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Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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Can't wait to see what E.Glaucum looks like when it keeps bigger!
Barb
It looks like it is cool there again-
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Posted : 22/07/2011 12:40 pm
It's been cool and rainy for a couple of weeks.
More storms/lightning than in recent years too.
Most of my plants love these temps.
Re bananas and cool temps, get a load of this July 18th excerpt from The Province (Vancouver BC) newspaper.
"Woman's banana tree grows fruit - in Surrey?"
Given the dismal spring and early summer in Metro Vancouver, Melanie Benekritis didn't expect much to be growing in her Surrey garden -- especially bananas.
But after going away for two weeks, she returned a few days ago to find her banana tree had, of all things, actual bananas growing.
Patrick Lewis, director of the UBC Botanical Garden, said the climate i BC is not optimal for banana trees. It's not common but it does happen, he said.
Miles Hunter of David Hunter Garden Centres said the tree type they sold Benekritis is a Musa basjoo -- a Japanese hardy. It is rare for a banana tree to develop bananas in this climate, he said. The growing season is short, they need a long hot summer.
Maybe the trick is to go away for two weeks... 😆 😆 😆 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 22/07/2011 1:08 pm
Hi Jim,
your yard is looking real tropical. That banana is huge! Keep us posted on banana fruits!
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Posted : 22/07/2011 3:19 pm
Topic starter
Barb
Sounds like she wasn't paying very close attention.....
Banana plants don't just suddenly grow Bananas!
Even in 2 weeks! 😆
Thanks Tim
I will....
I need to get another picture of the flower emerging.
It is so fun to watch these flower,esp when the heat is on.
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Posted : 22/07/2011 6:08 pm
The Surrey woman obviously missed the flower, and came home to find small bananas forming.
How cool!
Especially with Vancouver's rainy cool weather.
Will look forward to seeing your updated banana flower pics.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 22/07/2011 6:33 pm
Topic starter
I'll try and take one today....
I always forget to bring my camera out!
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Posted : 23/07/2011 2:54 pm
Topic starter
Haha
Here is an update on my Banana plant that flowered.
The one next to it is flowering too!
I always wondered if they flowered by say.....mid
to late July if it would be possible for the fruit
to ripen.
I guess I will get my answer this year!
Here are some pics from 7-29-11
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Second Banana plant flowering
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Thanks for looking-I'll let you know when the Banana splits are ready-hopefully not served with Pumpkin pie.
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Posted : 31/07/2011 2:41 pm
Outstanding, Jim!
And look at the size of those leaves!
I'll take a dozen bananas... 😛
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Posted : 31/07/2011 3:54 pm
Super!
I've never had a banana of any sort flower, but a friend of mine down here got fruit a couple of years ago and he was so proud he put the little things in his freezer so he could pull them and and brag into the winter. 😆
Posted : 31/07/2011 6:27 pm
Nice job!! Is this any earlier then last year?
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
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Posted : 31/07/2011 6:46 pm
Grest work as usual, Jim! 😀
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Posted : 31/07/2011 6:49 pm
Topic starter
Thanks
These have flowered almost 2 months earlier than last year!
They have grown insanely fast too-already need another picture up!
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Posted : 01/08/2011 1:10 pm
Awesome Images!
😀
Posted : 01/08/2011 3:02 pm
Topic starter
They really move fast-esp in 100F weather with plenty of water.
Flower 2 days ago-
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The Bananas 2 days ago-
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Pretty cool!
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Posted : 01/08/2011 6:09 pm
That's awesome Jim! I always seek out and fondle and inspect the flowering bananas when on tropical vacations. They are so cool when they flower. People must think I'm nuts...
Did you say they are orinocos? They look like they probably are not the "dwarf" variety if orinocos though. How old are they? How many winters have they been dug up and wintered indoors? How big were they when you got them and started them out? Sad thing is that they will die after flowering. Hope you got lots of pups out of them first! The basjoos seem to pup like mad but I see no signs of pups from my orinoco and cavendish (both dwarf) yet this year. They seem to be growing like weeds though and if we get a summer even remotely like this one next year I think I might get one to flower here. Basjoos on the other hand, I don't think our season is long enough for that species for some reason.
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Posted : 02/08/2011 7:01 am
