Bananas.org - View Single Post

sirdoofus · 08-03-2020, 12:16 AM

So I have used Hugelkultur style beds for young trees with good results, but I don't really know if it will be beneficial for bananas or just a bunch of extra work.

Does anyone else have any experience with this planting technique for bananas?

Whatever the case may be I thought I would share the process I go through of building one if anyone is interested. This is where my basjoo will be going.

First cut the turf away

sift the rocks out

The finished hole dug below grade

Some of the stuff that will go into the hugel bed

The first layer of logs, partially rotted maple and some alder

Layer of partially composted alpaca dung tossed on

Then native soil and watered in so the nooks and crannies fill in

A layer of charcoal and wood ash

Another layer of logs - this time very rotten fir and then some native soil on top and watered in

A shot from above showing what came out of the hole - all the dirt in the pile with the pickax sitting on it and all the rocks in the little trailer

Then the riser/grass barrier goes on. The water table in this part of the yard is at ground level in the winter so the entire plant needs to be sitting above it.

Add some grass clippings and other green organics

Then a layer of 4 mix (native soil mixed with municipal compost, aged fir, charcoal and wood ash)

Watered in to fill the nooks and crannies

Then a layer of smaller sticks, dry but not rotted and on top of that a layer of dried leaves collected last fall

Another layer of 4 mix

I decided to add another riser to the box so I can add an adequate amount of compost and mulch and still keep the plant sitting on top of the surrounding grade.

That's it for today but to be continued......

08-03-2020, 12:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,090 BananaBucks : 31,380 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,225 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 634 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Hugelkultur style bed for bananas? So I have used Hugelkultur style beds for young trees with good results, but I don't really know if it will be beneficial for bananas or just a bunch of extra work. Does anyone else have any experience with this planting technique for bananas? Whatever the case may be I thought I would share the process I go through of building one if anyone is interested. This is where my basjoo will be going. First cut the turf away sift the rocks out The finished hole dug below grade Some of the stuff that will go into the hugel bed The first layer of logs, partially rotted maple and some alder Layer of partially composted alpaca dung tossed on Then native soil and watered in so the nooks and crannies fill in A layer of charcoal and wood ash Another layer of logs - this time very rotten fir and then some native soil on top and watered in A shot from above showing what came out of the hole - all the dirt in the pile with the pickax sitting on it and all the rocks in the little trailer Then the riser/grass barrier goes on. The water table in this part of the yard is at ground level in the winter so the entire plant needs to be sitting above it. Add some grass clippings and other green organics Then a layer of 4 mix (native soil mixed with municipal compost, aged fir, charcoal and wood ash) Watered in to fill the nooks and crannies Then a layer of smaller sticks, dry but not rotted and on top of that a layer of dried leaves collected last fall Another layer of 4 mix I decided to add another riser to the box so I can add an adequate amount of compost and mulch and still keep the plant sitting on top of the surrounding grade. That's it for today but to be continued...... __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts??