View Full Version : New and Need Help
tribeone
11-03-2007, 03:17 AM
Hello everyone, I am new here and was hopping I could get some help /advice. I live in the East Bay of California (ZONE 9),and would like to know if how to get ( prepare before I order.What do I need ( type of soil, fertilizers, pot size etc) to prepare/ grow bananas. I would like to grow in containers not in the ground since I am renting. Can anyone please advice? My outside and inside list is below. Thank you so much for your time.
OUTSIDE
DWARF NAMWA
DWARF BRAZILLIAN
Ice Cream
INSIDE
Dwarf Cavendish
Dwarf Plantain
BGreen
11-03-2007, 08:42 AM
Welcome to the board!
There is some great info on the wiki, here are two pages that would help with some of your questions.
http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer
http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Soil
As far as indoor bananas you will need some strong lights, I only bring mine in during the winter and they don't love it. I would suggest living them outside if weather permits.
D_&_T
11-03-2007, 05:04 PM
welcome a board
hope you have high ceilings!
natedogg1026
11-03-2007, 09:44 PM
I would grow them all outdoors as long as it stays warm in your area during winter. All mine are grown outside ( In Kansas) in the summer but are made to go dormant in the winter, except for a few. My Super D. Cavendish, Siam Ruby, and Ornata's come in my small green house or can live fine indoors. As far as soil i would recommend starting a compost pile. I mix mine 70% soil(good soil) and 30% compost and sprinkle in a lot of Osmocote. You can use a lot even more than recommended and it will not burn your plants. I would also place some dry leaves in the bottom of the pot, it helps hold in some moisture. Plastic pots will not dry out as fast a ceramic but in my opinion looks pro vale. I just feel better using mainly organic materials in my mix. All plants seem to love it and I have great results! To me it's simple, effective, and replicates nature.:bananas_b
tribeone
11-03-2007, 11:25 PM
D & T thanks for the welcome
BGreen and nate dogg thank you for your reply. It helps a bit. Nate I do want to keep it organic. I don't like the chemical thing besides fruits always taste sweeter when they are grown organiclly.
I was thinking of buying a organic soil mix and mixing it with some cow or horse compost manure. As far as fertilizer do any of you know about that stokes banana fertilizer or the dr earths organic #10 (6-4-6)?
How about the pot size, should I go with a pot twice the size of the crom or plant?
tribeone
11-04-2007, 12:19 AM
Guys how is this for a planting mix? http://drearth.net/products/others.php
Forest Humus
Fir Bark Fines
Sphagnum Peat Moss
Worm Castings
Chicken Manure
Bat Guano
Kelp Meal
Seaweed Extract
With a 6-4-6 fertilizer containing http://drearth.net/products/blended.php
feather meal
fish bone meal
mined potassium sulfate
magnesium sulfate
cottenseed meal
seaweed extract
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.