Author Topic: Neglected Cavendish Bananas  (Read 5474 times)

2manytoyz

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Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« on: July 31, 2012, 09:35:00 PM »
Spin off from my last post.  Bought a house late last year, previous owner neglected all the trees.  Got some good advice on the citrus trees, and that's in work.

Tonight I dug my way back towards the woods near the creek and found what I believe to be the Cavendish Bananas that are supposed to be on the property.  Going by the date written in the shed, these were planted in 2008.



No fruit at all.  Some signs of old flowers (lack of the proper term, I'm sure).  Looks like they need to be cleaned up, and FED.  Should these be thinned out some too?

Sorry for the newbie questions.
Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

samuelforest

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2012, 09:37:22 PM »
They don't look like bananas, but they look like bird of paradise plants.

ofdsurfer

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2012, 09:43:09 PM »
Yes those are white bird of paradise plants not bananas.

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2012, 09:45:10 PM »
I've had bird of paradise plants before, but those were 4' tall.  These are about 25' tall.
Robert & Dawn
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ofdsurfer

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2012, 09:50:35 PM »
The orange ones stay small. Those in the picture are the white bird of paradise.

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2012, 09:51:21 PM »
I just Googled "white bird of paradise plants".   :-\  Explains why there are no bananas!  Had no idea those would grow so tall.

Thanks for the quick ID.  I would have been very disappointed waiting for my nanas!   ;)
Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

ofdsurfer

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2012, 09:55:19 PM »
No problem if you want some banana pups I would be happy to give you some. I'm in Mel Beach, pm me if your interested.

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2012, 10:10:51 PM »
Thanks for the offer. I'm still trying to ID everything on the property. "Somewhere" there were Cavendish bananas, but they may have died since 2008.  Then again, I might be looking right at them thinking they're some other tropical plant.  I'll keep cleaning up what's left and maybe ask for more help IDing what's here.   Wife says we have enough things already planted for now.  ???
Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

Xeno

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2012, 01:02:54 AM »
Dig those out or use the dead leaves as mulch. I'd dig them out if I were you.

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2012, 10:53:42 AM »
Yea, not sure their fate just yet.  Since these are on the back edge of the property, not a high priority.  I'll cut them back some for now to clean up the area.  I might take them out later.  They're hiding in the shadow of a very large ficus tree, and behind a couple of palms.  Out of sight for now.
Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2012, 01:14:31 PM »
I shared the story with a coworker.  This is what I found at my workbench today:



Guess now I have a real banana tree!  Plant it tonight between the rain showers...

Thanks gang!
Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

Tim

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2012, 01:22:23 PM »
Wow very nice of him/her. Good luck with the new pup.

I second the "get rid of that giant bird of paradise" in favor of edibles.
Tim

fruitlovers

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2012, 06:51:59 PM »
Robert, that plant in black plastic bag is a heliconia! Just kidding. That's a real banana, good luck with your new garden.  ;D
Oscar

Xeno

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2012, 07:22:45 PM »
Could that be a Blue Java/Ice Cream banana plant? Cause it looks just like my banana plant!

2manytoyz

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2012, 09:41:19 PM »
Not sure if that's a Glad or a Hefty banana, based on the packaging!

My buddy Barry has no idea what type of banana it actually is.  His wife did send me an email with this description:  "These are really good nanners, especially when dehydrated, sweet with a little tang - you will never like regular bananas again. These get a little tinge of pink inside when ripe."

Maybe that'll narrow them down a bit.

Getting ready for a camping trip, so had to pick a spot and stuff the poor nana tree in the yard somewhere.  I plan on changing up the landscaping near the shed.  Gets good sun during the day.  The grass will be taken out of beside the shed where the lone nana tree is living, and the area mulched.  Maybe get a row of them growing, with space between them and the shed to keep things under control.

Robert & Dawn
Merritt Island, FL
http://www.2manytoyz.com/

zands

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2012, 07:23:47 AM »
Nice. Be sure to mulch it before you go and it would be nice if someone hits it water every few days. Once established they grow like weeds. An entrenched banana patch can take effort to remove

But if someone wanted to improve their soil just get a large banana patch established. Feed them cheap 10-10-10. Then in a few years when you rip them out the soil will be black and loose due to the banana roots. Chop up all the bananas and you have a mulch that will further improve the soil

edzone9

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Re: Neglected Cavendish Bananas
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2014, 11:28:57 AM »
Nice Banana Plant !

I have Nam-Wah, Gold Finger, 3640, Mona Lisa, Gran Naim, Orionoco & Giant African Plantain..

Enjoy..

Ed..
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