Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii History

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Dave Brown
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Dave Brown »

Mac wrote:Dave,
I've just read through this thread, I'm in awe! Mighty 'Montbeliardii' is looking really good, in fact excellent!
You're a real inspiration and obviously very methodical with a lot of patience, Brilliant! Hope 'Montbeliardii' goes on to even greater things this year.
Thanks Mac. I try to be methodical, but am not particularly patient, however, I don't get enough time to do everything I'd like to so that means things don't happen in a rush. That might be confused with patience :lol:
Mac wrote:What is that lage fan shaped thing in the pics behind 'Montbeliardii'?? Looks interesting and quite large!
Well, there are 3. My Washingtonia in the pics when dug out. My Sabal bermudana in the pics in the conservatory looking out to the covered bit, and my Chamaerops from the conservatory looking out to the garden :wink:
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Mr List »

how will you over winter it next year?
it will be too big!
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Dave Brown »

Mr List wrote:how will you over winter it next year?
it will be too big!
I'll find a way :lol:

I put it outside for a sunbathe today as temps are 17C in the sheltered back garden.
2011-03-22 11-25-20 Mighty Monty escapes.jpg
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Mr List »

that thing is so impressive.
it is bigger than my Trachycarpus.
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Very very good. Growing things like this gives you a real thrill. Fantastic.
SteveW

Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by SteveW »

Looking to be a true monster by seasons end Dave icon_thumleft
Had to chop mine back to the corm this morniong as I noticed a soft spot on its side.
Rots set in pretty good so I've chopped out most of the bad stuff and soaking it in peroxide.
I'll dry it off in the morning and stick it on the heatmat in the hope of propping it
Alls not lost though as I did manage to get myself a pup of last years experiment which come late May should be big enough to plant out icon_cheers
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

My 'Montbeliardii' is no more :( in the bin today. :(

Apart from jungle plants who else sells them?
sanatic1234

Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by sanatic1234 »

Yorkshire Kris wrote:My 'Montbeliardii' is no more :( in the bin today. :(

Apart from jungle plants who else sells them?
Erm no one??!! I have been looking for ages now Kris, i reckon it is going to have to be, pay the OTT price at jungle plants, with them being so rare!
SteveW

Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by SteveW »

The only nursery selling montbelliardii is jungle seeds so far.
So if you really want one then you've gotta pay the price guys,or try hiniba instead :idea:
Coming soon to ebay :lol:
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Not seen an Hiniba but seen a couple of pics on the net. It looks like a very upright Red stripe to me icon_scratch

Where can you get these from?
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Dave Brown »

Mighty 'Montbeliardii' is outside now as too big to be inside. I have a couple of layers of fleece protecting the pseudostem, and it is dragged up under the eaves until too tall for there as well.

Montbeliardii is probably one of the more hardy Ensete ventricosum tribe as these were selected for their upright leaves being less prone to radiation frost. Also the darker the leaves the more tannins, which give better frost tolerance, but also give the plant a more bitter taste, although I don't intend eating mine. :lol:

Hiniba has the upright habit, but is mainly green which may have been a halfway house between full cold tolerance but bitter taste of Montbeliardii, and the sweeter less hardy wild Ensete ventricosum.

Steve, let me know when the Hiniba are ready and I'll bid/buy one from you :wink:
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Has anyone eaten their banana plant before?
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Dave Brown »

Yorkshire Kris wrote:Has anyone eaten their banana plant before?
Not in the UK that I am aware :lol: Although it is a staple food source in parts of Ethiopia.

You have to grate the pseudostem, then ferment it for a couple of months to give Gofu (from memory) which is a mealy paste that is baked into a type of bread. As Ensete is a drought tolerant food source the Ethiopians can rely on it when all else (foodcrops) fail. This is why there is so much research into it as a food crop and none as an ornamental. :wink:
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Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Sorry going off topic but do you think any nursery are tissue propagating Montys yet? and if not my not? If they can come up with Tandarra red (which is debatably different from maurelii) then why not montebliardii?!?!?

How did montebliardii come to the UK? I heard that it was around in the early 20th century but was lost until Koba Koba starting selling it. I wonder how this happened. Was is re-developed from a standard maurelli or was it brought in from Aftrica?
sanatic1234

Re: Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii, 'Montbeliardii' History

Post by sanatic1234 »

Montys were first introduced to the Uk in the 1930's weren't they? and david constantine re introduced them some years later?
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