When it rains, it pours ! ( sometimes )

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Have had a slow growing Goldfinger banana " plantation " here for almost 6 years, using RR ties to create a raised bed.
Nothing to get excited about,..only a few stalks in all that time.
So lately, after all the mango's dropped awhile ago, ( all except one brave Kent that I just plucked ), I decided to uproot & throw out all of the smaller pups, however, once in awhile I'd take more care, preserving the roots, - then giving it away to a friend. Just cannot throw out a healthy, transplantable banana pup,..goes against my basic instincts ! ( smile )

So I now have five large ( 6 1/2 + ft tall ) Goldfingers that I could not dig up, - couldn't help it, started watching them like an osprey. Then 2 weeks ago I saw it. On the tallest guy, YIKES, - a big fat flower poking out at me ! Doesn't take much to wow this city slicker ! lol

And furthermore,...that was 2 1/2 weeks ago,..AND IT NOW LOOKS LIKE A NINE ( 9 ) HAND STALK !! In the past, have only had a few 7 hands and a couple with 8 hand's. Just curious, anyone out there ever see a nine hand one ? Now the best part, within 15 feet are four more huge, well fertilized Goldfinger plants ( can't call 'em pups anymore ),..and with Mother Natures help ( all the recent glorious rain ), all four of these guys look like they're about to poke more flowers at me !
Yikes,..but like they say,..sometimes, in my case once in a looong time,...when it rains, it pours ! ( smile )

Featured Answer

juneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl

10 years ago

Has Chiquita called yet to add your "plantation" to their holdings? I can see why you're excited - that is an impressive stalk!

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Comments (7)

User
10 years ago
My! That's beautiful!

I know what you mean. I can hardly trim back a bush without rooting some cuttings. Knowing that you have to leave at least one pup for bananas makes me leave two, just in case, you know.
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked User
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SweetMonkeyCheese Z9 Tampa
10 years ago
what a beauty
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked SweetMonkeyCheese Z9 Tampa
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Yeah, didn't want to blab relentlessly, but there are still one or two small pups at the base of each of the big guys. Learned the hard way a few years ago, not to dig up every pup and then expect the huge Mama, suddenly all alone, to remain standing very long after a fat flower pops out. The first time a big Mama just leaned over and came crashing down was a lesson I'll not forget soon !
Still hard for me to realize the situation I am now in tho,..after meager results for so long, now looking at a plethora of lush, tasty Goldfinger nana's. Hmmm, might indeed have to give the Chiquita guys a call. lol
annafl
10 years ago
Jofus, I love the way you write. It always brings a smile to my face. Thanks. Your stalk is amazingly beautiful! Wow! I've never had one that big on any of my bananas. For sure the plentiful rain had a 'hand' in it.
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked annafl
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Thanks guys for the " cool " feedback. ( smile )

Now have a more recent discovery to relate ! Am still somewhat speechless ! About 2 hrs ago, this mornin' I went out to visually check on my plantation,..look at my current girlfriend first, that almost 3 week old, ever blossoming Goldfinger banana stalk. " Hmmm, about 3 inches longer, just overnight,...wait, something different,..what ? Could it be TRUE ??? There are now TEN ( 10 ) hands clearly developing. " This is insane,..maybe I made a mistake,..count 'em again while lookin' closer,..yikes, it's true !! That amazing stalk NOW HAS TEN " HANDS " OF BANANAS !!
What have I created here ? Never saw a nine hand stalk,..now it's grown into a ten hand one.
Just had to let my fellow GW'ers know. Will take another photo when it's done growin',..will probably need a wide angle lens !!!
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
PS : Have just discovered ( thru google ) that one bunch ( stalk ) can have anywhere from 4 to 12 banana hands. Would surely be disappointed with 4,..but now, knowing 10 is not the max, will up my fertilizing significantly, as Google also told me I am way under-fertilizing these guys !! Learn as we go is my motto,..and the quest to learn is motivated immensely by seeing 10 hands !!! lol