Mike

I had read it was suppose to bloom at 8 feet or less. But when it didn't I asked Ben in NZ. He said in Australia, they bloom at 9 feet plus.

Well once the summer cooled some, and it started growing again, it bloomed at 9 feet plus a few inches.

Except for Misi Luki, which I'm not sure now if it is really what it is, which bloomed at 12 feet. As the fruit was bluish, but did not seem to grow like my Ice Cream/Blue Java and it's cousin, Dwarf Namwah.

Everything else bloomed between 8 to 9 plus feet. Except for the transplanted Mysore which should not of bloomed at 7 feet,, by the books.

David

The above followup was added by David, Waterford CA, zone9 on December 23, 2003 at 10:50 am PST.

Mike

I have a number of banana plants which should bloom earlier this year, I hope. If we do not get a killer freeze before warm temps return.

Jeff should be having a lot of bananas, with his big patch, should be blooming early too, unless they are huge monstrous variety.

I have a first generation Goldfinger at 8 feet. I have a second generation Rajapuri at 5 plus feet, FHIA-18 at 8 plus feet, a HS 3640 at 8 plus feet, a Mona Lisa at 7 plus feet, and the ???? Misi Luki, which may not be , but is at almost 10 feet.

I have 2 second generation Mysore's at 7 feet, and they would bloom early, if they bloom like their mother, but they are supposed to bloom at 14 feet plus, so we will see.

I have no idea what my Dwarf Namwah will do, it is 6 inches taller then the parent was last year, but ???? If we have a warm but not a hot early summer like last year, it might bloom early and be on time, before the summer heat.

I have no idea on the new ones I bought last year. I didn't acquire them and get them planted until June last year. Most are only 4 1/2 to 5 feet tall, except for one called Belle. It shot up to 7 feet plus, almost 8 feet. I have not been able to find anything out about it, only the info on the tag. It appears to be a cooking/desert banana. I'm not sure if it is a Honduras Research Center hybrid or someone else's or what.

David

The above followup was added by David, Waterford CA, zone9 on December 23, 2003 at 11:19 am PST.

David

Here is a description I found for " belle " Belle’ -- AAB. A sport of Pisang Raja, which itself is a vigorous grower (15-20') with a moderately heavy crop of very sweet, good quality fruit that are orange inside and of large size. This form has highly colored juvenile foliage. Plants in this group are wind resistant and cool tolerant. Pisang (or “Pysang”) types hail from Malaysia but aren't all related. Some Pisangs are AA while the Pisang Raja group itself is AAB. rev 12/02

This sounds like a variety that should do well here. I had thought of trying this one sometime here in Visalia. Maybe I still will. My friend has the regular Pisang Raja and has fruited it here. I am still planning on trying one he has called Dwarf Indonesian.

Do keep us informed on your successes with Belle and all the other ones your fruiting.

William Visalia Ca

The above followup was added by William on December 23, 2003 at 11:47 pm PST.

William

Thanks William, you have added a lot more details to the data I found.

I looked yesterday, and was surprised, to find a couple data spots on the Belle banana. When I looked online late June when I got it, I found nothing. I guess I didn't think about looking again. I am always surprised how fast thinks can change online.

Below is what I found. It mentions it is a very fast grower, and it really is, almost doubled in height compared to all the rest in one season. I see it has orange type flesh like some Indian types do, I had wanted a Indian type, but had not idea it was one.

I had gotten a Indian type 3 years ago, but it didn't survive our winter here; Monthan?, or some spelling like that.

===================
This is a relatively cold resistant fruiting type that can be eaten fresh or cooked. Heating briefly releases more flavor in the cooking types. To about 12 feet tall or clipped shorter. Prefers sun and rich, well drained soil. For best results feed and water regularly. Grows the first year and bears the second. Produces very sweet, good quality fruit that are orange inside and of large size. Belle is wind resistant.
==================

Banana Musa Belle Temp: For best growth above 65°F is recommended. Wind tolerant Light: Full sun to no less than 30% shade. Foliage growers should use 30%-60% shade. Soil: Good water holding capacity is needed Mature Height: NA Type: Dessert Hardiness: : Zone 9 Most rigorous growing banana in Florida.

The above followup was added by David, Waterford CA, zone9 on December 24, 2003 at 11:54 am PST.

I wonder what clipped means, unless it is the cutting back of the banana pseudo-stem, at the beginning of the last season before fruiting. Here the prime time would probably be before they leaf out in the spring.

I wonder about the pups I have been cutting back all last season at near ground level. Which I did to see how that worked, instead of just cutting them off and slowing down the mother plant.. If they were now allowed to grow, with out removing them from the parent, would they bloom at a shorter height? Some are not all that wide, but some are like 6 inches wide and a foot tall.

Would it also delay the bloom time. Jeff cut a a banana back, because it looked like it was going to bloom, with winter coming on. And it shoved it back into a juvenile stage and bloomed next season, but was shorter the usual.

David

The above followup was added by David, Waterford CA, zone9 on December 24, 2003 at 12:08 am PST.

David

Not quite sure what is meant by clipping back. I am assuming their describing some sort of pruning back method. Perhaps their talking about keeping the leaves tipped back? Wished they would have been a little more specific on the meaning of this.

If this is a sport of pisang raja I wouldnt imagine it getting too tall in the valley. my friends pisang raja is close to the height of my ice cream ( 12 feet ) when fruiting. This isnt all that big. Perhaps Belle will fit into this height range. Anyway the real importance to me is hardiness and fruit quality. when I find a banana variety with these two characteristics I am real happy.

Best of luck to you on your tests.

William Visalia Ca

The above followup was added by William on December 24, 2003 at 4:56 pm PST.

A lady in Long Beach has a lot of namwah banana frees bearing fruit. She told me that eating them is like taking viagra any comments?

The above followup was added by Duane Stevens on September 19, 2004 at 6:36 pm PST.