May Day! May Day! Is it really May or Novembrrrrr? The May 2013 Update.

Well, it could be worse!

We don't have any snow...yet!--However, stranger things have happened.  Who could have guessed that our amazingly mild winter would linger into one of the Coldest Springs in history.  Not me.  We left just days after the release of the Pre-Ides of March Update for a few weeks in Costa Rica.  When we returned, I expected multiple new leaves and pups.  In reality, I had single leaves that had been heavily shredded or broken.  The cause, you ask?  Slow growth from cold temperatures and strong Spring turbulent winds.   I cannot imagine that this will last much longer than the next week or two.  Onward!  Thanks to Judy at www.bellewood-gardens.com for her awesome photo above of her thriving Basjoo Bananas......... in New Jersey!

Mucha Agua--In addition to the cold April, it seems as if it was really wet too.  Normal rainfall for April is 2.53 inches.  April 2013 has us at... 5.98 inches.  Seeing that I'm an optimist, this comes as good news because South Carolina is officially drought free.  Yip!  This is a good way to start off our growing season.

Farmers Marketssssss---Yes, thats marketsssss.  For now, I am appearing at The Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market on some Tuesdays and the Charleston Farmers Market(Marion Square) on Saturdays.  Come and get whats in season locally and whats in season in other parts of the globe(watermelons...yes) as well.  Shrimp season starts soon.

Moving Bananas--I saw this tweet the other day:

Of course it is fake(APtweets).   Nonetheless, if your banana plants languished last summer in their current location,  just dig them up and give them to a new home.  Soil/shade/sun/rain/magnetism, etc could be affecting the growth rate.  This bizarre combination is unlikely occur again on your plot of land.  @SimplyBananas1 is on Twitter. 



Cool things I seen on the internets---I saw this garden using spent banana plant trunks:

I planted basil in one old trunk and it's beginning to come up.  I'll be interested to see how it does as the Spring goes along. 


Season *8--This is the eighth year of Simply Bananas.  As a zone-buster from way back, I deeply appreciate all whom have helped us.  Its you who provide feedback to what works and what doesn't so that I can hone in on providing the best banana plants that we can grow given our circumstances.  Thanks!

The How's It Hanging Section--While nobody has sent us any pictures YET(by the way...send them to SimplyBananas1@gmail.com).  I have heard of a Basjoo(fiber banana) with the yellow flower from the folks downtown as well as a mysterious blooming edible banana deep in the forests of Snee Farms.  The best I can offer is this skinny mutant Ice Cream bud.  There is only one real leaf and may not make it.
 

Sad, I know, but don't weep. 

See ya soon--Maybe in June!
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The Pre-Ides of March Update

Banana Plants on Folly Beach!...Just Kidding.(actually the Samoan Islands)

Hello to everyone.  This is, of course, the first Simply Banana Update of 2013.  I hope that everybody is doing well and had a great LowCountry Winter.  It seems that it was a mild Winter so far.  We are always prone to a Spring frost, but I'm guessing that we are past the serious danger zone.  If this is true, then it looks like we'll have another very good year of fruit production.

Time for Trim?-- Well probably.  After studying the weather, I decided to trim the old frozen leaves off(yesterday) and get the plants ready for the warming temperatures.   In some cases I found a partially green leaf that had emerged. 

Trimmed up it would look something like this:

Also--where I saw no leaf, I cut away all the top 'branches'.  Inside I found this:

Two Days later...it looked like this:

Its important not to cut the trunk parallel to the ground so make an angled cut.  This is done to reduce constriction on the new leaf.
Remember that the first leaf will be ugly as it will show cold damage and tends to shred easily.  As more leaves emerge, shredding eases and classic banana form takes hold.  The old leaves/trunks can be used as compost/mulch or dragged to the curb.

While you are waiting--for Spring to get here, enjoy this video about the Fruit Hunters.  There is some great banana information in here as well. 

Before the freeze in January, we were able to cut some of our undersized green bananas and stored them in the garage.

They are very slowly ripening and taste really good.  One thing we learned was that the more dark spots the banana had the sweeter it was.

Eight(8) Years...I was fortunate be invited back to the Charleston Farmer's Market for my eight season.  Look for us beginning  April 13.  I will also be a vendor at the the Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market starting on April 16th.
Come see us!

The How's it Hanging Section--

These Ice Creams probably won't make it.  Pretty Sad!

That's it!  See you next time!

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The Early Fall Update

When will the Bananas be ready?

Have patience...they'll ripen up soon!

October marks the beginning of the end of the growing season for our Banana plants.   Leaf production slows down and old leaves begin to yellow and brown.  They can certainly be trimmed and discarded, or mulched around the base of the plants.  Keep watering on warm days.  Don't be surprised as there will be quite a few late bloomers here in the next 6-8 weeks.

Late Bloomin' Raja Puris....Dang it!

OK--Your well supported bunches of fruit may need a little attention.  It is probably time to remove the flower pod.  You can remove it when there is 16"-18" of space from the last bunch of bananas to the top of the bud.  They say this will force energy into the ripening fruits instead of flower production.   You intentionally leave that 'tail' beneath the fruit as it tends to protect the lower fruits from drying out.

Dwarf Namwahs with 'tail'.

Close up of 'tail' drying out.

I expect that we'll start hearing of fruit ripening in the next few weeks.  You can tell when things are getting close as the bananas will lose that 'angular' shape and begin to plump up and fill out.  If they start to yellow 'on the  vine',  you can eat them right away.  One thing about home grown bananas is that they often taste better if the peels brown up a little bit.  Unlike Cavendish/grocery store bananas,  home grown bananas don't really turn mushy as the peel changes color.

Ripe Raja Puris.

The Raja Puri plant that bloomed in May(see photo above) had some fruit ripening.  However...I noticed in late August that the fruits had stopped increasing in size.  Further investigation led me to discover that the waterline for that mat of bananas was blocked and the plants were getting very little water.  That being said, these tiny bananas are just really, really small.  Their taste is outstanding!


 In early September, I wrapped up season 7 of Simply Bananas at the Charleston Farmer's Market.  It is always fun being down there beside the Wife and talking bananas with so many people.  The Truly Tiny, a super dwarf Cavendish type, was especially well received.  I'll be anxious to hear of fruit in the coming years from this exciting new cultivar.  Thanks to everyone for stopping by we had a lot of fun!

Charleston Farmer's Market rare purple bananas EGGPLANTS!

Bananas in the News--From the almost-too-much-information department, Australia's AussieBum Underwear company, has discontinued its Banana Fiber and Cotton men's underwear.  How do I know...Kate tried to get a pair for me for my birthday from them, but had to go the eBay route.  Here was their one and only commercial(sfw) from YouTube:

I figured this would fit in nicely near the How's it Hangin' section!

 

the How's it Hangin' Section

Photos of LowCountry Bananas!

Doc's Ice Cream Bananas from Daniel Island

 

 

 

From Mark in Mount Pleasant

Well supported Orinocos from Folly Beach

More from Folly Beach

Even more from Folly Beach

More from Folly 'Banana' Beach

Belle Bananas from Simply Bananas-James Island

One last Orinoco bunch from Folly 'Banana Beach', SC.

Send your pictures to me,   SimplyBananas1@gmail.com

See you in a few weeks--Enjoy your plants....time is running out!

 

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The Late August Update

Hello!--

This past week, the Charleston Horticultural Society, came by for an educational Banana Tour.  We had 20 plus folks traipsing around our mosquito-infested, fired-anted yard to view the 23 varieties of banana plants.  We met many nice folks and had a fine evening.

Nathalie Dupree penned an article on her 4 banana plants with fruit for the Post and Courier.   The story centers on the plethora of fruiting banana plants in Charleston this summer. 
You can access Nathalie's story here:  Low Country Bananas.

Some of Nathalie's recipes call for banana leaves.  You should have plenty.  First soften the leaves in hot water, or over an open flame.  Like this guy!

Tropical Weather--One grower observed that every time his bananas fruit, "it means a hurricane is coming".  Likely a barb that the high winds will blow down the vulnerable plants and he will lose the fruit.  Maybe.  I thought about it a bit, then realized that this is a logical statement.  Warm winters= Bananas in Charleston.   
Also
Warm winters=Warmer Ocean Waters=Low Country Hurricane potential.
Keep an eye on what's rolling up from down south.

Support your Plants--It's always a good idea to support the fruits especially on already leaning plants.  Heavy racks of bananas can often pull over exhausted fruit-bearing trunks.  The easiest method is to lash it to another structure or banana plant with a bungie cord(watch your eye) or rope.  Another way is with a PVC pole with Y connector on the end.  Just prop up the bunch.  The pole can be painted dark green to soothe the eyes. 

In other Banana news:
Reports that regular water and bananas can be better for you than gatorade!  Here's the Linky.
Also:
Are you tired of your bananas rotting before you have eaten them?  A new Spray Gel made from shrimp peels can keep them fresh for days longer.  Perfect for the Lowcountry.  Give it a try!

 
Why not--have a teak table and a banana umbrella?

Another Video--We spent the first weeks of August down in Costa Rica.  Once again we had the pleasure of spending some time at the Paradise Botanical Gardens.

Robert Beatham let me cut down and have a nice bunch of the best Red Bananas! He also sold me the Gros Michele Banana plant(Banana Grande) for the finca.  Gros Michele was what people ate before Panama Disease and Sigatoka forced the big fruit companies to switch to Cavendish types of bananas.  Enjoy the video.

Hows it Hangin'? 
A lot is hangin'.  See for Yourself:

Ice Cream #1 from the Fox banana plantation.  West Ashley.

Ice Cream #2 from the Fox banana plantation.  West Ashley.

 Ben's Bananas--Smith st., Downtown.

 From Billy, way out on James Island

Another from Billy, way out on James Island.

From Joan Perry, Percy St, Downtown. 

From King St.


Another Ice Cream Bunch from Michael, on James Island.

From our house, James Island.  Ornamental Bordelons!
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See you Next Month!