue flower and make more fruit but it can be ages, in our NZ climates.

TokWW · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2012, 04:08:55 PM »

Great shot there Tom with the flash on - excellent view of the hands of fruit from the one flower and stem. No wonder they are gross feeders!

ato2 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 25, 2012, 05:28:00 PM »

Thanks, Graeme. Yes, I feed them the ashes from the fire and plenty of water

beteljuice · « **Reply #27 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:18:36 AM »

MUSA BASJOO - Update

The Kraken Awakes

.. or to put it another way, it won't become dormant again !!!

Having been given a kick start, it refuses to go bye-bye. Bought it out into the (unseasonal - UK Spring) warm sun this morning and gently peeled back the black / brown, frost damaged outer leaf stems. I couldn't believe the amount of 'water' that oozed out. It hasn't been watered for over 3 months !

The recovering(?) center leaf stem is already definately a (small) leaf, and the smallest 'peeper' which was a tiny 1cm black point has during today produced another 1cm of green !

Tomorrows temp. is expected to be 20C, but the nights are still dropping near zero, so back in the dull corner of the potting shed.

I have no idea if it will cope with all the to-ing and fro-ing during the next month or two

ato2 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:24:57 AM »

The Kraken Awakes[/b]

.. or to put it another way, it won't become dormant again !!!

Having been given a kick start, it refuses to go bye-bye. Bought it out into the (unseasonal - UK Spring) warm sun this morning and gently peeled back the black / brown, frost damaged outer leaf stems. I couldn't believe the amount of 'water' that oozed out. It hasn't been watered for over 3 months !

The recovering(?) center leaf stem is already definately a (small) leaf, and the smallest 'peeper' which was a tiny 1cm black point has during today produced another 1cm of green !

Tomorrows temp. is expected to be 20C, but the nights are still dropping near zero, so back in the dull corner of the potting shed.

I have no idea if it will cope with all the to-ing and fro-ing during the next month or two

That is dedication! Since you are having such excellent Spring weather, I can that should work.
Any chance of a photo of the young Kraken, please?

beteljuice · « **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:35:35 AM »

Quote

Any chance of a photo of the young Kraken, please?

If I can remember how to use my brick of a mobile and get the picture out, I'll try to get a photo of 'Stumpy'

ato2 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:38:11 AM »

Thanks.

beteljuice · « **Reply #31 on:** March 28, 2012, 11:40:37 AM »

Let's see if I can get this posting right !

MUSA BASJOO

Brief history - this was bought as a nursery plant last Summer, approx. 65cm high. I planted it in a large tub lined with 'bubble-wrap'.

It never really wanted to get going, managing two and a half leaves (the eldest dieing or breaking as new emerged) until a few weeks before 'Winter close-down' when it suddenly decided four broad leaves would be nice.
Again just before 'close-down' it produced a couple of small 'peepers'.

When winter was on the doorstep I cut off the leaves, inverted and tied them together making a 'hat' for the pseudo stem (Something I'd seen on the TV)

The small fragile 'peepers' I put toilet roll tubes around and filled in with perlite.

Then the whole plant and tub were swathed with horticultural fleece.

Last Winter was quite mild apart from a few cold weeks with a few nights <-12C.

A couple of weeks ago the top two thirds suddenly folded under its own weight. Removing the fleece revealed a black and brown sodden mess !

I cut it down severely to find a pale (not black !) small inner core.

Spring has begun, and with some unseasonally sunny warm days (although the nights are still prone to be cold) so the beteljuice tried to revive the plant by peeling back the most rotten flesh and putting a large bell cloche over it. (Putting it in the potting shed at night).

It responded in two days and now doesn't want to go back dormant again.

So now (without the cloche) it's to-ing and fro-ing from the potting shed and warm sunlight (Today was 21C

)

In the main, larger picture the (frost dead) palm in the background is to give a visual reference to the approximate height before cutting down, and the kebab skewers to illustrate the amount of rotten flesh I had to peel back.

In the smaller picture is shown one of the peepers which was 1cm of black, but in two days is showing new growth.

... and Today (21C) I've discovered a tiny dot of green - A brand new peeper. All of this is months too early - probably going to end in tears !!!

TokWW · « **Reply #32 on:** March 28, 2012, 01:38:56 PM »

Be wary - Triffid awakes! LOL. That looks like great growth at the top and a strong new peeper too! And summer will come, except there looks to be a nasty Low to the west approaching from Greenland... better get the hot water bottle out!!! For the tree I mean...

beteljuice · « **Reply #33 on:** March 29, 2012, 11:38:51 AM »

Another crazy (warm) weather day 21C > 23C, guys in long shorts and gals in short shorts and mini dresses - reminds me of the early 70's (sigh), but tonight is forecast for 0C and weather to return to seasonal 'normal' over the next few days.

I've had to water the garden - never been known this time of year (UK spring).

The brand new green 'dot' of a peeper is now just over 1cm - this shouldn't happen for months yet, we have tulips in bloom, again too early !

ato2 · « **Reply #34 on:** March 29, 2012, 11:44:55 AM »

... there looks to be a nasty Low to the west approaching from Greenland... better get the hot water bottle out!!! For the tree I mean...

Another crazy (warm) weather day 21C > 23C, guys in long shorts and gals in short shorts and mini dresses - reminds me of the early 70's (sigh), but tonight is forecast for 0C and weather to return to seasonal 'normal' over the next few days.

I've had to water the garden - never been known this time of year (UK spring).

The brand new green 'dot' of a peeper is now just over 1cm - this shouldn't happen for months yet, we have tulips in bloom, again too early !
[/quote]

Enjoy the weather while it is there, and the nice social scenery that accompanies it!
My partner is off to the UK ( West Yorkshire) arriving Monday...how does area look weatherwise, the next wee while?
Your banana probably thinks it died and went to Heaven...

beteljuice · « **Reply #35 on:** May 27, 2012, 02:43:39 PM »

Update:

We've suddenly had 4 days of good temperatures (23+) and hot sun.
Banana is on the move again !

Another peeper !, but ......
advice please - at ground level just below the still rotting outer stem flesh are two little pointy nodules. Are these peepers (at ground level ?), should I cut them out ?

ato2 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 27, 2012, 03:27:47 PM »

My initial reaction would be to leave them alone. Let me think on it, overnight.

beteljuice · « **Reply #37 on:** May 27, 2012, 10:28:39 PM »

What a difference already

- definately suckers, coming out at 90deg soil level.

ato2 · « **Reply #38 on:** May 28, 2012, 06:29:17 AM »

Ah, the beginnings of a banana plantation!

I am still thinking though...

ato2 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 28, 2012, 07:13:15 AM »

The smaller the sucker, the harder to get growth from them if you cut them out and transplant- obviously they don't have much, if any, corm. Possible to grow these little ones by starting them in water....
Trouble is my experience is just about growing them outside and other than watering, fertilizing and the occasional transplant of sword suckers about 2 feet high, I just leave them alone and ignore all peepers.

Inside for Winter and in pots...limitations of space in pots...

I still would be inclined to leave them alone...watch how they develop over your Summer. They can always be removed later.

Not much help to you, I fear but please keep me posted.

Perhaps I should pot a sucker myself and grow it inside to see what issues arise.

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Author Topic: Banana Growing in a temperate climate (Read 49690 times)