View Full Version : My 4 year old Banana Tree doesn't bear fruit
homefoodlovers@gmail.com
08-28-2015, 11:17 PM
Hello all, my name is Arun. I am having a banana tree in my backyard for the last four years now. It has never bore any fruit. Photo attached please help.
I didn't took proper care of it for the first 2 years. For the last 2 years I am buying new soil and fertilizer liquid, taking a reasonable care for it. Today I saw a small little plant grown next to this. Two questions;
1. Will this be taken as new small plant grown from the original?
2. Any possibility for this original tree to bear fruit anywhere in the future. <<picture attached in my gallery>>
Thank you
homefoodlovers@gmail.com
08-28-2015, 11:21 PM
images attached, also added in my user gallery
Banana Gallery - IMG_08782 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58700&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
Banana Gallery - IMG_08751 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58699&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
Banana Gallery - IMG_08761 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58698&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
Hammocked Banana
08-29-2015, 10:40 AM
You got quite a bit longer to go for fruit
Narnia
08-29-2015, 06:24 PM
Where are you situated? What is the climate like?
Put your location in your profile; it makes it easier for others to help you. When I lived in Jacksonville I noticed bananas that looked like yours; I spoke with the owners and they said they cut them down every year. Um, not a good idea if your goal is fruit. They also had them planted in full sun, poor soil and didn't water them regularly. My 1st banana was a DC that I purchased on Mother's Day and planted in a marshy area where years of oak leaves had decomposed. I never watered or fertilized but she was over 6' by fall and pupping regularly. BTW, yes, that little plant is the child of your plant.
homefoodlovers@gmail.com
08-29-2015, 07:48 PM
Thanks for the response. I am located in Tustin, California. I have updated my location details. Also I have attached the soil and Vitamin liquid that I am using for the last 10 months. Here is my process, let me know if any correction needed for a better and health growth of the plant;
1. During summer, I am watering this plant every 3 days once. During winter I am watering every 5 days.
2. EB Stone Natural Top Soil Plus - I am applying this soil every 1 month as a foundation.
3. SuperThrive - Also I am using the above vitamin liquid every 2 months.
Please provide me with your suggestions. I am not seeing much of a growth of this plant for the last 4 years. It looks healthy but not seeing much growth. Is this ornamental variety or any chance for this plant to grow longer?
Also do i need to do anything special for that new born child next to this?
Thanks,
Super Thrive 2 images attached - Banana Gallery - IMG_1038 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58703&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
Banana Gallery - IMG_1039 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58706&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
EB Stone Soil 2 images attached - Banana Gallery - IMG_1035 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58705&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
Banana Gallery - IMG_1037 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58704&cat=500&ppuser=21562)
crazy banana
08-29-2015, 08:06 PM
In Tustin your plant(s) should give you bananas every year.
Superthrive is not a fertilizer. Amend your soil with lots of compost. Manure is also very helpful.
A good fertilizer has 2 parts Nitrogen - 1 part Phosphorus - 3 parts Potassium, check out Fruit Fuel for example from our member Richard Plants That Produce (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com) Awesome stuff and it is 16-8-24 NPK.
Mulching is also a good idea to retain the water in our Southern California climate.
Overall, welcome to bananas.org and with the above recommendations your plant should grow and produce fast for you in Tustin. Keep us all posted.
hydroid
08-29-2015, 10:12 PM
Wow, that does not look good for a 4 yr. banana. Are you mulching? It kinda looks like a Dwarf Cavendish. I have Dwarf Cavendish and I've never had luck getting them to fruit in my zone (8b) because the cold really beats them down in my climate. I would try and find a Raja Puri or Dwarf Namwah and see if it does better for you. I think Richard is in California and he knows a lot about fertilizer and bananas, maybe he will chime in. I hope you get straightened out and on the track to getting fruit.
Mark Dragt
08-30-2015, 01:08 AM
Is this plant that we are talking about a super dwarf? I had my Truly Tiny indoors for 3 years and it really looked similar. Could a full sized plant be that small after 4 years?
Is this plant that we are talking about a super dwarf? I had my Truly Tiny indoors for 3 years and it really looked similar. Could a full sized plant be that small after 4 years?I also wondered about the variety. But crazy banana is familiar with Arun's climate and says the plant should produce annually so something is wrong. I live in FL and have 3 "pups" acquired 8/13 which have not fruited. I know why; they spent over a year in small pots; since I'm not sure where to plant it, one is still in a large pot. All receive the same soil and fertilizer but the one not in the ground is definitely behind in maturity. Indeed only 1 in the ground has pupped! I would probably dig around this plant so I could topdress with good amount of manure and top off with a 3' circle of mulch 3" deep. Yes, I'd sacrifice the grass but then again I don't like to mow.
homefoodlovers@gmail.com
08-30-2015, 11:51 AM
Thank you all for the response. I do have the same question, is this dwarf or banana plant? Can someone please confirm.
Sorry to say but I am new to this gardening stuff and please clarify what you recommend to buy? If I understand correctly, I am doing only the soil and vitamin water currently and You guys recommend to buy Fertilizer on top of this. I do have Armstrong gardens near my home, do you recommend any fertilizer from them?
My intention was to ensure this plant is healthy and I am not doing anything wrong to its growth. Let me know your thoughts please
As specified in my earlier post, I am doing that soil change every 1 month and vitamin water every 2 months. Let me know how many times in a month fertilizer needs to be applied.
Here in FL they have something called Black Kow; I never saw that up north. If you must purchase manure, buy a bag from the nursery. Don't keep changing the soil. Dig out the top few inches, put down the manure then mulch and water. I'm a long time gardener but very new to bananas so I'm giving general advice; others here can give you more specialized suggestions. But it appears to me that your plant is competing with the lawn for nutrients/water so get rid of some grass and let your banana have a space of her own. I believe that's a banana but don't know what variety. Where did you get it? If you purchased it, there should have been a tag. If it was a gift, perhaps your donor knows what they have.
Hammocked Banana
08-30-2015, 05:23 PM
Yes dont swap out soil. Just layer compost on top, then mulch. B vitamins are expensive so don't use those so much, only
homefoodlovers@gmail.com
09-10-2015, 09:49 AM
Hi all,
Sorry to ask basic question. Anything that you recommend for this plant? I am doing only the soil and vitamin water currently and I do have homedepot near my home and saw this one similar to black kow manure <<link attached>>, Can i buy this, will that be enough?
1 cu. ft. Manure-71351180 - The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-1-cu-ft-Manure-71351180/100355799)
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