Nicolas Naranja
08-02-2012, 08:28 PM
Sometimes it's good to know somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody. I had the joy of hosting somebody that was an agronomist at Fyffes/Turbana before they moved up the corporate ladder. He wanted to see what banana production was like up here around Lake Okeechobee. I got to pick his brain about plant spacing, bunch pruning, desuckering and leaf pruning. He is also the first person I have ever met that knew Phil Rowe at FHIA. So, I'll divulge:
Plants are spaced 8x8 in their plantations
Bunches are pruned so that their are no incomplete hands as soon as possible
In the northern hemisphere on a flat area choose the southernmost largest sucker
You can make an awesome desuckering tool out of a thin shovel if you trim it down to 2-3 inches wide.
Don't cut leaves off as long as they are green and disease free.
Plants are spaced 8x8 in their plantations
Bunches are pruned so that their are no incomplete hands as soon as possible
In the northern hemisphere on a flat area choose the southernmost largest sucker
You can make an awesome desuckering tool out of a thin shovel if you trim it down to 2-3 inches wide.
Don't cut leaves off as long as they are green and disease free.