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View Full Version : My First Bananas; Things I need to Know?


RandyGHO
05-20-2013, 02:06 PM
The good people here identified my plant as a Namwah. It bloomed and started fruiting this month. These are my first bananas so I do have a few questions.

1. I have seen in videos people knocking off the blooms on each banana. When should I do that?

2. Should I cut off the male flower? If so then when?

3.In zone 8b with full sun how long should it take Namwahs to be ready to pick?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=52992&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52992)

pitangadiego
05-20-2013, 02:36 PM
See We Be Bananas Growing Tips (http://webebananas.com/culture.html)

Kostas
05-20-2013, 04:48 PM
1. No reason to knock down the flowers in your condition,commercially they do that before bagging the bunch as inside the bag,it could attract rot to the fruit as the high humidity wouldnt let the flowers desiccate fast enough,unlike when they are out and exposed to wind and sun.

2. There is no confirmed benefit to cutting the male flower according to studies done,it doent help shorten the time to harvest nor the male flowers weaken the plant. Its the point of entry of certain tropical bacteria diseases but these are not present in your country so there is no benefit in your situation. Plus,when cutting the male part of the inflorescence,you risk the stalk desiccating too much up and losing some of the bananas if you cut it too close to where the bananas are.

robguz24
05-20-2013, 06:06 PM
1. Don't bother
2. No
3. 4-6 months, maybe more?

RandyGHO
05-21-2013, 05:39 AM
really appreciate the replies. Just what I needed. Thanks a bunch.

Hammocked Banana
05-22-2013, 08:56 AM
Just what I needed. Thanks a bunch.

Pun intended?