Congrats on winning the Cali gold Steve
If it helps I don't think you're crazy paying that much for it,being as they're so difficult to get hold of seems like a good price to me.
Please keep us updated on its progress mate
See ya
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Musa 'California Gold' https://growingontheedge.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1307 |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Tue May 20, 2008 12:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Musa 'California Gold' |
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I just bought a Musa' California Gold' on Ebay , some may think I'm crazy paying 50 quis for a Nana pup but there you go. I'm hoping I container grow it to fruiting stage , we will see. I wanted one last year but failed to win a bid or miss timed it. I just need to get an AeAe now and I'll be happy with my Musa collection for this year. Here is the discription from the Ebay site This auction is for a Rare Dwarf banana plant that I have found to be the cold hardiest of all edible fruit producing types bananas. I call it “California Gold ” I had spent many years searching nurseries across the country for a banana ...ANY BANANA that would grow and produce edible fruit here in my cold winter climate. I wasted a lot of money when one plant after another failed to live up to claims of being a “hardy fruit producer”….Then a little over ten years ago, I found this unique banana plant listed at small Texas mail order nursery. It was simply listed as a “Hardy Dwarf Mexican Apple Banana.” When pressed for more detailed info, the owner said that in Mexico, they call several different types of edible bananas “ Apple Banana ”. But this one was exceptionally frost hardy and it produced good fruit. He thought it might a dwarf, related to Bluggoe. With skeptism, I bought a small plant from this guy... I’m glad that I did. That nursery went out of business a little over 10 years ago, but my plants and it descendants continue to produce fruit year after year. Quite easy to grow, this plant is a reliable producer for me here in Northern California. In my garden, It has regularly produces tasty 25 lb bunches of fruit ...with out any frost protection. There are a few banana plants that might equal the hardiness of California Gold . For example, the Japanese fiber banana Musa basjoo, is one. But if the plant does manage to produce fruit, you'll get a mass of seedy, inedible pulp. Don’t confuse the California Gold banana with the other Dwarf bananas such as "Super Dwarf " Cavendish. It has been my experience that Cavendish type banana plants ( along with the majority of the other banana plants ) will freeze to the ground… Dead… at 32f! If the cold air temps don’t get them, then the chilly soil temps will! On the other hand...The California Gold hardy banana shakes off the cold. It can lose its leaves after a hard freeze, but then continues to grow when the weather warms in the spring. The leaves lost during the winter don’t seem to slow this plant down much. My unprotected plants have produced tasty bananas outdoors during the summer after enduring winter low temp in the low 20’s! These plants should be able grow fine in USDA zone 8 and above as an outdoor plant. I am told, they have been fruited as far north as Washington State and British Columbia with only minor winter protection. If you live in a colder climate where the ground freezes you can either 1) Cover it for protection. 2) Dig it up, bare root it and over winter it in a warm garage or 3) Grow it in a large container as a indoors/outdoor plant. The mature plant is small. The trunk 6 ft tall! ( give or take a little ) I once pruned one way back and it produced fruit at only 4 ft tall. ( See photo ) Some of my trees have produced fruit in as early as 11 months from a pup. This exotic looking plant makes a stunning tropical impression in any garden. The 25 lb bunches fruit from the mature 6 ft tall plants rivals any store bought fruit in quality and flavor...Equally delicious with just a hint of lemon and strawberry. This auction is for 1 rooted "Pup" approximately 18" to 24" tall. The soil will be removed and the plant trimmed for shipping. Growing instructions are included. These bananas are so Rare and Unique, that they have been featured in our local newspaper and on television. Please note. This past Winter was very cold by California standards. Many cities in my area recieved temps below 20f. The official low temp in my city was 23f. My California gold banana plants did just fine... even without any protection. They have leafed out just fine and are just starting to fruit |
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| Author: | SteveW [ Tue May 20, 2008 5:15 am ] |
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Congrats on winning the Cali gold Steve
If it helps I don't think you're crazy paying that much for it,being as they're so difficult to get hold of seems like a good price to me. Please keep us updated on its progress mate See ya |
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| Author: | Andrew in Germany [ Tue May 20, 2008 6:17 am ] |
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Good luck with that Steve, I hope it works! It'll be wealth worth it if you get edible fruit. |
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| Author: | Dave Bindon [ Tue May 20, 2008 6:42 am ] |
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50 quid? I'll buy your first pup from you (if it survives the winter). |
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| Author: | Michael (SW Ireland) [ Tue May 20, 2008 11:42 am ] |
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Some sources insist that this is the same as 'Dwarf Orinoco'- maybe because they don't have 'California Gold' in stock? |
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| Author: | Paul Spracklin [ Tue May 20, 2008 1:27 pm ] |
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A cold hardy, edible-fruiting, short season banana - the holy grail! If it turns out to be another dwarf orinoco, well - what's £50?. If it turns out that it does what it says on the tin you'll get your £50 back many many times over. It will be fascinating to see how things develop, that's for sure. |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Tue May 20, 2008 1:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | All |
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Here's hoping it does well, no reason not too as it will be spoilt like my 'Siam Ruby' and grown indoors in the Winter or if I can swing it in the greenhouse with heat. It may or may not be special but one must experiment. If it is a Dwaft Orinoco that's ok too as I don't have one at the moment, I suspect it's not or is but it's a hardier than the norm . It's not a TC plant now even if it was 10 or more years ago, and as we all know mass TC propagation often throws up interesting differences like the varigated Basjoo. Whatever it is , Dave ,Paul I'll put you guys first on the pup list as you have expressed interest.Andrew I'll try to sort you one out too at some point. I'm not sure it pups a whole lot as there always seems to be a limited supply of the plant. I'm happy to have it , happy to experiment, happy to pass it on to others who wish to experiment and happy never to take gardening too seriously
Thanks guys Best Wishes Steve |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Tue May 20, 2008 2:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Doing |
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Doing a little more research online it seems that people feel 'California Gold' maybe an Orinoco sport that is hardier and earlier to fruit. Also it's reluctant to pup so remains rare. I'll do my best to get it to pup, but there will be a wait for those interested, always is for the good stuff. 
Later Steve |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Fri May 23, 2008 7:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Arrived |
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Pup arrived from CA two days after shipping, heart stopping moment when I saw the box looked like it had been broken in half and was ripped. The Musa CG inside was fine , in fact more than fine it's a textbook division with good roots. The plant is now in the Greenhouse potted in the shade to root up a bit more. Well pleased to have a chance to grow this plant and with luck in a year or so to get a couple to Europe for the guys. Later Steve |
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| Author: | Dave Bindon [ Fri May 23, 2008 7:28 pm ] |
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Great news, Steve! *gets 50 quid ready*
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Sat May 31, 2008 6:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Second |
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The second Musa 'California Gold' arrived today. I figured two was better than one Fab division, huge , good Corm and starter roots. In the shade in the Greenhouse to root up and get a new leaf or two before going out.
Hope to have the odd pup next year, Dave is first on the list. Later Steve |
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| Author: | kentgardener [ Sat May 31, 2008 8:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Musa 'California Gold' |
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Steve in france wrote:
I just bought a Musa' California Gold' on Ebay California.
My unprotected plants have produced tasty bananas outdoors during the summer after enduring winter low temp in the low 20’s! Steve - this is such exciting news. If you have indeed found a banana plant that can cope with -7c and produce edible (non seedy) fruit in the short European summer that is most definately the holy grail of nanas. You may be able to strike a deal with tesco!!!! Do please keep us updated and try the pups in other experienced growers gardens so we can see how they cope under various conditions. regards John |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Sat May 31, 2008 8:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Hi |
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Hi John, I'm not convinced it will do well in the UK , but one must try. I guess anyone with a place in the South of France or in other Southern European locations it could be a wonderful addition to the Garden. I suspect Dave in London and Paul S in Essex could have some success with CG, we will see I hope. Perhaps one of the far South West coastal UK members should test it too. Mark Hall , do you have a 'Califorina Gold ' already? or any other European member have a CG? Later Steve |
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| Author: | fgtbell [ Sat May 31, 2008 9:34 pm ] |
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Found a photo of one at CitrusNorth.com. |
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| Author: | Steve in france [ Sat May 31, 2008 9:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Thanks for the pic |
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Thanks for the pic. They seem to be short sturdy plants, it's said to be shorter than Dwaft Orinoco when it flowers and fruits. So it should fit into most Greenhouses if the Winter is too cold. I'm going to try them in 25 gallon pots this year and maybe move up to 40 gallon next year. Later Steve |
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