My Ae Ae's Brother

My Ae Ae's Brother

http://aeaebananasincoralgables.blogspot.com/
     For 45 years I have grown the Ae Ae banana and during this time I have freely given the pups away to anyone who was in interest in having them. Then one day I realized that some of the people who had been given the pups were selling them.

     So, in the last ten years I began selling the pups also, particularly to commercial growers, hoping they would be able to grow them successfully as I realized that not everyone can grow them with success. One of the commercial growers then sent some pups to a nursery on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

     By chance, I visited that nursery and found four plants there in an isolated greenhouse. A Miami grower told me that the banana was for sale for $1,000.00 per plant. The plants were in excellent condition with the white portion being perfectly clean not even having evidence of scorching.

      I realized that these plants were perfect for growers either commercial or hobbyists with more money than knowledge. My main concern is that these plants, at that price, were not likely to find homes with people who would be able to grow them successfully or they would just remain in their pristine greenhouse environment.

     The public most likely would not see them or enjoy the delicious fruit. They would just be trophy plants. It is my feeling that plants like this should be available to public gardens and home gardens where knowledgeable growers who have the skills and interests can propagate them, in turn giving them to others who have the environment and skill to grow also. And, ultimately then they would share them with others.

     Therefore, I am looking for individuals who have appropriate conditions, knowledge and interest in growing them with the idea of sharing them eventually with others.. To do this, I will make available the first few generations of Ae Ae bananas to Broward and Miami Dade residents. (I select Broward and Miami Dade County for this distribution as this is the area most suitable for the Ae Ae.) Later, I plan to distribute to some public gardens. I would not expect them to share the pups in the way that I will outline herewith.

     With the goal of sharing such an unusual and special banana with others, this website will show the progress of the plants being distributed. I will post the rules for distribution and the guidelines on this website when the pups are ready for distribution.

Florida grown Ae Ae rhizome is tan and small in the pup

Hawaiian grown Ae Ae rhizome is tan and large in the pup.

At least the ones that I have seen are like this.

The Florida pup has less to start with and that is one reason that the plant is hard to start. As soon as the second and third pups start to grow we will distribute our first class of Ae Aes.

If you want to be in line for these plants go to: http://togofcoralgables.com/contactus.aspx

and register. You must live in Miami-Dade or Browerd for these early distrobutions.

You will receive information of what your responsibility is and how you will be expected to give pups of your Ae Ae to the next in line.

This year 2007 four pups were harvested. One was kept and three were given to the first three on the list. No pups will be established again until June of 2008. The season for moving an Ae Ae is June to August. Fifteen years ago I was swamped with pups and I sold them to a commercial grower in October. The next spring I saw the buyer and he said every one of them died. If I had left them in my yard most of them would have survived the winter.

This year 2010 we gave away 13 pups. Some of the people on the list did not answer when I called them to come. In 2011 we will give out pups only in June and July. Any one that wants an Ae Ae must ask for it in May 2011. I am lookng for people that know who to grow bananas, not people that are just looking for a free plant.

Media received a larger pup then normal because potassium nitrate was used to get vigor and depress the white. All of the leaves had some white. The next leave will have more white. I would not release a plant that might be totally green.

The pup of Aug. 9 08 bloomed late June 09 and the flowers were removed so the pups could grow faster.

The pups are ready July 19 09

July 19 09 Four people came for some of the pups
We will soon have the smaller ones to give to people on the list

July 19 09

July 19 09 He is 6 feet tall and 4 of the pups are bigger
10 pups that have a good chance

Aug 2 09 There are 8 pups in two weeks after taking off 10 pups

July 17 10 going to the Kampong

July 17 10 going to the Montgumery

July 17 10

Sept 18 10 Montgumery

Sept. 27 10 going to Fairchild

Sept. 27 10

Oct. 15 10 The mother of the FTBG pup lost too many roots and it fell
befor the fruit was ripe.

Home

This is the fourth year(2010) of giving out Ae Ae pups. Most of the pups were too big to take in a regular car.

July 15 10 the second smallest pup

July 15 10

July 15 10 The last one to fit in fit in a car

Aug. 29 10

Aug 30 10

Aug 30 10

Aug 30 10

Aug 30 10 the pup has 2 pups

Sept 16 10 going to Frank amd his forest of Ae Ae bananas

Sept 16 10 Frank has a hard job

Now Frank has one of my frogs

Early June plants to give away

some of the big ones in June

all but 2 were giving out in 2010

in Oct 20 10 I had 4 plants with fruit