Wanted: one healthy Babaco plant

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Anyone have access to this one?

I know it won't want to fruit in FL, being to hot and humid.

So please don't remind me...just help me find a healthy babaco, I'm happy to buy it.

thanks!

[edself65]

I have always wanted to grow that one to! It is a pretty neat looking plant!

Ed

[FlyingFoxFruits]

i hear it will produce better in humid lowland climates, if grafted onto papaya...I wonder if this is true.

Only one way to find out!

[BMc]

Why would it not grow and fruit in Florida? Especially Central Florida?
It grows and fruits in equally hot and humid environs. They just have a much harder time striking as cuttings as they turn to mush often.
I have a few that popped up from a downed tree over the mini drought we had. I cut it up and threw them on the ground in one of my raised terraces and about 5 shot up. I thought they were feral monoicas until I noticed they were growing from the cut branches. Score! as I like them in shakes and as sorbet extender.
Maybe I'll try grafting onto papaya for fun. Maybe monoica would be a better fit size wise though? and they are tough.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

bmc,

must be something like cherimoya?

but I've never heard of anyone being able to fruit babaco in FL...too low of elevation I assume.

I'm gonna graft some regardless...just for fun essentially.  if it fruits thats a bonus.

[Californiatropicals]

Babaco  is supposed to be very easy to propagate via cuttings.. I bought a cutting this past may.. It's grown ridiculously fast and it already has several 8+ inch long fruits on it.  Hopefully next spring I can get it to start branching out and get some cuttings available!  If you haven't found a source by then I will do my best to provide you cuttings

[Californiatropicals]

I have to add that I have future hopes of propagating seperate babaco plants and grafting tropical hawaiian papaya to them.. Last year all my papaya seedlings died of root rot (i saw them wilting and watered them more! LOL) I also had them in heavy soil.