I have read and used a recommended amount of one pound per plant every 30 days . Smaller plants adjust to size of plant.. I have a ½ grown “Ice Cream” and I used about ½ pound on it . It seems to be doing great
I also have a dwarf Cavendish that is a 5 hands on it . I noticed it dose not need as much fertilizer as the “Ice Cream” as it grew I fed it as if it were a half grow .. 1/2 pound was a little to much so I cut back a bit
My Double Cavendish is a fertilizer hog I can put a pound on it and see a deeper green with in days and it has grown very well …
My FHIA 17 seem to do well with the one pound but these are half grown plants that are suppose to get pretty tall 20 feet
My Apples do well on the one pound also ...
I use the commercial fertilizers and also compost .. I am growing in sand ! My soil dont hold anything ,if it rains pretty much everything is getting washed away.. My compost and or wood chips help in keeping everything moist and it retains some of the fertilizer.
So …... You kinda need to just place about ½ what is recommend the first time .. wait the entire 30 days so you can get a feel for your conditions. OR play it like the average home owner and just go dump some on the corm area and go back inside to get another beer!
When I fertilize I look at the leaves drip line and include it as the center of my fertilizer application. Yes I also apply fertilizer near the corm
If I get horse manure or cow I use it in place of the commercial fertilizer.
The fertilizer I use has all the elements in it .. This makes a huge difference for me .. I get my normal fertilizer from Palm Beach Chapter Rare Fruit Council .. In your area you can find a council and get tons of great info plus maybe they have a show like we have here twice a year
I aint no expert ! Just a guy who has 14 plants in his back yard and gets loads of bananas every year.. And when my Gros Micheal bloom ( 20 months) I will be Awesome!
fertilizer used 6 3 9 ........ just got a bag of 6 3 16 both have all elements