View Full Version : want to grow troicals
gelu65
11-22-2009, 08:26 PM
Hello Im Jerry I am interested in growing bananas and I am in orangevale in northern california, I have tried twice to grow here and had no luck. I see people in the area and wonder how they overcame their problems in this area.I am in an area that has hard pan down a foot and find I can grow some things but others just seem to rot. I am retired and am 75 and disabled but I can still garden. I like tropical types of plants but run into trouble keeping them alive in the ground. Once I plant out they do not prosper. Jerry[/I]
Hi and welcome Jerry. If you do a bit of research available here you should be able to come up with cultivars of bananas that would be fairly suited to your area. There are ornamental as well as fruit bearing types that might work well for you.
bencelest
11-22-2009, 09:04 PM
Jerry: Don't let your age stop you on doing what you wanted to do. 75 is not old.
Maybe I can help you. I have friends living in Northern Calif and I live in Central part.
Richard
11-22-2009, 09:37 PM
Hey Jerry,
Northern California is a big place! Where abouts are you?
Welcome aboard, Jerry :) ! I'll Definitely second Benny on the "75's not old" thing. I plan on growin nanners till I'm gone! I see you've already run into some really great members. If ya have any real technical questions, Richard's a wiz and there's lots of other Californians here, too!
Bob, don't give him ALL your nanners! I may want some this spring :ha:!
Great guys, here!
If ya have any questions about using the forum, just ask.
Enjoy!
Abnshrek
11-22-2009, 11:15 PM
Welcome & Good Luck.. :^)
Seaner
11-23-2009, 12:01 AM
Hello and welcome! There should be lots of people here from California who can help with your soil problems. Best of luck!
bencelest
11-23-2009, 01:41 AM
.I am in an area that has hard pan down a foot and find I can grow some things but others just seem to rot. Jerry[/I]
If I were you I will built a mound perhaps 2 feet high let's say 4'x4' and build it with a lot of composted material plus steer manure. Then you can plant a banana there. And you can expand your plat later on if you want more bananas to plant. I will start with a Dwarf Brazilian banana because that is hardy and Joe my friend from Davis is successful planting them in his area. I would cultivate the native soil first up to the depth of the hard pan and mix it to the compost and the steer manure. I'll bet your bananas will be crazy growing .As for fertilizer 16-16-16 will do but ideally if you can get a fertilizer higher in potassium is ideal. Banana roots don't grow very deep. 3 feet deep is aplenty.
It is the last no on a fertilizer
example: 12-4-23 . 23 is the potassium.
Once you plant your first banana take it easy on watering. It the most cause why bananas rot.
stumpy4700
11-23-2009, 08:16 AM
Welcome to the site.
cherokee_greg
11-23-2009, 12:00 PM
Welcome from Fresno,California
CValentine
11-23-2009, 12:03 PM
Welcome Jerry!!
We met in chat briefly last night, I believe!
Thanks for your introduction!
We have plenty of great info & helpful, knowledgable people here to help you!
Awesome to have you here with us!
From Central Texas, Zone 8a! :) ~Cheryl
LilRaverBoi
11-23-2009, 07:01 PM
Welcome to the site! You've come to the right place to get information on bananas. I'm sure there are some varieties that will do great in your area. Best of luck!
saltydad
11-23-2009, 07:05 PM
Welcome aboard! I'm in Maryland, just outside of DC. You'll get great advice here. Put up pics when you've planted of your nana and your garden.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.