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NSW Bananas
04-26-2012, 10:27 AM
Hi all I have had a lot of my banana plants suffer leaf shred on their uppermost leaves when we had near tornado winds here in NSW.
what I would like to know from everyone heres experience will this afect anything Eg rate of growth fruiting yeild?:2750:

momoese
04-26-2012, 10:30 AM
The leaves are made to shred in high winds. It should not effect growth or fruiting because the same surface area still exists for photo synthesis.

bananimal
04-26-2012, 12:19 PM
Even if the petioles crack and the leaves hang down they will still function. Don't trim anything off unless its all brown and shriveling up.

sandy0225
04-27-2012, 04:25 PM
I thought they had to shred in order for the plant to grow.... Every time mine grows a new leaf we just have to have some high winds and tear them up. They do fine and bear fruit and bloom. So don't worry they will be fine.

http://thumb0.webshots.net/t/87/187/2/11/72/2415211720058549380BTizZu_th.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2415211720058549380BTizZu)

caliboy1994
04-27-2012, 04:36 PM
What if the leaves are shredded and folded?

sunfish
04-27-2012, 05:23 PM
What if the leaves are shredded and folded?

Even better

palmtree
04-27-2012, 10:01 PM
Bananas can have their leaves ripped apart pretty badly and still do well. The leaves break apart easily because if they didnt the plants would topple over much easier in high winds. My banana plants looked pretty bad after Hurricane Irene hit here in August 2011, but it grew new leaves with no problems and didnt skip a beat.
Many really windy parts of Hawaii have banana plants that look more like palms because of how divided the leaves are, but they still get great fruit yield even if the plant doesnt look all that beautiful!

venturabananas
04-28-2012, 12:28 AM
I'm pretty sure the ones I see now (e.g., in my back yard!) that have had all the blade ripped off by high winds and are only the midrib are useless. But as long as the "solar panels" (blades) are attached to the midrib, the plant is probably doing fine.

bananimal
04-28-2012, 12:37 PM
Solar Panels ----- I like that --- gives me more ammunition when when my wife starts rolling eyes to heaven when subjected to YET ANOTHER banana plant story.

Thanks:08: :ha: