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View Full Version : Will I hurt the fruiting if I cut off some of the pups


nph
07-15-2012, 12:09 PM
I have several bananas flowering now and with a few hands on each already there. One only started to show a flag leaf.
Since they have multiple pups I was thinking I should dig up all but 1 or 2 for two reasons:
1) Give more power to the bananas
2) I need some pups to grow and prepare for next year.

What are your thoughts?

Many thanks!

sunfish
07-15-2012, 12:33 PM
I have several bananas flowering now and with a few hands on each already there. One only started to show a flag leaf.
Since they have multiple pups I was thinking I should dig up all but 1 or 2 for two reasons:
1) Give more power to the bananas
2) I need some pups to grow and prepare for next year.

What are your thoughts?

Many thanks!

I would leave it be until after harvest.

momoese
07-15-2012, 01:04 PM
Yeah leave it be. Any root damage will hurt fruit production.

Abnshrek
07-15-2012, 03:10 PM
You'll still be able to pull pups after you get your fruit. :^)

pitangadiego
07-15-2012, 06:00 PM
On some varieties, it would probably be disastrous, and others wouldn't even notice. Most are the Cavendish varieties seem very touchy, while Misi Luki and other tall ones seem little affected.

Seems to be much more critical just BEFORE flowering, where it interrupts the flowering cycle by stressing the plant, than after flowering has finished.

Nicolas Naranja
07-15-2012, 09:20 PM
You could desucker with a machete at flowering by cutting down the sucker and taking out the growing point with little impact. I would not try to pull up suckers though. I made this mistake recently and it is a recipe for a blow down of your plant

Simply Bananas
07-18-2012, 06:04 PM
Well, I'm going to find out!

Someone came over today and wanted a d namwah pup in a 4 stalk mat. I dug a pup and sent them on their way. I came in to cool off for a bit and went back out to fill in the hole with compost. As moved leaves around, I looked up and saw a flag leaf.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/f3eecb13.jpg

We will see.:chefnaner:

pitangadiego
07-18-2012, 08:45 PM
Nicolas makes a good point. For some varieties, pups are what provide the roots to anchor a fruiting pseudostem. Doesn't say when you should or should not remove pups, but does mean that sometimes you need to be careful how MANY you remove. Thew most important pup is the one on the side of the mature pseudostem which is opposite direction that the speudostem is leaning.

MSmith
08-23-2012, 11:16 AM
Well, I'm going to find out!

Someone came over today and wanted a d namwah pup in a 4 stalk mat. I dug a pup and sent them on their way. I came in to cool off for a bit and went back out to fill in the hole with compost. As moved leaves around, I looked up and saw a flag leaf.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/f3eecb13.jpg

We will see.:chefnaner:

how is your flower doing? I did the same thing removing the pups on my d namwah and then seeing the flower. Mine is growing well so far.