Banana plants (forum)

MiLK_MaN starts with ...
Hello,

Where in Melbourne can I buy some banana plants? I know Bunnings sell the "Cool Bananas" range from time to time, but is there any independant nurseries selling them?

I have a grow tent in my garage for chilies that I can put the banana plants in until it warms up outside, but I have no idea where to source the plants frm at this time of year.

Time: 15th August 2010 10:59am

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About the Author MiLK_MaN
South Morang, VIC
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
I bought some from Backyard Bananas - Blue Java, Dwarf Ducasse, Goldfinger and Ladyfinger. They sell them as tube-grown plants but they have done really well and are now out in the ground after six months.

http://www.backyardbananas.com.au/

Time: 15th August 2010 11:48am

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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John I. says...
I've seen the Cool Banana brand at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Plants Plus, and Garden World. You may not find them in stock until late spring, early summer. Can also recommend Backyard Bananas for mail order.

Time: 15th August 2010 4:40pm

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MiLK_MaN says...
I had a look at the Backyard Bananas site the other day after doing a google search and seeing a few people here mentioning them.

Anyone know how much they cost to ship to Melbourne? $30 for a single plant seems a bit costly, I would imagine the Cool Bananas would be about $15 or so, but that's a guess.


Time: 15th August 2010 5:08pm

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About the Author MiLK_MaN
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Sue at Backyard Bananas is happy to give you a quote if you email her - great to deal with, points you in the right direction.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 15th August 2010 5:37pm

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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John I. says...
I think the cool bananas sell from around $20 to $25. I got a Blue Java delivered to my door from backyard bananas for about $40.

Time: 15th August 2010 5:43pm

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John I. says...
... If your buying more than one plant they may be able to do something on price so best to ask them for a quote.

Time: 15th August 2010 5:53pm

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trikus says...
Bananas galore , especially since another bunch of Mona Lisa fell over , just after picking one .
Picked the first hand from Pisang Ceylon , over 20 fruits , what a massive bunch .
Good succession of fruit on the Blue Java , have half picked this fat bunch , just bagged one and another coming .
Bluggoes I am picking for Tostones .
Have to make some of the special Cuban 'Mojo' sauce . I boiled 2 up and then fried them , pretty tasty.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 12th September 2010 6:11pm

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About the Author Trikus
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trikus says...
The postage is reasonable [ Blue Sky } as they use heavy duty poster tubes and have a fair trip into town from the farm . Lets not use the massive over 100 posts banana thread any more , it takes forever get to the bottom , several other similar threads going . Had a few bunches blown over in the Xmas cyclone . One stand of Ducasse was practically lifted out of the ground , but I bought a good dehydraTOR so as not to waste to much fruit .. LOVE dried bananas ..

Time: 2nd January 2011 11:17am

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allybanana says...
Trikus as a kid in PNG I used to eat so many fresh bananas of different types, I remember a great variety of tastes. Those blue bananas on the tree are looking nice and plump, supermarket bananas are picked early with to many corners and never come close to what I remember as a banana, its good to see tree ripened bananas again. I fell jealous of you guys in the tropics until I hear of cyclones

Time: 2nd January 2011 10:51pm

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About the Author allybanana
Eden S-East NSW
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trikus says...
The dried Ducasse are delicous .. even the angular ones blown down are ripening and seem to taste ok .
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Time: 3rd January 2011 10:16am

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John I. says...
BUNCH TRIMMING: Does anyone have any recommendations regarding banana bunch trimming (should I or shouldn't I)? Would it be an advantage in our temporary?

Time: 3rd January 2011 7:29pm

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About the Author JohnI
Melbourne
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Jimmy says...
If your in Melbourne I would trim (hard) otherwise you will never size the fruit beofre winter.

Time: 4th January 2011 3:23pm

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About the Author Jimmy
Perth
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John I. says...
Thanks Jimmy, the problem is if I trim them too hard then I loose bragging rights (I have about 100 bananas on my lady finger and my brother only has about 50 on his dwarf cavendish).

Time: 4th January 2011 10:05pm

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allybanana says...
What a difficult decission John :) is the brother older, if so, maby count his, then trim yours to five more.

Time: 4th January 2011 10:52pm

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About the Author allybanana
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trikus says...
only trim small or deformed fruits from the lowest hands .. plenty of time for fruit to ripen , all summer long .
You will have bragging rights for best tasting as well as most .

Time: 5th January 2011 7:51am

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John I. says...
Thanks Trikus.
Allybanana, it's my younger brother, but I like the way you think ;0)

Time: 5th January 2011 4:38pm

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About the Author JohnI
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John I. says...
Hi Eddie, here's the latest picture of my Lady Finger bananas. The first hand appeared Dec 30 2010, and the last hand (I think) appeared this morning. There are between 140 to 150 bananas on it but I will trim the last 2 or 3 hands.
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Picture: 1

Time: 8th January 2011 11:14am

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Jantina says...
Woohoo John l, I'm very impressed. Think it will be next year before mine do anything.

Time: 8th January 2011 5:55pm

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About the Author Jantina
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John I. says...
Thanks Jantina. I'm amazed at how many bananas there are. I wasn't expecting anywhere near that many.

Time: 8th January 2011 7:41pm

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About the Author JohnI
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Nick says...
Hey does anyone have cavendish suckers or a small plant I'm happy to pay for either thanks

Time: 8th January 2011 8:12pm

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About the Author dradyz
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trikus says...
You are not allowed to grow cavendish here in Qld ,, so they are not easy to buy ,,
fruit is so cheap to buy why not grow some of the other better tasting fruits ?

Time: 8th January 2011 8:42pm

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About the Author Trikus
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fruitist says...
There are many species undiscovered. An academic from Sweden I know of goes to Borneo twice a year to search for new species. He showed me once with a few leeches hanging on his body. He said he used to find 10 spcies each trip. Here are some species I saw myself. I also treked for 2 hours in a creek and saw a couple alomng the bank which I have never seen before. Highlight of the trip was a leech inside my shoe but luckily outside my sock.
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Time: 8th January 2011 9:26pm

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John Mc says...
Hey Nick, you want to grow bananas in Bathurst? are you crazy? That's like me trying to grow Cacao and Abiu's here.
Good on you for trying.
Anyway, I have a small plantation of Cavendish up the back I might be able to help you, let me go and have a look. If I can find something small enough to put into a post cylinder I'll get it organised. Anyway, I'll have a look first and see what I have and get back.



Time: 9th January 2011 11:11am

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Eddie says...
John they look so good in 10 days that is amazing i was wondering how it was going just the other day must be a good feeling hope mine come up soon or maybe wait till next year

Time: 10th January 2011 1:48am

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About the Author Eddie
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trikus says...
Messy plants aren't they ? Those large bracts are usually the first sign I know another bunch is on the way when I do a walk around the garden . Wait a while for a bit of stem below the last fruit and then cut off the bell , and bag them .

Time: 10th January 2011 8:23am

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trikus says...
just brought in the last of a bunch ,, and wondered how many fruits on the bunch ...
counted the stubs of the top hand , and nearly 40 !! next one not as many , but over 20 .. and 10 hands .. so approx 250 fruits !! many had split from way to much rain
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Time: 10th January 2011 3:31pm

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Eddie says...
Hi John hows is coming along now had has good tropical weather so i bet there thriving

Time: 13th January 2011 9:08pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Eddie. Not a lot to report, like everyone else my banana plants are loving the warm humid weather. I've trimmed three hands off my bunch leaving 7 hands (around 100 bananas),and cut off the flower. I've also bagged the bunch so now it's just a waiting game until they ripen.

Time: 16th January 2011 12:13pm

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About the Author JohnI
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Nick says...
i know its crazy i was told the bowen mango would not grow in bathurst and 6 years later im eating the fruit of the very tree i try to grow anything its the joy of being told you cant and trying if you can its a bonus if you cant well there is no great loss, if you could that would be great i can reimburse you for the postage cost thanks
Nick.

Time: 18th January 2011 12:39pm

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Nick says...
Hey John Mc if you find any small enough to post you can email me at dradyz@live.com.au and i can email you my address and organise to pay the postage thanks
Nick.

Time: 18th January 2011 12:44pm

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John Mc says...
Sure Nick, would you like a dwarf cavendish or a normal height one?

Time: 18th January 2011 7:51pm

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Brad says...
Is there a way to identify which of these (or another variety) I might have as pups?

i've got some in pots - which the giver (not 100% convincingly) told me were cavendish. (His hasn't had fruit yet either)

Time: 18th January 2011 10:17pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Nick says...
They both produce the same size fruit don't they? If so just the dwarf please

Thanks

Time: 18th January 2011 10:54pm

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John Mc says...
Yes mate, off the tree you can't tell the difference. I'll be in contact.


Time: 18th January 2011 11:00pm

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Nick says...
Thanks John I have a new god

Time: 18th January 2011 11:03pm

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Nick says...
So my next question is when it arrives at my door what do I do or how do I plant it, also in approx 12 months if i can keep it aluve and it grow how do i harvest the friut and special treatment or a certain number of days and is there any way to force it to flower (i found with the mango if I bought it inside and put air con right down it forced it to flower) any help would be great appreciated

Time: 18th January 2011 11:08pm

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Jantina says...
Hey Nick, would you be so kind as to detail exactly how you treat your mango? Obviously it's in a pot if you bring it inside at times. I have one in a pot and it flowers and sets tiny fruits which, just as I feel safe to get excited about, fall off. I,m down in Mt Gambier, south SA. Thanks.

Time: 19th January 2011 1:23am

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Nick says...
Hey I found with mango there can be alot of problems when you try to grow mango in areas that they're aren't supposed to be grown. Biggest thing is temp I usually wrap a removalist blank around of a night, at fruit setting time too much water causes the sap to run and they drop their fruit so becarefull not to over water it is easy to do. Best advice I was ever given which has always helped me is If a fruit tree won't flower fertilise with superphosphate(Bunnings). Also
Potash is for general good health, as it improves the quality of flowers and fruit; and strengthens the plant, increasing resistance to diseases etc. if you do this every month you should see a improvement let me know how you go

Time: 19th January 2011 10:35am

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Nick says...
I forgot to add that you should try taken a bit of soil out in top and fill this with blood and bone from Bunnings as it's a nice soil but fertilizers as well

Time: 19th January 2011 10:41am

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John Mc says...
These are dwarf Cavendish in a 35Litre bonzai bag. Probably about 9 months old. I should be removing the suckers to give the poor thing some room to grow. I planted some same size suckers in the top paddock at the same time. There is no real significant difference in size between the ones pictured and the others in the ground.
This is just an example of really, how small of a container you can grow them in. If you're serious, Nick, I'd recommend a 50 litre pot minimum.
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Time: 19th January 2011 9:42pm

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Jantina says...
Thanks for that Nick, will have a go with your suggestions.

Time: 19th January 2011 11:01pm

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Nick says...
Hey John I have a few old 65 litre pots so hopefully they will do. I appreciate the photos have you had any fruit or expected it soon?

Time: 19th January 2011 11:07pm

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John Mc says...
They re about the same size I saw the parent plants in fruit about 9 months ago. I m not sure how long the dwarf var take to fruit, I thought they were all the same, ie 18 months. If my assumptions are correct, I have another 9 months to wait. I ll definately have to get them out of that little bag before too long.

Time: 19th January 2011 11:28pm

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Nick says...
Yeah it is very surprising I thought it would of out grown it but just shows anything is possible and it looks pretty healthy as I have heard they have big roots and they easily get root bound but your doing a great job

Time: 20th January 2011 6:55pm

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Nick says...
Anyone got any hints or tips on cavendish bananas

Time: 22nd January 2011 8:33pm

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Pauline says...
I just bought a cavendish banana this week too. :)
All potted up today ready to start grow. YAY

Time: 22nd January 2011 9:31pm

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About the Author Pauline
Adelaide
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Kaz says...
I planted a few bananas about a month ago one has taken off really well the other is a bit slower but yeah i really happy with them so far (caverdish)
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Time: 23rd January 2011 8:15am

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Shellharbour
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Nick says...
Hey kaz looks healthy good job

Time: 23rd January 2011 2:56pm

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Nick says...
Hey John just wondering how you're going with the bannana tree

Time: 25th January 2011 7:24pm

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Eddie says...
Nick i think John is waiting on his ladder getting ready to pick the crop since he has not responded yet. You can come down John any new pics. Getting some hot weather this week good luck.

Time: 29th January 2011 9:02pm

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About the Author Eddie
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John I. says...
Hi Eddie, your partly right, I am up the ladder each day waiting for my bananas to ripen. Apparently a watched banana doesn't grow. The most exciting part is when the flower emerges and then each day a new hand of bananas appear. From that point it's a bit like watching an apple grow. They may be getting bigger but from day to day you really can't tell the difference. From what I've read it takes 3 to 4 months (in the subtropics) from the first hand appearing to the bunch ripening. It can take up to six months (or more) in cooler climates. I'm hoping that since my banana flowered early summer that it will ripen by april.

Time: 30th January 2011 11:10am

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trikus says...
A few more bunches coming , just found a Monqa Kisa bell beside a near mature bunch. And could see another bell on the big ducasse stand , only a few weeks until the big bunch starts ripening .

Time: 22nd July 2011 1:39pm

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kel01b says...
I have a Banana tree growing in Woolooware NSW with a large bunch of green bananas. It was given to me as a present- i think its lady finger?

It flowered for the first time this year in Late February and over a few months has grown about 80 fingers of bananas. After all hands had finished i cut the flower bell off and put a banana bag over them.

I am not sure when they can be picked?
They are nice and full and still very Green and have been like that for a few months now. Should I leave them on the tree to eventually ripen? or pick them and hang them inside? Will then ripen?


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Time: 27th July 2011 2:15pm

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John Mc says...
Looks a bit short from this angle for lady finger. They normally grow to 4-5m.
Some people pick them one hand at a time, from the top down. As long as they have lost that square edge they will be great. Bananas ripen off the tree anyway so you could start early so you don't have a glut.

Time: 27th July 2011 3:09pm

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Wazza McG says...
John Mc

I have a couple of queries regarding the dwarf variety - could you give me your email address so I can ask in full and not bother the folk following the thread here?
Regards,
Wazza McG

Time: 27th July 2011 7:30pm

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About the Author wazzamcg
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John Mc says...
Wazza, ask away, there are a lot of people here that know a lot more about bananas than I will ever know. everyone benefits and gets enjoyment from reading posts, no matter how insignificant.
You can still email me if you prefer, it's a bit cryptic to throw the 'bots:
I'm at bigponddotcom, just add coastalskylight to the beginning.

Time: 27th July 2011 9:57pm

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Mike says...
Kel,it is a bit hard to tell the variety of the bananas but it is a bit like Williams (cavendish) or Chinese dwarf (dwarf cavendish).Their bells are not as good as most in cooking and leaves are not as useful for wrapping in cooking.There are dozens of varieties loosely called lady fingers and sugars and it doesn't look like ducasse or one of the pisangs,poovan or mons.It should be spring before it ripens and can be picked one hand at a time about a week after they stop growing bigger.

Time: 28th July 2011 7:47am

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trikus says...
Been told 3 months during cooler times , and thats up here in ideal growing conditions . very few bunches entered into Tully Show today , and many big growers still running on skeleton staff .

Time: 29th July 2011 8:52pm

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Mike says...
Cardwell to almost Innisfail really copped it but I see Mission Beach monkey bananas in rusty's for only $7/kg which is half the supermarket cavendish.Some of the banana farms around mareeba,mossman and daintree must be cleaning up.I wonder if there will be a giant pulse of tully bananas in 6 weeks.I chopped down 30 bananas before the cyclone and don't even have a half grown bunch yet.Wind at my place was about 140km/hr peak and I'm 130km north but tully had about 280km/hr and prolonged damaging wind.

Time: 30th July 2011 9:00am

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Steve R says...
I'm in the process of planting a cavendish banana & have discovered the pipe running from one of my downpipes runs directly under where I want to plant the banana. Does anyone know if banana roots penetrate PVC pipes or if I mound the soil level above the pipe this will help?

Time: 19th August 2011 11:40am

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About the Author Steve R1
Port Macquarie
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NSW Bananas says...
Turkis your mona lisa are they a desert or platin banana and whate else are they called and where can a person aquire mona lisa succers or tissue cultures thanks.

Time: 29th March 2012 6:33pm

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About the Author NSW Bananas1
Far south coast NSW
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trikus says...
No idea how to source Mona Lisa sorry . they are a desert type , but not as sweet as most . Similar parentage to Gold Finger

Time: 30th March 2012 6:58pm

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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nswbananas says...
Can you distrubute Mona Lisa Succkers?

Time: 30th March 2012 9:15pm

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South Coast NSW
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trikus says...
unsure as to legality of distributing suckers ..it is also known as FHAI-2 Goldfinger is FHAI-1

Time: 31st March 2012 12:31pm

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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nswbananas says...
Hi Turkis I did some resaearch and some places apear to say that Mona Lisa fruits twice once and then again the next year is this true?

Time: 1st April 2012 3:07pm

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Original Post was last edited: 1st April 2012 3:09pm

About the Author NSW Bananas1
South Coast NSW
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nswbananas says...
Quoute from bananas.org wikki

Description
This banana has been marketed as a 'pesticide-free' banana in Canada. The fruit is to be eaten fresh, it is ripe when it is greenish yellow in color. It has a good cold-tolerance and wind resistance. Mature height 7-12 Ft. Another variety that is very simular to 'Goldfinger', tough with a heritage very similar to Cavendish. Has green foliage. It is a fast re-cropper. Whereas 'Goldfinger' can take a full 18 months to bear after its first crop, this form can bear another crop the following year(under favorable conditions). Resistant to disease, robust, drought resistant. This variety is highly ornamental. Clusters range in the 30-80 Lb range.



Time: 1st April 2012 3:11pm

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South Coast NSW
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trikus says...
hey who is turkis ? I have been getting 2 bunches a month off one stand , a very heavy bearer and one of the best looking ones in my yard , its only in warmer times it will ripen green , ripening very square atm


Time: 1st April 2012 6:36pm

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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nswbananas says...
my bad on the spelling sorry trikus.

damn dislexic keyboard.

Time: 1st April 2012 6:50pm

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About the Author NSW Bananas1
South Coast NSW
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nswbananas says...
Cant realy make sense of what bananas.org means by
Whereas 'Goldfinger' can take a full 18 months to bear after its first crop, this form can bear another crop the following year(under favorable conditions).

Sounds like they mean one stem cold fruit twice not die after fruiting like normal banana plants do.

Time: 1st April 2012 6:54pm

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South Coast NSW
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trikus says...
Looking fwd to tasting Goldfinger , not long to wait . One sucker has been taken off it , and I will have to remove some as can bbarely squeeze ride-on between it and giant pandan .. go down every few days hoping to see a bell emerging from dwarf red dacca stand .. tried striking tiny suckers cut off high on stem of it .. no luck yet .

Time: 2nd April 2012 9:52am

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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John Mc says...
Trikus, Any tips for a lazy banana grower? I only thin when and if required.
My Goldfinger would be fruiting now if not for the low summer temps. The dwarf red daccas are doing better now since moving some suckers further up the hill.

Time: 2nd April 2012 12:41pm

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About the Author JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
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trikus says...
I'm to lazy to offer any tips ;-)
just leave them to grow , she'll be right mate .


Time: 3rd April 2012 8:59am

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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John Mc says...
That'll do me, otherwise it'd turn out to be a full time job just looking after the bananas.

1.Red Dwarf Dacca

2. Rajapuri

3. Goldfinger

4. Choui Cau

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4

Time: 3rd April 2012 9:34am

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About the Author JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
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Brendan says...
G'day John Mc & trikus,
Check out my so called 'tips' on thread called: Cool Climate Bananas- The Verdict.

No one is more lazier than me, and it only takes me about 10mins to 'lose' heaps of unwanted suckers, like about 20 :-)

Time: 3rd April 2012 9:47am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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trikus says...
yes , but thats still 10 mins of actual work !!! shock horror .. 10 mins better spent actually picking fruit from the dozens of suckers you did not remove ....
;-)
I do remove suckers from the side of stand I do not want it growing from .. I steer them across the yard.

Time: 3rd April 2012 2:06pm

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Tully
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MiLK_MaN says...
My Dwarf Ducasse has flowered, and I've got several hands of bananas. I wish it was a month earlier or so, as I don't see these ripening before the onset of winter.

I had to build something with 2" PVC pipes to hold the plant up though, the wind around my area is pretty shocking.
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Picture: 1

Time: 9th April 2012 1:13pm

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snottiegobble says...
Hi MM, maybe you can knock up something like this! The tree is now well over 2m, & the top circular frame still contains the fronds no matter which wind direction.I am hoping the bell ( when it comes) will find support from it also!
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Picture: 1

Time: 9th April 2012 3:37pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
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snottiegobble says...
This 'Barney' now at 12 months in the ground & I will be lining the reed fence with black plastic sheeting to make solar use of any sunshine during the winter.
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Picture: 1

Time: 9th April 2012 4:00pm

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Bunbury/Busso
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Brendan says...
G'day SG, here's what I mean about just leaving 1 sucker, I reckon it allows the mother plant to bear properly?

BTW, this week on SBS, Thur 19th at 7.30pm, Luke Nguyen is doing a banana sucker stir-fry. Should be interesting.
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Picture: 1

Time: 16th April 2012 7:17am

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Mackay, Q
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snottiegobble says...
I see what you mean Brendan, but youre in the tropics & I am torn between providing wind protection by having cluster growth or leaving one long stem to the cold elements of winter that may break or blow down!

Time: 18th April 2012 12:41am

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
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peter 10000 says...
my bannana plants have had to suckers
each for a a while now, all the suckers
were of equal size.
i removed on sucker on each a couple of weeks ago and now they have sprouted
a new sucker which are only about
100 mm tall at the moment.

if i only want one sucker per parent plant which sucker should i remove next,
ie, remove the older bigger one now
or wait a bit for the new one to get bigger and then remove it.




Time: 13th May 2012 7:28pm

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About the Author peter 1000
adelaide
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Brendan says...
Hi peter 10000, because you're way south of here, and banana trees react different in the cold, it's hard to say.
The main reason for removing the sucker, is to allow the main tree to take up more nutrients.

Here's a pic of mine, 1 parent + 1 sucker on 3 mature trees.
Hope that helps. (some suckers are hard to see)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 14th May 2012 9:11am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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snottiegobble says...
Untidy little 'suckers' arent they Brendan? Its ok mate, its just envy coming out of me! :-)

Time: 15th May 2012 4:34pm

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Bunbury/Busso
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kub says...
I have some AeAe plants if any1 would like some 75 2$ in Lakeland,fl

Time: 28th February 2019 6:11am

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About the Author kub
lakeland
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MelbFruit says...
Hey Melbourne/VIC banana growers, I was thinking about selecting one (or a few) of the cold-tolerant banana varieties for these tight spaces around my house. It's about 915 mm across in the area with the elephant's ear, and a little narrower at the other spot. These areas (running east-west) are along north edge of the property (south side of a wooden fence), so they don't get the best sun, but also would be really well protected from the wind. I figure I could keep them in sunny spots in containers until they are a decent size, then they would be more likely to catch some sun, esp at the top where they would be fruiting.

Any recommendations (choose taller trees? don't even bother in that space? could work?). Any alternative subtropical plants you might recommend for that area?

Time: 15th March 2022 12:33pm

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Original Post was last edited: 15th March 2022 12:35pm

About the Author MelbFruit
Newport,3015,VIC
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