Banana (forum)

Dekka starts with ...
Hi, I have a banana in fruit but I don't know when to cut the flower off and bag the bunch. The flower keeps producing more little fruit so I've been reluctant to do anything. Any ideas?
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Time: 4th February 2009 5:50pm

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About the Author Dekka
Newcastle
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tr says...
the small fruits will never get any bigger ,, just cut of the bell and leave plenty of stalk to grab when cutting the bunch down .. I hang mine upside down .

Time: 4th February 2009 7:29pm

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Dekka says...
Thanks Tr, Should I be giving it extra water while the fruit develop? And at what stage should I cut the bunch off?

Time: 4th February 2009 7:35pm

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trikus says...
they really need an inch of rain a week , every week to get nice fat fruit . wait until the fruit has rounded out before picking . it will be very angular now . can take up to 6 months depending on what type it is . wait until you hear the fruit bats screaming and eating the first hand then pick !!! hehe .. bag them if you can get up there , and make a note to check in 3 months or so .. keep an eye on them .. I love home grown bananas .. got 6 different ones planted out no , and they are growing like the clappers.

Time: 4th February 2009 9:10pm

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About the Author Trikus
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Stella says...
On a different track. Could you tell me please if a Bananas root system is very extensive/invasive. I want to plant near our pool but don't want them to wreck the liner
Thanks

Time: 6th February 2009 7:00pm

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John I. says...
Hi All, I just planted my first Lady Finger and Red Dacca. They are Cool Banana brand (from Humphris nursery). I was just wondering if anyone has had luck with fruiting bananas in Melbourne?

Time: 12th February 2009 10:05am

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About the Author JohnI
Melton
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Jantina says...
I do not live in Melb anymore but saw a banana plant with a bunch of fruit on it in a backyard last year. Around Clayton way.

Time: 12th February 2009 10:17am

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Lucy says...
I saw an office in Carinish rd Clayton near railway line had a banana grown in the big pot indoor with a flower about to open.

Time: 12th February 2009 10:21am

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John I. says...
Thanks Jantina & Lucy,
I've been scouring forums and there are a number of people who have seen bananas growing in Melbourne. But I still haven't found anyone who is successfully growing fruiting bananas themselves.



Time: 12th February 2009 12:44pm

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About the Author JohnI
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Tony says...
Hi Stella, A banana plant/tree itself doesn't have a deep root system even late into fruit bearing stage. However, the suckers (little banana plants) will eventually spreadout extensively in the surrounding areas. I therefore wouldn't plant any banana tree near an above ground swimming pool.

Time: 12th February 2009 8:32pm

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John I. says...
Hi Stella,
Tony's reply implies that you can plant near your pool (but not too close) if you are willing to remove any suckers heading in the direction of the pool. This can be done by using a sharp shovel to "Cut downwards between the mature plant and the sucker". See the following link for more details... http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-bananas.html

Time: 13th February 2009 8:35am

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About the Author JohnI
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Jantina says...
John l, ok, I will email Kirst who has bananas growing and fruiting next door to her in Melb. and see if she can ask the neighbours if they will talk to you or let you visit.

Time: 13th February 2009 9:56am

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About the Author Jantina
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John I. says...
Thanks Jantina, I guess the sort of questions I have are around what things I can do to ensure that my tree's fruit consistently in our Melbourne climate. All the forums I have read for cold climate care of bananas are for extreme environments where snow and ice are an issue. In these cases people uproot there whole tree's and store them over winter in a garage or basement. Others remove all the leaves and rap the tree's with straw and chicken wire.

Time: 13th February 2009 10:24am

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About the Author JohnI
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Jantina says...
Email has gone out, we await reply. Goodness I thought I was keen but having to uproot plants and store them over winter or wrap them in straw and chickenwire? I have my hands full agonizing over the best site I have for things and then keeping them watered and protected from our occasional frosts!

Time: 13th February 2009 10:32am

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Jason says...
John, I've got quite a few different varieties of bananas now in a colder climate than Melbourne, Dwarf Ducasse and Ducasse are the best two. Jantina I've got a Ladyfinger banana in a pot here for you too, it's ready to plant anytime your going past next

Time: 15th February 2009 12:37am

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About the Author Jason
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Jantina says...
Thankyou Jason, you've been off the airwaves for a while and our computer went haywire and I lost email addresses etc.Could you email me again with your ph.no. please and we can make arrangements to collect the banana. Also you probably didn't see the post where I said I've got 3 grafted lucumos coming and did you want one?

Time: 15th February 2009 9:46am

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John I. says...
Thanks Jason, what do you do to protect them in winter?

Time: 15th February 2009 11:54am

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Jantina says...
John l, have received email from Kirst. Apparently the man next door has moved but she has fruited bananas herself and said she will try to find time to write on the forum.

Time: 15th February 2009 8:26pm

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About the Author Jantina
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John I. says...
Thanks Jantina.

Time: 16th February 2009 9:33am

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About the Author JohnI
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John I. says...
Jason, where did you get your Dwarf Ducasse from?




Time: 24th February 2009 8:49am

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About the Author JohnI
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Firefly says...
John I, Blue Sky Backyard Bananas currently have some available.

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

Time: 24th February 2009 3:42pm

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John I. says...
Thanks Firefly. I was hoping to find somewhere a little closer to Melbourne.

Time: 24th February 2009 7:42pm

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eddiemonster says...
I was wondering if anyone knows i have a dwarf cavendish variety that has just started to produce the suckers was wondering if the sucker i choose will be dwarf again even the ones i separate thx

Time: 28th February 2009 7:25pm

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About the Author Eddie
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HappyEarth says...
The seperated banana suckers will be dwarf also

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

Time: 1st March 2009 6:15am

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eddiemonster says...
Thx Rich for reply and good website

Time: 1st March 2009 3:00pm

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About the Author Eddie
melbourne
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John I. says...
This weeks Gardening Australia program (episode 9) had a segment on how too replant a sucker. If your interested go to http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2528894.htm and click on the "Watch the story" link to view the video.

Time: 30th March 2009 12:29pm

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About the Author JohnI
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Tran says...
Thanks John. It is very useful to know how to replant a banana plant.



Time: 30th March 2009 2:24pm

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Jantina says...
Hi John I, how goes it ? Have you managed to find anyone with a fruited banana yet? I haven't heard from Jason again and I sent away for a dwarf ducasse from bluesky bananas. It was only a small plant but is putting out new leaves and growing well. I've got it in a north facing partially enclosed verandah along with my other subtropicals.

Time: 30th March 2009 7:30pm

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John I. says...
Hi Jantina. No I haven't found anyone in Melbourne yet, but if Jason has them fruiting in Portland I shouldn't have to many problems. I'm still worried about frost in the coming winter, and am thinking I will cover them overnight with aluminet. I don't have a good heat sink (such as a north facing wall) so I'm going to have to find a way to add some heat on the coldest nights.

I ended up getting a standard Cool Bananas Ducasse. I planted it near an east facing fence so I thought it's probably better to have a lager plant than the dwarf (so it can catch the afternoon sun when it reaches fence hight).

Time: 31st March 2009 7:31pm

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Jantina says...
What's aluminet John? I think seasol helps plants resist frost. What about putting some warm bricks near the base of the banana on those really cold nights? Or a big container of really hot water?

Time: 31st March 2009 7:48pm

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John I. says...
Aluminet is like shade cloth but metalic. It's supposed to reflect heat back towards the plant. Warm bricks and hot water are both good ideas, but I'm thinking of using some pond lights at the base of the plants. I already have some that aren't being used, and I have a timer that I could set to go on around 4:00am and turn off around 7:00am.

Time: 31st March 2009 8:08pm

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About the Author JohnI
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John I. says...
Hi Jantina. Heres a picture of my bananas. The large one is a Lady Finger, which was planted mid Jan (when it was about a foot high). The small one at the back is a Ducasse which I planted on the weekend, and the small one at the front is a red Dacca that I had replanted into a large pot in late Jan, and replanted in its current location last night.

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Picture: 1

Time: 1st April 2009 8:48am

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Jantina says...
Hello John, I've been away for a few days. Your bananas look good I'm interested to hear how the pond lights go and I am going to see if there is any aluminet available locally.

Time: 4th April 2009 2:22pm

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John I. says...
Hi Jantina,
I finally found a supplier for Aluminet, but I think the cost is going to be prohibitive. Looks like warm bricks and hot water may have to do.

Time: 8th April 2009 10:06am

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About the Author JohnI
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amanda says...
Bananas? why bother. Home grown tastes no different from commercial except if u can get Carnarvon (WA) ones (yes - they are sweeter and yummier than QLD - sorry guys). Plus they are cheap to buy. My plant from Bunnings has turned out to be a water shoot. on ya bunnings!?

Time: 10th May 2009 11:55pm

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About the Author amanda19
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trikus says...
Amanda , home grown will be far better as they are usually much superior cultivars than the commercial cavendish .
Also Bunnings would be selling tissue cultured plants , no one would dig up the thousands they require for a min. order !
Small plants generated by T/C may look like a water shoot but grow much better . Even a water shoot will grow but take longer .

Time: 11th May 2009 8:26am

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John I. says...
Hi Amanda,

There are several reasons why I bother...
1. Bananas are my favourite fruit.
2. The supermarkets only stock 2 varieties.
3. I've been told they they can be successfully grown in Melbourne (and would like to see for myself).
4. I've always wondered what a fresh home grown banana tastes like.
5. I've also learnt a lot about gardening in general, just by researching ways of successfully growing bananas.

Bananas aren't the only fruit I grow. I also bother to grow apples, peaches, nectarines, fig, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi fruit, and a number of seasonal vegetables. I'm also trying dragon fruit, and have a babaco on order. Attempting to grow subtropical fruit doesn't exclude me from also growing other fruits more suited to my climate. It does however increase my interest in gardening, and my general understanding plant care.

Time: 11th May 2009 9:55am

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About the Author John I1
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Kath says...
Hi Amanda,I bought one banana plant years ago for $2 & have had kilos & kilos from it's offspring. They are no bother-I chucked it in the chookyard where the retic hits it & never fertilize it, & it's fantastic with nice big bunches. Since then I've bought some Cavendish from Bunnings & Tass 1 & Lady's fingers. I'm surprised more people don't grow them as they look great & watching the bananas form is pretty cool-I've had many people comment they'd never seen them forming close up -they are fascinating to watch over a few days as they change so quickly. Kids especially like picking a banana and it is so much nicer than getting it from a big airconditioned supermarket when you can bet they have been gassed to ripen.I am hour south of Perth so they can handle a bit of cooler weather.
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Picture: 1
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Picture: 3

Time: 11th May 2009 12:44pm

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trikus says...
I am sad that I did not garden more in the many years I lived in Melbourne . But i remember vividly the headlines and pictures in the local suburban newspapers when someone got bananas to fruit . I also remember seeing hundreds of houses with bananas in the back yards , especially along the Frankston line while in the train .

Time: 11th May 2009 2:46pm

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amanda says...
oops - sorry john didn't mean to offend. Gor for it! My plant definitely a water shoot according to a professional grower. I live in low rainfall area and don't recommend dripper irrigation for these - it's too confining for the suckers. I was reading Glowinskis report about apples and tend to agree - u have to weigh up the pros n cons i guess. Never-the-less my banana plant is getting the chop 2morrow to make way for something else (a capulin cherry) - and that's the fun of gardening - you can always change your mind!?

Time: 12th May 2009 9:40pm

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John I. says...
Hi Amanda,
No I wasn't offended. I'm sorry if my response sounded abrupt (it must be the German coming out of me). I'm expecting fruit from my bananas within the next two years (provided the frost doesn't get to them). If that fails then I'll have to do the same thing and replace them with something else. It won't be easy though because they are located near an easment, so I can't replace them with anything that has a large root system.

Time: 12th May 2009 10:00pm

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peter says...
amanda,
is that report from glowinski about
apples available anywhere for me to read.

Time: 12th May 2009 11:47pm

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amanda says...
The book is The Complete Book of Fruit Growing in Australia by Louis Glowinski. It's mentioned alot in the forum so I guess it's just about our bible! It's an excellent reference book. There was a segment on Gardening Aust about a new banana (for cold climates) that they have popped in down in Tassie! - only recently - it may be in the next magazine issued.

Time: 14th May 2009 4:56pm

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John I. says...
John I. says...
Hi Amanda,
I saw the Gardening Australia segment. The banana they planted is branded Cool Bananas www.humphrisnursery.com.au/coolbanana/info/coolbananas.html
They are sold by bunnings and various other nurseries around Melbourne. I have three varieties of them. From what I have read they are considered cool climate bananas because they are a little bit more cold tolerant, and because the time it takes for fruit to ripen is shorter than other varieties.

Time: 14th May 2009 7:13pm

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amanda says...
I'm skeptical (like the presenter!) - but, good luck with your search! If Teddy can grow Chilean guavas in Tassie then anythings possible I reckon!

Time: 14th May 2009 8:31pm

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stef heinze says...
G'day John I, I have a 3 year old cool bananas, Dwarf Cavendish growing in Kew against high eastern fence (to protect against hot NW winds in Summer); 7 ft high and going beautifully with minimal care. Have found them at Bulleen Art and Garden and Greener Life in Hawthorn

Time: 6th June 2009 10:30pm

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juanita says...
I also have a 2yr old cool bananas ladyfinger & a 1 yr old cool bananas pisang ceylan variety...They're growing against high eastern fence & sheltered by tall lemon tree against hot NW winds in summer..Both are thriving beautifully but I find ladyfinger is more cold hardy than pisang ceylan.

Time: 7th June 2009 1:52am

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melbourne
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stef heinze says...
Hi Juanita, any tips on how to get them to fruit?

Time: 7th June 2009 9:35am

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trikus says...
Lots of water , eq. of 20 mm of rain a week is best , and lots of food . They are gross feeders , so use a different fertilizer each week , and hit with a blossom booster early in summer could give you a bunch before it gets to cold .

Time: 7th June 2009 6:30pm

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John I. says...
Hi Stef and Juanita,
My Red Dacca is already showing signs of frost damage from the light frosts we had recently ( it's in it's first year). I noticed that the temps we get out here in the west are general 3 to 4 degrees below the Melbourne forcast.

Trikus, it's not recomended to feed and water bananas over winter down here in Melbourne. We don't get much growth due to the low temps, and the new growth is succeptable to frost. The blossum boosters a good idea though.

Time: 7th June 2009 6:55pm

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stef heinze says...
Thanks everyone, what is a blossom booster?
Also would anyone know where to get an Abyssinian banana - several in our suburb, look fantastic and reputed to survive cold well

Time: 7th June 2009 7:15pm

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John I. says...
Stef, a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen but high in potasium and phosphorus is often recomended as a way to boost flowering (and support fruit growth).

Time: 7th June 2009 8:55pm

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John I. says...
Stef, just to clarify I think what trikus was suggesting was to fertilize heavily in spring with a high nitrogen mix (to promote growth) and then in late spring or early summer reduce the nitrogen and increase the potasium and phosphorus.

Time: 7th June 2009 9:07pm

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stef heinze says...
Thanks John

Time: 7th June 2009 10:52pm

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Michael says...
Has anyone ever grown bananas in large pots successfully ? I have very limited space but would love to grow bananas and my only option is to use large pots . Would this be possible or would it be just a waste of time ?

Time: 11th June 2009 1:30pm

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John I. says...
Micheal, I scoured the web a few month ago to find an answer to this. The experts all claimed that it was not possible. I did however come across a blog where the guy had a plant (dwarf variety) in a pot next to his desk at work. He watered and feed it daily and it did flower and begin to fruit. The blog kind of ended there so there was no mention of the fruit maturing.

Time: 11th June 2009 3:17pm

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marg says...
I have small abyssinain banana plants...just popping up around the garden at the moment...so if you want a couple of little ones they are yours..they will take 2 years to look spectacular. they come from a plant that grew to 10m tall with leaves at least 3m in length..

Time: 11th June 2009 5:25pm

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randey says...
my first plantain was in an old copper and with vigorous feeding and watering it not only flowered but gave me about 3 hands that matured. just keep in mind that if you do pot grow them you are going to have use a BIG pot and be aware that you will have to repot every so often to accomodate the new suckers.

Time: 11th June 2009 6:13pm

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stef heinze says...
Hi Marg, I would love a couple of Abyssinians, where are you? I am in Kew, Vic.
Stefan

Time: 11th June 2009 9:25pm

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marg says...
Hi stef just remember they are small I am in Camberwell so just around the corner..email syndet@msn.com.au and I'll send you my address

cheers m

Time: 12th June 2009 7:42pm

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About the Author Margssubtropical1
 
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Michael says...
Has anyone ever grown those tiny asian variety bananas literally the size of your small finger ? My local nursery was selling it for $60 a plant which I was very keen on buying but I wanted some more information from people who have grown it .

Time: 15th June 2009 10:33pm

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Wakeley
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juanita says...
Any suggestions what's the best fertiliser high in potassium & phosphorus for bananas?...Tnx in advance.

Time: 16th June 2009 1:37am

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Kath says...
I have my bananas in the chook yard & that's all the fertilizer they get & do well-that is until a big wind storm took out three huge stalks with bunches on them!!
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Time: 16th June 2009 10:07am

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About the Author KathK
Karnup W.A.
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amanda says...
Hi Kath - sorry 4 your losses!! thats every gardeners worst nightmare picture!?
I have two mates that are ex-banana growers from Carnarvon and they have both looked at my plant n had a laugh!

Interesting their thoughts tho' - in WA (outside of kimberley) we are growing in a more marginal climate. They plant very (very) thickly in C'von. This is to increase shade n humudity - but also for support (still get cyclonic winds there) I keep thinking of B'nanas growing in their home environ - supported by the rain forest and the concommitant humidity/rainfall.

Your plants look great! Was that the recent storm we all copped? Every single one of my trees got thru' that with no damage at all - I was stoked - I have been practising deep infrequent watering and been "treating them mean to keep them keen" - not because I knew any better but it just made 'sense' to me somehow? Maybe a couple of 2.4m star pickets and some loops of rope could save them next time?

Time: 17th June 2009 12:47am

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About the Author amanda19
geraldton.WA
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Michael says...
Has anyone grown the small variety banana in the picture ?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 17th June 2009 12:39pm

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About the Author Michael
Wakeley
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Jantina says...
They look like Ladyfinger bananas Michael, I have some plants growing and doing well but too young to fruit yet. Where is Wakeley? Kath I think I would have cried, they look like they were doing great.

Time: 18th June 2009 12:14am

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About the Author Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
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trikus says...
Loks like what is called Monkey bananas around here .. very popular with certain Asian growers . Fruits are very small , like really the same size as a ladys little finger .. ie , much smaller than what is commonly called Lady Finger [ act. I think these are a type of sugar ]
Very dificult to legally get different ones that are not mass propagated .
I am trying to source some and getting all permits and inspections and will try to get it put into the local lab for TC.
Michael I think they are really worth trying , smaller fruit should ripen quicker , and from what I hear the Mong [? sp.] may be hill tribes and these could have some cool tolerance .

Time: 19th June 2009 9:00am

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Tully
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Speedy says...
Banana names are really frustrating.
There are differnt names in different countries and cultures for bananas of the same variety
and same names for different varieties.
very confusing. :-?

The little banana in the pic is known in some contries as 'Lady finger',
but in Aust that name is used for other bananas.
As trikus said, it's generally known in Aust as 'Monkey Banana'.
I think it's official name is 'Sucrier' (genome formula AA).

I managed to get a small plant in early 1990's but it didn't survive. :-(

Malay friends know it as 'Pisang Mas' (lit. Golden banana) ,
and Thai friends call it 'Klue Khai'

Trikus, if you do manage to secure some and get it to TC,
I'd really love some.
Please let me know if you do. :-)

Here's a very handy reference for Banana cultivars.

http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Musa.html#con.names

Cheers

Time: 19th June 2009 10:39am

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Swan Hill, Vic
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Michael says...
The banana i'm referring to is smaller then what is sold as Lady Fingers . Here's pictures of the banana I bought today comparing it to a match box ,50 cent coin and a sugar banana. There is even a smaller version of this banana which they don't have in season yet but it's 3/4 the length and width of the attach banana.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 20th June 2009 11:14pm

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Speedy says...
Did whoever you bought it from have a name for it?
The 'monkey banana' or 'sucrier' is about that big and has quite a thin skin and a sort of gold tone to the flesh.
The stem of the one in the pic looks a bit bigger in proportion to the fruit than I remember though.
maybe this is something else and the not in season 3/4 size banana is 'monkey banana'

Time: 21st June 2009 12:08am

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Swan Hill, Vic
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Michael says...
Here is a picture I came across on the net which is exactly what i want . Small dwarf banana fruiting inside a container.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 24th June 2009 11:02am

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John I. says...
Hi Michael, It looks like a super dwarf cavendish. I don't know where to get them but have a look at this link for some info...
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/Bananas/Musa_cavendishi_Super_Dwarf.php

Time: 24th June 2009 2:04pm

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Melbourne
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Michael says...
Thanks John for the link - Wish we could get this in Australia one day.

Time: 24th June 2009 4:52pm

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John I. says...
Michael, there is a nursery near Melbourne that sells a super dwarf banana but when I asked what type it was and if it fruited I was told that they didn't know. Here is a link to their website...
http://www.denisestropicalgardens.com.au/products.php?base=34


Time: 24th June 2009 5:20pm

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trikus says...
Here is a bearing dwarf ducasse .. the bunch is right in your face ... I am 2m . and I just held my arm horizontal to take the picture of the fruit . It would be very easy to harvest the fruit , and one of the best for pot cultivation .
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Picture: 2

Time: 25th June 2009 8:51am

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Tully
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Sally says...
I have seen super dwarf banana musa acuminata it says ornamental but was told still edible looked on the net but could not get a proper response if anyone can help thx

Time: 25th June 2009 6:32pm

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About the Author Sally4
melbourne
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trikus says...
Musa acuminata covers most of the normal eating types of bananas .. so go for it .

Time: 27th June 2009 5:52am

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Tully
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Jess says...
so even if it states ornamental should be ok because i saw one exactly the same musa acuminata but stayed away i didnt want to waste my time if i couldnt eat them so u think will be fine?

Time: 27th June 2009 7:33pm

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melbourne
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trikus says...
Seller is just being smart calling it Musa acuminata . Esp. if they have no idea what cultivar it is . ANd .....
Musa acuminata covers most of the normal eating types of bananas .. so go for it .

Time: 29th June 2009 11:26am

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Tully
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John I. says...
Hi Sally, where did you see the super dwarf banana?

Time: 29th June 2009 1:52pm

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Melbourne
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Sally says...
Hi John i saw it in carrum downs it says ornamental on the tree but said if it fruits can be eaten as i said it was musa acuminata i bought 1 just in case because they didnt have many left any ideas John
Thx Sally

Time: 29th June 2009 8:07pm

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About the Author Sally5
melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Sally, I can't find much information about the super dwarf from australian websites. According to some of the international websites they are often advertised as ornamental but do produce small sweet eadible fruit. The main varieties seem to be the super dwarf novak, and super dwarf cavandishi. Then there are a whole range of brand named versions in the US. I think it is worth a try anyway. How long have you had yours?

Time: 29th June 2009 8:32pm

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Melbourne
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Sally says...
Hi John i just bought it on the weekend i also had a look on websites and they all went back to super dwarf cavandish so i can only hope. If you dont mind answering this question might seem stupid but when they say ornamental does it mean it does not produce fruit at all just foliage and i think all bananas are edible have not come across any that are bad for you
Sally

Time: 29th June 2009 8:55pm

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melbourne
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John I. says...
Sally, I always thought that ornamental meant that it didn't fruit at all or that the fruit was of such a poor quality that it wasn't worth eating. From what I've read recently this does not appear to be true. There is a good chance that your super dwarf will produce small sweet fruit that could taste nice.

Time: 29th June 2009 9:31pm

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Sally says...
John fingers crossed hoping for the best then thank you so much for your input will be a pleasure if fruiting well and suckers come up more then welcome to grab 1 if your still around
Saly

Time: 29th June 2009 9:50pm

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melbourne
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John I. says...
Thanks Sally. If it does fruit I'd love to get a pup from you. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Time: 29th June 2009 10:02pm

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rus says...
After reading the posts about bananas on here, particularly kath and the other WA growers i decided to give one a go. I rang up about lady fingers advertised in the quokka (free advert paper) for $10. Went to pick it up and they they had litterally hundreds with many in fruit. The sucker they gave me was easily 5 foot tall.
Any fears i had about being able to grow them in suburban perth have been banished.

Time: 31st August 2009 12:45am

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Perth NOR
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Jimmy says...
Just bear in mind they ripen very late in the season, so you might be best to pick them ealry and ripen inside with a ripe apple as a source of etylene in a bag for best results.

Time: 31st August 2009 12:10pm

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Bonnie says...
Hi kath, I'm in the hills of Perth and I've a spot in my garden that gets lots of water and nutrients like you described. Would you consider selling me some shoots from your bananas? I'd love to have a grow.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 14th December 2009 10:31am

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Helena Valley WA
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Jimmy says...
Bunnings normally have some over summer, otherwise Tass 1 trees in Baskerville always has them,

Time: 14th December 2009 11:03am

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Perth
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juanita says...
Hi Stef & John1,
Mine hasn't fruited yet...How will i get them to fruit is a BIG ?? for me when most of their foliage have gone brown or died in winter..However, i know somebody in our suburb who managed to get one of his banana trees fruited for him but he's not willing to share his secret/expertise w/ anyone but one thing i've noticed his banana trees are being shaded by next door huge tall gum tree & that could be the trick??

Time: 27th December 2009 1:14am

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Eddie says...
Hi Juanita as per my pictures i roughly framed the area then put the clear roofing on top and put shade cloth around the frame and also lined it with bubble wrap from the inside and did not die only opened the side during nice days otherwise just watered and feed them. i live in the south east suburbs and my friends neighbour didnt protect and was not looking the best. Hope this will help you and others.
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Picture: 2

Time: 27th December 2009 6:56pm

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Melbourne
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amanda says...
Hey juanita - I reckon u may be right about the shade thing - I transplanted my banana to a spot that has double the shade and shelter (from wind) and it's improved out of sight! It's even got a super greedy acacia nearby.

Time: 3rd January 2010 12:47pm

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Geraldton. WA
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Charles cant spell says...
My Cavandish (I think) has taken 3 years from a knee high sucker to flower. I was getting to much wind damage on the leaves and not enough love. Its suckers are doing much better as I improve the wind issue and microclimate. I was cosidering putting shadecloth over the top to keep all the wind out but might see how they go.

ITs 40ish today and they dont show any sign of stress.

How tall are you bananas Kath ? They look 3-4 meters or so. I wonder if mine will get larger with more protection.

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 3rd January 2010 4:12pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Innaloo, Perth
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Maurice says...
Hi all, a very interesting forum. A friend purchased 2 banana plants for me from Denise's
in Carrum downs in late Aug 09 which I thought I would plant as an experiment, I planted them in early September, I requested a Cavendish and a Lady Finger. Since then they have doubled in size. Is there any way to identify which type they are ? I think the larger one is the Cavendish. They are getting a new leaf approximately every 7 to 9 days. The larger one got it's first sucker last week and I was optimistically hoping that the fruiting stage may be imminent, I now know that this is quite unlikely to happen this summer season from the other posts and maybe not the next. The larger one is around 5ft tall so I am guessing it must be a dwarf since if has a sucker already. I am not intending to uproot them as I don't think Melbourne's winter should be a problem. Thinking of housing them in a minature plastic structure in their current position. Has anyone had any luck with fruiting bananas in Melbourne and how were they kept viable over Winter, many thanks Maurice


Time: 15th January 2010 8:31pm

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Maurice,

I have had no problem with banana plants in Melbourne in winter. They cope very well, I have done nothing.

I lost one (got burnt) during bush fire season last year but 2 suckers came up so it was ok.

I have had the tall Cavendish plant fruited a couple of year ago twice, 3 years apart and very skinny hands. I abandoned that plant because of the drought, no water for them. I now have a water tank.

Three years ago, I started to grow again (dwarf lady finger), the first year I grew in pot from a rhizome, transfer into the ground the second year and lost the main one and this year the
plant is doing well. I read the QLD DPI website the other day and found for every plant, I must feed 800 grams of lime, 240 grams of nitrogen, 600 grams of potash and 60 gram of phosphate divided into 4 application from September to May (I did not do that for my first one, no wonder the fruits did not form properly).

I have done my 1st application in combination of watering every day. I could see them getting stronger and bigger every day.

My plant has blotchy pattern on the leaves when young.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Time: 15th January 2010 10:29pm

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Melbourne
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Maurice says...
Hi Jujube, thanks for your reply. It is very reassuring to learn that you have had some success in the past with your bananas. I will definitely persevere with them and see how they go. Haven't quite fertilizied in the manner suggested but have given them chook pallets and cow and horse manure usually mixed with water. May now consider trying some other tropical plants as well, cheers, Maurice

Time: 17th January 2010 4:52pm

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Jason says...
Ive just picked up a Cavendish from Trees A Green in forrestfield yesterday. $15
Not sure how much success Ill have with it but for $15 its worth a shot.

Just repotted it into a larger pot today and keeping it in semi shade during this 40 degree week we are having.

Hows the weather up Geraldton way Amanda?

Time: 17th January 2010 5:32pm

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Perth
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Brad says...
Jason - I've seen a couple non-gardeners get bananas from established trees in their Perth yards, so I don't see why you won't succeed

PS saw banana tree pups at wanneroo markets - can't remember the price

Time: 17th January 2010 8:26pm

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Como, Perth
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Mish says...
Hi everyone

Jason: I just picked up a Cavendish the other day too. Very excited about the adventure... It says on the tag 'perfect for containers'... or 'grow indoors'... (strange), but what size I am wondering? 50L or 100L? What size pot have you put yours in?

My main worry is protecting it from the wind... as I don't have any place in the garden where it isn't windy.

Time: 24th January 2010 11:28am

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Singleton
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Jason says...
Mine is just in a 35Ltr that my Nectarine came in previously. Its just so that we can get past this hot spell and then plant it in the garden. Since buying it, 2 large leaves have already come out.

Time: 25th January 2010 9:09pm

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Perth
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John I. says...
Does anyone know how to determine the height of a banana plant? Do you measure from the ground to the tip of the tallest leaf?

Time: 26th January 2010 9:50pm

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About the Author JohnI
Melbourne
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Megan says...
John I. says...
Does anyone know how to determine the height of a banana plant? Do you measure from the ground to the tip of the tallest leaf?

Would love to know this as well anybody??

Time: 28th January 2010 6:58pm

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Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Megan, as far as I can tell from visiting numerous websites, it measured from the ground at the base to the point where the leaves emerge.

Time: 28th January 2010 8:19pm

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Megan says...
Thx John good work

Time: 28th January 2010 9:03pm

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Melbourne
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John I. says...
My Blue Java banana plant arrived today... I'm very excited so I thought I would just share that with everyone.

Time: 3rd February 2010 4:22pm

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Melbourne
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
John I received a Blue Java, Dwarf Ducasse and a Goldfinger from Blue Sky in Queensland in December as in vitro specimens, they are now doing well and about 8" tall. Blue Java sounds like the pick of eating bananas, can't wait for them to get moving.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 3rd February 2010 5:09pm

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Murwillumbah
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John I. says...
Phil. Great picture, I can't wait... Should be about three years if they survive our Melbourne weather.

Time: 3rd February 2010 9:26pm

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Melbourne
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kicker says...
can anyone tellme where i can buy an absynnian banana palm from.I have looked everywhere.

Time: 7th February 2010 11:23am

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bonny hills
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jerry says...
i live in melton, victoria and i have a banana tree which is producing bananas

Time: 17th February 2010 10:40pm

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melton
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BJ says...
Does anyone know if I would get away with growing a Blue Java in a pot? The website says it's only a bit bigger than the Dwarf Ducasse...

Time: 16th March 2010 1:47pm

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Brisbane
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trikus says...
BJ , you will need a massive pot ,plant 1 out, it will grow great in your climate , and if rented premises you can always dig up a sucker and take with you when leaving .
nb; as long as you are not leaving the banana growing region you are in now .

Time: 16th March 2010 3:24pm

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Tully
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John I says...
BJ, I have to agree with trikus. Blue Java will grow 3-4m as apposed to 2-3m for dwarf ducasse. Even a dwarf ducasse would be struggling to fruit in a large container.

Time: 16th March 2010 4:08pm

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Melbourne
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John I says...
Jerry, do you have any pics of your banana? What variety do you have?

Time: 16th March 2010 4:30pm

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Melbourne
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BJ says...
I have two spots along a fenceline that I might be able to grow them. If I don't hear back that planting them near to a fence is a bad idea, I'll go ahead and get a few in a week or so.

Time: 16th March 2010 5:07pm

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trikus says...
Give yourself about 1m from the fence line so you can get in there to cut off suckers . The stands can get very big , this is my best grower and I should have thinned it out a bit more than I have . I have 2 bunches hanging on it now , about 1 month apart . Both are propped up on bamboo supports and they are stringed together with baling twine . These are SUPERB TASTING FRUITS .

Time: 16th March 2010 5:27pm

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Marg says...
JOY OH JOY A BANANA FLOWER just emerging from a lady finger 16 months old..in a sunny spot in Camberwell Melbourne.. we have 5 other varieties (inc red dacca) planted now 10 months so we are expecting great things from them in the next year..
does anyone know how long they take from this stage in Melbourne..I gather we need to get a banana bag..and when would that need to be put on?

cheers


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Time: 3rd April 2010 12:11pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Well done Marg - I knew you could do it!

Time: 3rd April 2010 2:59pm

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Murwillumbah
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John I says...
I'm extreamly jealous Marg. My Lady Finger is about the same age and it looks like it will be another year before I see a flower.

How tall is the pseudostem on your plant? Also what other bananas are you growing?

Time: 3rd April 2010 7:04pm

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HappyEarth says...
Hey Marg ... they wont ripen up until next spring/summer. Put a bag on it when you cut the bell of the stalk - which you do when you start getting lots of little bananas emerging. You'll need to support the plant as well otherwise you risk it blowing over from strong winds.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

Time: 3rd April 2010 9:19pm

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Wollongong
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trikus says...
Props for the bunch are a great idea , nothing worse than a massive bunch only a few weeks from ripening getting blown over . They would turn yellow but never taste the same as a tree ripened bunch . I have made up some props from long lengths of bamboo tied together so as to support the bunch just where it bends . Commercial growers also use baling twine to support 2 opposing plants .I have 2 bunches on my Java Blue prctically opposite each other , and they are tied together. It can take 6 months for a bunch to mature , especially if its cold . Dont forget to check and take a few fruits from the top of the bunch when they start rounding out . These should ripen in about 5 days . This is a great way to spread out a massive bunch .

Time: 5th April 2010 8:39am

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gus says...
Great forum everybody, inspired me to grow bananas here in Perth. Just cant find the dwarf varieties!

Time: 5th April 2010 4:29pm

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Innaloo
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Marg says...
Hi everyone and thanks for all the hints much appreciated Hi Phil all your plants are doing really well the black sapote is about 2 m now

I will start supporting it soon as it has gotten much bigger now in 1 week there are 5 hands of 10 bananas showing.
the stem is about 2.5-3m. I have only been doing the foliar feeding i bang on about but I'm thinking of adding a wee bit of potash to the soil and compost I put around it...gosh it's so great to get these.

Time: 8th April 2010 12:56pm

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BJ says...
Thought I'd post a few pics in here of the Banana plots up on Murray Island. The interesting trellising and support system and fruit 'wraps' caught my eye. Not to mention the masses of fruit...
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Picture: 2

Time: 8th April 2010 1:40pm

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Marg says...
like the idea maybe the baskets will keep the bats away

Time: 8th April 2010 1:59pm

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trikus says...
1 bet the bamboo scaffold can be used for checking and harvesting as well.

Time: 8th April 2010 6:13pm

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BJ says...
I did the drive from Cairns to Cooktown today. So many Bananas! Many just growing in the creeks in the rainforest. I saw a plantation of what I would presume are Dwarf Ducasse. So fantastic to see so many little trees full of fruit.

I am so envious of these types of places that can just purchase plants form their local nurseries!

On the other hand, I found it very hard to find any good, 'exotic' fruits besides Persimmon and Custard Apple. Despite seeing fantastic trees, many bearing ripe fruit, all along the drive...

Time: 21st April 2010 4:40pm

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi BJ,

You could get some tropical fruits on the way from Cooktown back to Cairns.
- Amazone farm in Mossman on the main street, just 5 minutes out of town.
- Port Doughlas Sunday market
- Rusty market in Sheridan Street Cairns city, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 AM but normally, tropical fruits may be gone by 9 AM.

Enjoy your time in Cairns.


Time: 21st April 2010 4:49pm

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BJ says...
Thanks, I'll ask about the road to Mossman and the northern beaches. I stuck to the inland road on the way up because it is pretty safe. I've got a few hours on Saturday before I have to get the plane back from Cairns to Brisbane, so I'll try the drive through Mossman and then head for Rustys. Not forgetting the fruit wineries, of course...

I just hated the fact that I had to come on a Wednesday and couldnt find any any good food to bring with me to Cooktown, as theres no hope of finding much here. They only keep the rubbish ladyfinger bananas even!

Time: 21st April 2010 4:57pm

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi BJ,

Yes, I agree with you that inland road via Mareeba is much better and safer than the coastal way (Pord Doughlas, Mossman, Bloomfield etc..).

If you only have a few hours on Saturday then the best place to go is Rusty market about 2 Kms from the airport. That all you need to go.

Mangosteen and rambutans and lots of tropical fruits in season right now. Hopefully you could get some even you arrive at lunch time.

I would not try Amazone in Mossman even though it is about 70 kms from Cairn and 10 kms from Port Doughlas but getting there using winding Captain Cook HW (after northern beaches) it will take you more than one hours not counting the time to get back to Cairns.

Last time when I was there, they had green sapotes and mamey sapotes from the working farm.

I was told that there are a number of tropical fruit farms in Cooktown. I would pop in a farm and ask if I could buy some fruits from them if I was you.

Safe driving and good luck.

Time: 21st April 2010 6:41pm

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BJ says...
I ended up getting a few things. Mammey Apple (Mammea) and Black Sapote were the only things I found around town. In Cairns there was lots of Rambutan, Mangosteen, Huuuge Black Sapotes and Mamey Sapotes. Not a bad score for this time of year.

Time: 25th April 2010 12:07am

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
I am glad you had some nice fruits to eat.

Time: 25th April 2010 7:20am

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rev says...
anyone know where to get plantains?

i see them in the shops and markets
but they dont seem to be sold as plants

i think i remmeber seeing one in the perth zoo

Time: 11th June 2010 8:43pm

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About the Author Rev
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BJ says...
Is Bluggoe the same type of plantain you are after, or are you after a special type of Plantain?

Time: 11th June 2010 9:43pm

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trikus says...
Bluggoe seems to be only plantain type legally available at the moment.
A few other types are being grown locally around South Johnstone area by approved DPI growers. And Ron Berry had the Pacific plantain growing around the Mossman area at Highfalls Fruit Farm .
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 12th June 2010 7:52am

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Steven says...
Hey everyone

I just wanted to ask? do bananas need to be cross pollinated in order to fruit? i bought a banana a couple of years ago which has now turned into about 5 banana plants. once the greenhouse is finished im going to plant them in the ground and am obviously hoping for fruit. but seeing that all the plants are suckers from one banana plant will this cause a problem in fruiting?

Thanks

Steven

Time: 18th June 2010 6:40pm

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Steven,

I don't think banana need cross pollination. I had one variety in my garden for years and it does fruit. Banana is a heavy feeder and very thirsty so you need:
800 grams of lime, 240 grams of Nitrogen, 600 grams of Potash and 30 gram of phophate divided into 4 times from September to May to speed up the fruiting process.

Another thing is only 1 sucker next to the mother shoule be there, remove the rest of the suckers otherwise all fertilizer will be divided to many plants and the mother plant will slow down in term of fruiting.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Time: 18th June 2010 7:48pm

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Rev says...
Hey Trikus

sounds like we need to get those other plantains out of the banana zones
then they become legitimate

what you grow outside designated zones is your own business

Time: 21st June 2010 11:21pm

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Steven says...
Hi how are you, thanks for your advice. ill plant them in the ground as soon as the greenhouse is finished ill see how i go with giving them lots of chicken manure and compost as its alot cheaper than lime potash etc if not ill do that

Thanks for your help!

Time: 28th June 2010 5:14pm

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Eastern Melbourne
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Rev says...
lime/gypsum/dolomite is like? $14 max per 20-25kg sack
worth every cent

if you pee on your bananas religiously theyll get all the Nitrogen, phosphorus and potash they need!

as a northerner
ill honestly say
that cavendish the is WORST banana of the 5 or 6 i can legally grow/buy
ill only buy it if i have to

it ships well
thats about it

the banana equivalent of a cardboard tomato

you have so much ahead of you when you get back to real bananas!

Time: 30th June 2010 3:12am

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Steven says...
Hey Rev how are you, i know but compost is free :), ill see how they go first and if i need to ill get it them.

Haha i bought it because it though it was a good variety!!! which varieties would you suggest?


Thanks for your help

Steven



Time: 12th July 2010 4:55pm

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About the Author Steven
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Rev says...
search for 'cool bananas' range
many new sp available

sweeter, tastier, diff colour and textures

i think with bananas that variety is good!

Time: 14th July 2010 12:55am

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About the Author Rev
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Rev says...
lady finger is better than cav

monkey banana is better again
i like goldfinger, some dont

java blue is good

Time: 14th July 2010 12:57am

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Steven says...
Hey Rev

Yeah thats the type of bought, cool bananas ill check out what else they have available.

Ive tried lady finger before, i know alot of people like them but personally i dont really see what the fuss is over them. maybe ill try out the other varieties.

Thanks alot

Steven

Time: 14th July 2010 10:48am

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John I says...
Hi Steven,

You may also wan't to try Backyard bananas if you can't find a cool bananas variety you like. I got my blue java through backyard bananas, they are a bit more expensive (given delivery costs) but they were good to deal with.

With lady finger (and ducasse) they really need to be fully or even over ripe for best taste otherwise they can be a bit starchy.

John I.

Time: 14th July 2010 12:45pm

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Melbourne
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Rev says...
Most bananas are eaten under ripe IMO

Cool bananas = Backyard bananas
same diff
i dont know if they are related businesses but the sell the same cultivars, except CB has red dacca
which only commercial growers are allowed to have up here

whatever banana you have - microclimate for extra heat and summer humidity and irrigation would help id think
Good thing is that bananas thrive on greywater



Time: 14th July 2010 8:19pm

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Rev says...
when i say "all bananas eaten under ripe'
i mean i dont think this is a good thing...
be prepared to taste and smell banana that is sweet and soft, and doesnt pull apart like a bread roll

Ive said before ive never seen fruit fly in bananas
unfortunately now i have
but im sure it wasnt their first preference, some lazy bugger probably had an infested guava nearby



Time: 14th July 2010 8:27pm

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John I says...
Hi Rev,

Yeah your right cool bananas are pretty much the same as backyard bananas except for one or two cultivars (red dacca, blue java, bluggoe).

The difference is that humphris is a wholesale nursery while backyard sells to both retail nurseries and direct to public (via mail order). Not all nurseries stock all the cool bananas varieties (I couldn't find a red dacca anywhere in the western melbourne suburbs earlier this year). Also the labels on the pots can often get lost or mixed up. The red dacca that I thought I bought a couple years back turned out to be a cavendish (I suspect... it hasn't fruited yet). At least with direct from wholesaler you'd expect to get what you payed for.

http://www.humphrisnursery.com.au/coolbanana/info/coolbananas.html

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


Time: 15th July 2010 9:44am

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Rev says...
maybe people need to pool resources, use an existing ABN and buy a wholesale order?

a couple of trays usually does it

Thanks for the updates!
I recently heard a rumour that a large number of banana cultivars have been imported officially and from these about 15 show promise as new cultivars for the Aussie market.
I assume its all commercially driven though, so we'll only get the scraps or what 'leaks'
but at least for the tastebuds its good news!

Time: 15th July 2010 10:02am

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speedy says...
New introductions ...
sounds good, I'd be interested to see what they are.

Of the Backyard bananas, I want to get Dwarf Ducasse (Kluay Nam-Wa).
It seems to be the most popular dessert banana in Thailand.
Most recipe I've seen with banana call for Kluay Nam-Wa
...Khao Tom Mat , Kluay buat chee

Time: 16th July 2010 9:44am

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Rev says...
ill happily grab a dwarf ducasse for you speedy
the local nursery usually has them
i think via BYB

Time: 16th July 2010 9:35pm

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Rev says...
Hey BJ
ive found my Platanos
Local central american gardener

as far as im concerned its bluggoe. legal. end of story :D

Time: 16th July 2010 9:47pm

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trikus says...
Just saw many different types of bananas at a large farm south of Ingham . Many of the latest hybrids and some old classics .
2 different tiny fruited types . Pisang Mas or Sucrier is short plant with small bunches of tiny fruits . Another is much larger with bigger bunches but still tiny fruits , it is Pisang Kering , fruit is a bit more tangy tasting .

Time: 18th July 2010 6:02pm

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Kat says...
I want to grow Bananas in Melbourne and I'd love to some advice - especially from John (I'm also in the West).

We are going to renovate next year and we're drawing our plans with growing bananas in mind. We will have a north facing masonry wall in a fairly sheltered area (2m x 6m) against which we plan to grow our bananas.

Do you think this will be enough to get them fruiting? We are toying with the idea of building an attached greenhouse, but not sure if it is necessary and worried about the cost.

Also interested to hear which varieties are best; how many we could fit in that space and where to purchase from

cheers,

Time: 8th November 2010 11:06pm

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John I. says...
Hi Kat,

This will be the third summer that my Bananas will be in the ground, and no sign of fruit yet.

The 4 main issues I have had are sunburn, clay soil, frost and wind damage. Sunburnt leaves are only an issue when temps reach high 30's. Frost is one of my main issues because I don't have a sheltered spot, or a masonry wall to plant against. Even covering the plant with frost cloth didn't help (as you can see from the picture above my profile). Shredded leaves (from wind damage) also tend to increase the damage from frost. With all the leaves effectively burnt from frost and wind in Aug/Sep, the plants tend to get off to a slow start in late spring. I've tried to prompt a little early growth by watering once a week with warm water in October.

This year I removed my Ducasse banana as it was not doing well. I didn't prepare the soil properly before planting and I think this was the main problem (with my other plants I had added organic garden mix and lots of manure). Over winter I dug in a lot of sheep and horse manure (from the farms in our area) and also added chicken manure before planting my Blue Java banana plant. ...


Time: 9th November 2010 9:32am

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John I. says...
... The area that you have described for planting your bananas sounds ideal (as opposed to where mine are planted). You may still get some frost damage but I think covering with cloth will help as the wall will provide some heat.

Don't plant the bananas to close together as they will develop pups and start to fill the area. I think a minimum of about 1 to 1.5 meters would be about right.

According to Jason the Ducasse banana is the most cold tolerant that he has had. As I said I removed mine but this was due to poor soil preparation. I did some research on US websites that indicated that Blue Java would do well in a cool climate so I planted one in October.

The Cool Bananas range of plants are usually available from Dec in Bunnings, Mitre 10, and other nurseries. You can also order banana plants online from Backyard Bananas. Have a look at the links I posted mid July for what's available. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Time: 9th November 2010 9:53am

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Eddie says...
Hi pic 1 is the Banana tree i had before winter i did cover it well to protect it from the cold and frost.
Pic 3 is what it looks like 2day after winter did like John did and watered it with luke warm water hoping to flower this year.
The bananas i have are dwarf cavendish and have been doing good i live in the south east suburbs of melbourne.
Pic 2 is the super dwarf cavendish i have been over a year i have had and is producing pups but not sure weather it will fruit or not.
Eddie
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Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 9th November 2010 8:46pm

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Jason says...
I tried Dwarf Cavandish once but I could never get it to grow enough to flower, Dwarf Ducasse is infinitely faster growing for cool climates. But the full size Ducasse continues to be more hardy than the Dwarf over winter (it gets damaged much less by temps near 0c than the Dwarf).

Still the Dwarf is my pick for fastest growing and earliest fruiting, I expect mine to throw a flower sometime over Summer hopefully after it has a few new healthy leaves. When you get a wide and short leaf that's the one the flower follows up, it's very obvious and easy to tell the flower is on the way once you see that leaf. The stem bulges as the flower comes up too. Currently the Dwarf is opening it's second new leaf for the Spring, it will speed up quite a bit from now on. It's about 5-6 feet tall and just starting it's third Year (I started from a tiny 10cm tall spindly tissue culture).

I've had Lady Finger fruit before but not very well so I concentrate mostly on the Ducasse's now

Time: 10th November 2010 12:56am

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Portland
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Kat says...
Thanks heaps John, Eddie and Jason. Our reno won't be finished for another year, so have some time up my sleeve for research, but wanted to know now whether we should continue with the greenhouse idea as we have to get plans into Council. I think we'll start without, but plan with the possibility of adding a greenhouse further down the track.

Cheers, Kat

Time: 14th November 2010 7:38pm

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Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Jason, silly question but does the banana plant continue to produce leaves after the flower has emerged? It seems to me that if it flowers in summer and the fruit doesn't ripen for several months, then with winter leaf damage my plants wont have any good leaves to help produce large edible fruit?

Time: 16th November 2010 9:52am

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trikus says...
The bunch is a terminal infloresence , so no more leaves are grown . Usually enough leaves are left to shade the bunch , any pups/suckers would assist in photosynthesis . Bunches can ripen in weeks not months during warmer times .

Time: 16th November 2010 8:11pm

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John I. says...
Thanks trikus. Sounds like it may be an issue for me down here in Melbourne. I'll have to figure out a (cost effective) way to protect the leaves from wind damage.

Time: 17th November 2010 1:46pm

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Eddie says...
Hi John do u have any recent pictures of your bananas
Cheers

Time: 17th November 2010 10:46pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Eddie, I took these pictures this morning. You can see the wind damage on my largest plant (lady finger). The small plant by itself is my Blue Java. I had it sitting in a pot over winter and planted it in October.
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Time: 18th November 2010 9:38am

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Eddie says...
Hi John i wanted to see if i could give u some advise how to cover but seems hard due to its height need alot of framework to enclose it with frost cloth at least if u try and keep the sucker in good shape as mentioned b4 it if will give it some nutrients good luck

Time: 18th November 2010 2:40pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Thanks Eddie, I'm thinking maybe making a few sheaths from frost cloth, to slide over a few leaves. I'd only do this after/if the flag leaf emerges. I'll be disappointed if this doesn't happen over summer.

Time: 18th November 2010 5:18pm

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trikus says...
My 2 little banana patches .
one in the distance with trees and gingers is close to the house , and I am standing close to the other one while taking the pic .
just had several stems fall down with all the rain and lack of props , most should ripen , but was to be expected as I have left to many sucker on . Have been controlling them better now .
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Time: 19th November 2010 7:35am

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Tully
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Great looking plantation there trikus - what varieties do you grow? I had ordered a Blue Java, Dwarf Ducasse and Goldfinger last year from Blue Sky and they are powering away after arriving as tissue cultured plants, phenomenal growth rates,

Time: 19th November 2010 8:33am

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
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trikus says...
I have Blue Java , Bluggoe , Ducasse , Mona Lisa , and Pisang Ceylon .
Mona Lisa and Pisang Ceylon are very different looking but very similar tasting .
Mona Lisa is a FHAI cross and is similar to Goldfinger ,fruits are large and not browning when cut and a bit of a tang .
P ceylon are more ladyfinger shape , enormous bunches and way to cramped , I had a hell of a time cutting hands off , and ended up snapping them off . Would be best to cut off every second hand when just forming .It has massive hands and lots of them .



Time: 19th November 2010 5:31pm

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Tully
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Eddie says...
Any pictures trikus and phil

Time: 19th November 2010 9:42pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Marg (from Camberwell), Last time you posted (in April) your lady Finger banana had just produced a flower. I would love to hear how it got on. Did you get much fruit?

Time: 7th December 2010 12:09pm

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MiLK_MaN says...
Hi,

I'm growing some bananas in the north suburbs of Melbourne. I'm trying them in pots, and given the heat and humidity we've had in the last few weeks they are starting to grow pretty quickly.

I've got a Blue Java and Dwarf Ducasse. First time I've ever grown bananas, so will see how I go.

I water them daily at the moment, the excess water just drains out of the pot so I'm not real concerned about over watering. I feed with compost tea every couple of weeks, and with bokashi juice when it's available.

My house faces about 10 degree north, and I have a masonry wall I will put the bananas right next to when they are big enough, so I should be ok with overwintering these.

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Time: 7th December 2010 9:36pm

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South Morang, VIC
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Marg says...
Hi John

indeed we do have banana

and they survived even without a bag over the crazy winter and spring we have had here.

there are about 50 individual banans

will a bag help them size up and ripen?

they get lots of water even without the rain and we are feeding them up..
:-) m
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Time: 30th December 2010 11:42am

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About the Author Margssubtropical1
Camberwell
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John I. says...
Hi Marg,

They look good. I guess all the cold weather has slowed them down a bit but it looks like you should have plenty of ripe bananas before the end of summer (if not sooner). I'm glad to hear they survived winter.

I'm not sure if bagging them will help with ripening (I thought bags were used to protect the bananas from birds, fruit bats and sunburn). Couldn't hurt to try though.

I'm very exited at the moment because my first hand of 9 bananas on my lady finger has just appeared this afternoon.
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Time: 30th December 2010 4:42pm

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Brad says...
Good thread this. Thanks for all the info. Questions questions. I'm considering bananas by our small pool. They'll like the humidity, but need wind and summer sun protection.

Time: 9th January 2011 2:24pm

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About the Author Brad2
G hill,Perth
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Mrs V says...
Hi..i have a 17mths old banana tree and just about 90cm tall. I noticed that there's about 3 little banana like growth around it. Is that what you called banana suckers? what should i do? should i dug it out or just let it grow with my banana tree?
thank you.

Time: 29th January 2011 4:29pm

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About the Author Mrs V
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Hi Mrs V. Yes the little plants that are appearing are suckers. If you are growing the banana plants in the hope of getting bananas from them then you should remove the suckers leaving just one (two in the sub tropics) to replace the mother plant when it has finished producing fruit. If you are only growing the plant as an ornamental then you can leave the suckers if you want.

To remove the suckers cut them down to ground level, and put a little bit of kerosine on it (5ml). Careful not to put too much or you can damage the mother plant.

Do you know what variety of banana you have? 90cm for a 17 month old plant sounds a little small.

Time: 30th January 2011 11:19am

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About the Author JohnI
Melton
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fruitist says...
Red Banana.
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Time: 14th February 2011 8:09am

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Meg says...
John, I picked up Babaco from Otway Herbs for around $6. A trip to Apollo Bay coming up?

Time: 17th February 2011 7:49pm

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Grali says...
Hi all,

I just put in my first bananas, a dwarf caverdish and a red dacca. I'm in bayside Melb so relatively frost free (10min walk from the beach) so I hope all will go smoothly. They're in the backyard with is paved so hopefully it will act a bit like a heat sink and keep them going.
Reading this has now inspired me to go out and see if my local Bunnings has a dwarf ducasse to add to the collection. Keep up the good work ppl.

Time: 23rd February 2011 8:26pm

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Melbourne
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Violet_Cactus says...
Grali, where did you buy your Red Dacca from if I may ask? I'm in Bayside too.

Time: 25th February 2011 12:33am

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About the Author VioletCactus1
Melbourne
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Shell says...
Great thread!

Check out Bunnings now for the Red Dacca, I recently added one to my collection.

I have had a Cavendish growing in a pot for a couple of years - took it out for some tlc and to remove a sucker on the weekend. Have learnt a lot since reading this thread and going to give it a whole lot more lovin'!
I really just want mine to flower since visiting the Whitsundays and watching one flower outside my hotel room. Fruit would be a bonus

Time: 1st March 2011 6:42pm

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About the Author Shell3
Feeshwater Creek
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Jason says...
Bit of a suspiciously wide leaf coming out of my Dwarf ducasse at the moment. Hopefully it's about to chuck a flower although I doubt it will ripen before Winter at the stage but it's got 5 reasonable but torn leaves on it so maybe It'll be able to ripen some for me

Time: 1st March 2011 7:18pm

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About the Author Jason
Portland
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snottiegobble says...
Good luck with it Jason. Would some form of plastic protection be advisable?

Time: 2nd March 2011 2:15pm

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Bunbury/Busso (smack in the middle)
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Jason says...
Well If I had more shelter the leaves would be in better condition, I've recently planted 2 dwarf ducasse's in front of the house. It feels like I'm cheating though because they are growing much faster and without any tears in the leaves. Certainly gives you an idea how easy it would be to grow bananas in a sheltered backyard in the city

Time: 2nd March 2011 2:28pm

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About the Author Jason
Portland
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snottiegobble says...
Absolutely, I have never contemplated bananas before having only seen one tree in Vic near Geelong ( Dinosaur Hotel). If you can grow them & get them to produce fruit in Portland it should give everyone down south confidence to have a go.

Time: 2nd March 2011 5:20pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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John I. says...
Snottie, I did a lot of research before planting my bananas here in Melbourne, but the thing that convinced me that it was possible was reading Jason's posts. Like you said if you can get them to fruit in Portland, Melbourne shouldn't be too hard.

Time: 4th March 2011 12:44pm

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About the Author JohnI
Melbourne
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Gordo says...
Hi fellow fruit-lovers, check out www.backyardbananas.com.au/ for all advice, supply, recipes, etc for bananas. They have been hit by cyclone, but are back up and running. Always great service. Lovely to deal with.
I was so happy to find PLATANOS or plantains (cooking bananas).

Time: 10th March 2011 2:15pm

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Samford
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Grali says...
Violet Cactus - I just got them from Bunnings. They still have a few left when I went on the weekend... although a lot of the left over bananas are missing variety tags. The red dacca has reddish/burgandy patches down the centre of the leaves so it's pretty recognisable. It might be a bit late though to get them established before it gets cold... Bunnings have reduced them from 30$ to 20$ about a month ago.

Time: 16th March 2011 6:55am

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Melbourne
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Grali says...
Do other people note the their banana seems to wilt on hot days? I try to chuck a bucket of water on mine daily so I don't know if I'm not watering it enough or whether them usually wilt in full sun on a hot day.

Time: 16th March 2011 7:01am

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Melbourne
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trikus says...
Bananas need lots of water ... lots and lots , just like here in the wettest place in Australia . 25mm a week avg , more is better .. we have been getting more than that every day for the last few weeks .

Time: 16th March 2011 2:32pm

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battered Tully
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Eddie says...
Hey Grali iam in Melbourne too and as said need alot of water but if you mean wilting as in the leaves flap back but still erect in a way thats just the plant not needing any more sun so it closes back its (photosynthesis) the plant controls how much sun it needs hope thats helps and iam 99% sure iam right with that but happy if i get corrected. Maybe a pic will help us help u when it occurs

Time: 16th March 2011 3:50pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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Peter says...
I have Ducasse and Red Dacca from cool bananas Humphres and My Ducasse have prodused 3 bunches now only put 1 plant in 2 years ago. Ducasse is a small fruit variety. They say to pick when ridges on fruit go and the flower ends on the fruit blacken and crumble. At this stage the fruit will still be green, pick it any how they will ripen off the tree. you can take a hand at a time if wanted. Pics taken today 19/03/11


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Time: 19th March 2011 11:41pm

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About the Author Peter37
Adelaide
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snottiegobble says...
Ok now I am serious about growing bananas ( seen their price lately?)
My kavendish now has 2 pups, but I know it will soon run out of the pig manure,
b&b,& potting mix that I incorporated into the hole before planting into my WA soily sand. What I would like to know is how quick do the roots spread out? I wish to dig holes round the plant & bury more manure, compost etc. The tree has now been in the ground 5 weeks+.

Time: 20th March 2011 2:24am

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Bunbury/Busso(smack in the middle)
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Brendan says...
Hi SG,
I just put the manure on the ground around the banana trees, like a mulch. They seem to love it. I always add fertilizer (and some dolomite) too:-)

Time: 20th March 2011 10:00am

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About the Author Brendan
Mackay, Q
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Don't forget to choose your pups carefully to use for propagating more plants. Watershoots are pretty much useless so you need to wait for your banana tree to produce a spear shaped sucker which will go on to bear fruit.
http://www.hardytropicals.org/index.php/blog/entry/splitting_banana_pups
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Time: 20th March 2011 10:32am

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Murwillumbah
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snottiegobble says...
Thanks Brendan & Phil for your advice & 'splitting pups' site.

Time: 20th March 2011 5:44pm

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John Mc says...
Blue Java banana - any one know where I might be able to buy one?

The only source I can find is Backyard Bananas in Nth Qld. The only problem with them is that they will only send 50mm culture tubes @$10ea. That's fine, I'm about to place an order for 4 plants with postage of $10.
I thought I'd do a little ask around before I went ahead with my order.

It's going to be tricky nursing 2 month old tissue culture plants over winter. It's a good thing they send detailed instructions on how to raise them.

Time: 21st March 2011 4:29pm

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Jantina says...
I bought 3 bananas from Bluesky bananas John, a dwarf Ducasse, Goldfinger and a Blue Java and they have all grown like rockets in my unheated glasshouse.

Time: 21st March 2011 10:27pm

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Mt Gambier
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John Mc says...
Thanks for the assurance on the tissue culture plants. Phil didn't have any trouble with his either. A ring around all the local nurseries had a negative result as expected. I did come across a goldfinger which was surprising, it'll be picked up tomorrow.

Time: 22nd March 2011 12:06am

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trikus says...
If you have the space and organic matter , try a few 'banana circles' a 'permaculture' design that should really help in marginal areas . My first clump is being made into one now , as I am dumping tons of cyclone debris in the centre of the stand .

Time: 22nd March 2011 8:38am

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battered Tully
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Jantina says...
Good idea trikus, how's it all going with the cleanup?

Time: 22nd March 2011 10:51am

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Mt Gambier
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Brad says...
whats the smallest size patch you think worthwile?

Time: 22nd March 2011 2:15pm

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G Hill,Perth
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Lachlann says...
Brad even a very small patch of a few square metres is enjoyable. They cope with a little bit of crowding and shade as long as you pre-emptively thin the suckers very well as time goes by so that you don't have a lot of crowded big stems.. Circles can also be made from a start with just one plant; suckers spreading outwards like a mushroom circle, only slower, and removing any growth in the centre as well as thinning out the peripheral suckers.

Time: 23rd March 2011 9:30pm

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Sth Coast NSW
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Gordo says...
Hi, I've just received my Blugoe banana from post-cyclone flooded Blue Sky nursery www.backyardbananas.com.au. Will try and get a photo to post on forum. It might be tissue cultured but it is a good 500mm in size. Will let you know how I get on.

Time: 25th March 2011 1:40pm

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Samford
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Grali says...
Thanks Eddie and Trikus. If we have another hot day (its Melb so who knows) I'll try to get a pic. I'm not sure if what it is as it seems to happen even after a good soaking.

Hey with the current price of bananas backyard growing in places like Melb might even become mainstream.

Time: 25th March 2011 5:32pm

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About the Author Grali
Melbourne
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Mish says...
How did I guess that the Banana forum would be popular given the current prices? ;)

Anyway, moving on to my question! I purchased a 'Cool Bananas' dwarf Cavendish Banana plant from Bunnings a few months ago. It has been sitting in a pot on my patio until a few days ago, when I transplanted it to a sunny and wind-sheltered spot in the garden, surrounded by a whole heap of excellent quality compost and topped with some dry leaves as a mulch of sorts.

Given that they are thirsty little critters it has been well watered in with top-ups each day, to the point where the soil is moist but no water is pooling, yet the poor 'nana seems to have suffered some transplant shock! The leaves have all drooped, they're green and the top (central) leaf is slowly unfurling still (it was tightly curled up when I planted it)... should I be concerned?

Attached is a pic of the tree from today.

Any ideas, tips, general advice? I may be a garden novice but I'd really, really like to keep this plant alive!

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Picture: 1

Time: 29th March 2011 3:05pm

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About the Author Mish1
Gippsland
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snottiegobble says...
I dont know much about bananas yet, but I do know that a little Seasol in water helps plants through the trauma of being moved. it is best though to soak the pot first using seasol before transplanting, & then water the plant in with it also.
My kavendish has never looked back using this method yet its been damned hot here ever since!

Time: 29th March 2011 5:39pm

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Bunbury/Busso ( smack in the middle)
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M Nash says...
My Cavendish have sprouted and are a foot high, In only a few months from planting the corms.
A question;
when do you cut the main tree and allow the dominant pup to become the next main tree?
Or in other words, how many flowers can I expect on the main tree before its had its day?
Can the main tree keep going year after year if the pups are removed?

Time: 30th March 2011 11:32am

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About the Author MNash1
Terranora Northern NSW
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Steven says...
From my understanding nash. what you need to do is allow one pup to grow to a reasonable size as the main plant. then only allow one other pup to develop as the daughter plant. Genetically they are identical as they come from the same plant so they all should grow as well as long as one isnt sick in some way.

One plant will only produce one bunch of bananas then die back. once this is done cut the main plant down and chop it up as mulch for the daughter plant to now become the main plant. And obviously repeat the process as long as you can.

Regards

Steven

Time: 30th March 2011 11:51am

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About the Author Steven
Eastern Melbourne
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Mish says...
Just an update - today has seen an improvement in my plant, the leaves are slowly rising once again. I must've done something right. Phew!

Time: 30th March 2011 12:09pm

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Gippsland
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Animal Lover says...
I am growing my 1st 3 banana believe all my are dwarf cavadish. I found that they will often leaves appear to die, however my thery is the plant is trying to conserve energy to produce another leave and each time they drooped there lower leaves a new leaf has emerged. Good to know that other melbournians have had some success with fruiting! I'm in narre warren area.
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Time: 5th April 2011 12:46pm

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South East
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snottiegobble says...
Animal lover, I am also growing my first banana & I just know that yours shouldnt be like that. They appear to be in pots which I am sure is not adequate for such a plant. There are some real experts in this forum who will be sure to help you! Good luck!

Time: 5th April 2011 1:14pm

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Nick says...
I have a dwarf cavendish too in a pot and its already got 6 or so leaves since I bought while also retaining all its original leaves, except the lowest one.

Time: 5th April 2011 4:21pm

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About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
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Ken says...
Hi

Can anyone identify the variety of banana shown in the attached photo? This banana is grown in Balwyn, Melbourne and in early March my banana started flowering. Also I note it may take up to six months to ripen dependent upon variety - will the banana ripen over the Melbourne winter?

Ken
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Time: 16th April 2011 10:23pm

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Jason says...
It wont ripen over Winter but if the leaves stay undamaged until Spring it will ripen then. Can't say what variety it is

Time: 17th April 2011 12:19am

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About the Author Jason
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Animal Lover1 says...
Dwarf Cavadish 2.5metres
Dwarf Red Dacca 2metres
Duccasse 3-4metres!
Goldfinger 3-4metres
Lady finger 3metres
'Pisang Ceylan' 2-3metres

This is only a guess-but I think your could be the Duccasse plant because it look like it pretty tall already, I have 3 of the dwarf Cavadish at the moment, in pots doing extremely well!




Time: 20th April 2011 4:30pm

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About the Author Animal Lover1
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Gary says...
Hi

Have first flower on Goldfinger. Plant been in just over 2 years growing at Heathmere, Portland Vic. In photo on right side of Goldfinger is a Dwarf red Dacca same age. Just wondering if it's necessary to remove the stems? If u have the room to leave them on, I'v left mine on, would u get more bunches? And if the flower get through winter do i need to put bag over it? And is it true bananas don't need pollinating to get fruit?

Thanks Gary.
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Time: 8th May 2011 10:44pm

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About the Author Gary16
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Nick d says...
Hey can anyone recommend a fertilizer that won't harm dwarf cavendish

Time: 8th May 2011 10:49pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Nick,
I use Super Growth from Katek, plus any manure I can get.
Even Rooster Booster from bunnings works well, just add some extra sulphate of potash.
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Time: 9th May 2011 7:19am

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Drady1990 says...
Hey i have 5 x dwarf cavendish bananas they have been on verandah and under cover from frost but last night we had -3 degree's and leaves have turned black i have no put them in my shed with a 400w hps grow light can anyone give any ideas or solutions as the look like they will die and i cant let them thankyou for your help


Time: 11th May 2011 3:33pm

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John I. says...
Hi Drady1990,
As long as the stems are ok then they will be fine. They will start to push new leaves as soon as they get some warm weather.

Time: 11th May 2011 3:47pm

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Nick says...
Hey Nick, I doubt any fertiliser would harm a cavendish, considering how much of a heavy feeder bananas are. I'd still stick to organic stuff though, so compost, manure, dynamic lifter (which I use) etc.

Time: 11th May 2011 4:13pm

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Drady1990 says...
thanks everbody i appreciate it.

Time: 11th May 2011 5:20pm

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Drady1990 says...
Hey can anyone help out with the best pots to grow bananas in. Thanks

Time: 12th May 2011 1:43am

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Drady1990 says...
Hey can anyone help out with the best pots to grow bananas in. Thanks

Time: 12th May 2011 1:43am

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Jason says...
Drady a rubbish bin with lots of holes in it works good for most plants that you want to fruit in a pot

Time: 12th May 2011 3:31am

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Lissa says...
Hi all.
Does anyone think they can help me to identify my banana variety from the pics? Taken at various times from the beginning of the flower head, to fruit just forming to almost current.

It's a dwarf but a friend growing the Dwarf Ducasse (which I have a small plant of from Blue Sky)says it's not this.

Nor is it blue enough to be a Blue Java.

The person who gave me the plant obtained it from someone else and doesn't know the variety.

Thanks.
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Time: 12th May 2011 6:17am

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Brendan says...
I'm thinking Lady Finger? (looking at the tip).

Time: 12th May 2011 6:58am

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Drady1990 says...
These are my bananas hit by the cold weather of bathurst as you can one banana still has nice green leaves but the rest look very sad
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Time: 12th May 2011 9:58am

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Drady1990 says...
any help to get bananas back to health would be greatly appreciated

Time: 12th May 2011 9:59am

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Jason says...
Drady, those bananas are fine, just a mild frost damage. once spring comes around they will grow again. You have to get a banana really cold and frozen under the ground to kill it, especially a large one. If you don't want to have them regrow from down low each year move them into the shed before Winter next time and leave them there until spring. People in New York dig them up and wrap them in newspaper without soil and leave them in the shed like that over Winter, then plant them again in Spring. But for you leaving them in the pot probably without any watering or very little over Winter will be fine

Time: 12th May 2011 9:51pm

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Drady1990 says...
What so just leave the burnt leaves on and just reduce watering over winter

Time: 12th May 2011 11:59pm

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John I. says...
Drady1990,
Here's a picture of my dwarf red dacca after its first winter in the ground, and about a year later. As long as the corm is healthy (the part of the plant that is under ground), then it will start pushing new leaves out in spring.

You can remove the leaves now if you like or as I didi I left it until the first spring growth and then removed all the damaged leaves.
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Time: 13th May 2011 6:40am

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Lissa says...
Hi Brendan. Thanks for taking a punt on the type. What do you mean by "looking at the tip"?

Time: 28th May 2011 6:08am

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Johan says...
Here is a photo of one of my banana plants I think it is
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Time: 3rd June 2011 10:46pm

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Johan says...
Here is a photo of the bananas in the
ripening bucket.
Johan
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Time: 4th June 2011 8:15pm

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John I. says...
Hi Johan, Your bananas have a lovely yellow color. I hope they taste as good as they look. I have a Lady Finger banana here in Melbourne and I have been slowing picking them, although they are still quite small. I've been ripenning them in a plastic bag with an apple and the skin color of mine is mor of a brownish yellow.

Time: 10th June 2011 10:26am

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juanita says...
Hi John!
How's your ladyfinger bananas taste like? are they as good as those from Qld or crapy & tiny fruits?

Time: 10th September 2011 11:47pm

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John I. says...
Hi Juanita,
The bananas that I picked early were nice. They weren't as sweet as QLD bananas, but they had good texture and a pleasant tang (I'd rate them a 6 out of 10). The final hand ripened on the plant at the start of August, and they weren't so good. I don't know if it was because of frost damage but the top of the banana was edible but the bottom half was woody.

Time: 13th September 2011 2:33pm

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snottiegobble says...
I have protected my young cavendish all winter with good results as it is producing good strong leaves now, but so are the 2 pups which are now about 60cms tall & are situated north & south of the mother. The question I have is : which one should I transplant, & when, with the other being left to eventually take over??

Time: 16th September 2011 10:35pm

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snottiegobble says...
Cmon guys, Im going bananas waiting to find out! (00)

Time: 20th September 2011 4:13pm

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grub says...
gidday snottie now spring is the best time to plant .after planting out dont water for 3 weeks unless the soil is dry.i was told that when the main plant is three quaters grown then select one of the suckers as a replacement plant for after harvest ..i dont know about down here i have 3 bannas in they are about a 1200 high and about 15 mths old athey survived this winter with out any protection .i did protect my paw paw though

Time: 20th September 2011 4:47pm

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grub says...
snottie forgot to ask you if ya pups were suskers or flag suckers.flag suckers have a narrow base and not suitable for transplanting

Time: 20th September 2011 4:49pm

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snottiegobble says...
grub, both pups are just like mummy, good strong thick stems & still seem to be connected to her below the surface.

Time: 20th September 2011 5:51pm

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Lissa says...
I attended a garden workshop on banana growing a year or so back. It was terrific - informative and great presenter - and I went home and removed young plantlets (suckers? pups?) as advised.

But....each time I removed them the plant replaced them. Seems it really wanted two suckers on the go, so I eventually let it have what it wanted.

The main plant is now in fruit and the two ladies in waiting just sitting there nicely ready to do their thing when needed.

Time: 23rd September 2011 5:17am

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About the Author Lissa
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snottiegobble says...
Thanks Lissa, I will do the same!

Time: 23rd September 2011 7:31pm

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MiLK_MaN says...
I have three banana plants at home, two I left outside in winter to fend by themselves, the third I put under a grow light in my garage.

All 3 are back into their growing phase with the warmer weather in Melbourne. They are all in pots, will be interesting to see them fruiting and the reaction from neighbours when they walk past!

Can anyone advise when is the best time to bag the bunch? Do you wait until they are full sized but yet to ripen, or do you bag them as soon as you see them?

Time: 25th September 2011 7:23am

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juanita says...
I haven't seen potted bananas give fruits yet..Planted in the ground, yes definitely will give fruits.

Time: 27th September 2011 10:52pm

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John Mc says...
I'm going to try a little experiment when I get my Blue Java tissue culture plants. Two are going in the ground and one is going into a recycling hydroponic pot system, something in the order of 35 to 45 litres. Bananas are very hungry and thirsty plants and I can't think of a better way to supply both as much nutrients and water as and when the plant needs it. I tried a crude hydro pot last year on some dwarf banana plants and they grew extremely well even though I had to manually water them, which wasn't enough in the end because of their growth rate. When they get to a certain size they have to be watered several times a day to keep the vigour up and I just wasn't home enough to give them what they wanted. Next time the watering system will be recirculating and automatic.

Time: 29th September 2011 10:24am

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BananaShootsNeeded says...
hey everyone,
do you know where i can get banana shoots from? i saw the forum and saw that some of you plant banana trees at home. i'm happy to buy from you if you have these as i need these urgently for medical reasons. hoping someone can help me. Thanks..

Time: 5th October 2011 12:14pm

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Steven says...
hey how are you. most nurseries sell bananas so you should be able to get the pretty easily. bunnings usually has them too. if they dont have them now then its probably because they only have them in summer.


Regards

Steven

Time: 5th October 2011 9:56pm

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Cate says...
Hiya, I know Bulleen Art and Garden were getting some in this month so you could try there.

Time: 8th October 2011 9:50pm

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Lissa says...
Buying banana plants in Qld means one source only at the moment - Blue Sky Nursery referred by DPI.

Things must be a little easier down south with Bunnings and nurseries selling suckers.

Time: 12th October 2011 6:17pm

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John Mc says...
Blue Java tissue culture banana plants arrived today, yay. One of them had all it's leaves snapped off but I hedged by bets by buying three with the intention of getting at least one to maturity. One down, two to go and they've only just left their tc tubes.

Time: 20th October 2011 4:11pm

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juanita says...
Hi John...Just wondering if your dwarf red dacca has given you fruits yet?

Time: 26th October 2011 12:49am

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John I. says...
Hi Juanita. The flower emerged last month and it has about 40 bananas on it. The bananas are green, and look like cavandish.

Time: 26th October 2011 9:26am

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coastie says...
Good morning, I have been reading and watching this forum for some time and now I think I can be of some help in some subjects.
I have been growing the dwarf cav.banana, red and gold for some time now.This is a photo of last years crop of red, they were absolutely yummmie,we cover the fruit as soon as the fruit loose the square look, and we cut off the flower before it opens.
We have shade cloth bags which we made and it is to protect them from bats.
We bought the plants[1 gold 1 red]in pots, from KMart in Melbourne about 4yrs ago and we have had fruit almost every year since, red and gold.
We have decided this year we would not cut the whole bunch down when we think they are nearly ripe,we will on pick them in manageable hands and when we have eaten those which might be 15mins or 15days, we will pick another hand.
This will be better than having the whole 300 banans ripening at the same time.
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Time: 26th October 2011 11:21am

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John I. says...
Hi Coastie, when do the red dacca bananas turn red (or de they emerge from the flower that color)?

Time: 26th October 2011 12:03pm

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coastie says...
Hi John, they all grow green colour and when they start to change colour that is when they have stopped growing, that is when you think about picking them. There is no special time to pick them,just when you think it is time,remember the shop ones are all picked green and they never fail to ripen.
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Time: 26th October 2011 12:30pm

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