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View Full Version : When do I put Gros Michel in the ground?


ronke
03-17-2016, 06:37 PM
:2738:

I got two Gros Michel TC from SDarkman two months ago. They were beautiful plant-lets and have been growing well (outdoors on the warmer days, indoor at night). I moved them from his 4" pots up to 1-gallon cans about 3 weeks ago (probably overdue) and decided to pop one out to check the roots this morning. Well, they were all the way down to the bottom and so widespread that when I tried to put the plant back in the 1-gallon they just wouldn't fit. So I moved it and his brother up to 5-gallon cans. They look a little dwarfed by the containers now but I assume they will fill out fast. (I put their picture in the gallery but have no idea how to link to it) They are now too big to fit anyplace indoors so they'll begin overnighting outside. It is still going down to the low 50s some nights, days mostly in the 70s. At what point should I be thinking about putting them in the ground? These are my first bananas so I am totally clueless. Thanks.

Mark Dragt
03-17-2016, 06:54 PM
For me, I am going to waite till the end of the month. It froze here this morning. Now you should be a zone or two warmer than my zone 8. If your lows are in the 40s, I would plant out now. As long as it doesn't freeze, your plants will be ok.

Botanical_Bryce
03-17-2016, 07:53 PM
Your zone 8 is not like ours

Richard
03-17-2016, 08:00 PM
... It is still going down to the low 50s some nights, days mostly in the 70s. ...

I plan to put mine in the ground this weekend.

ronke
03-17-2016, 10:59 PM
Thanks for all the input! Since Richard is closest to me geographically, I am guessing mine are good to go any time now. Wahoo! Just gotta cut down a muntingia to make room.

Mark Dragt
03-17-2016, 11:09 PM
Thanks for all the input! Since Richard is closest to me geographically, I am guessing mine are good to go any time now. Wahoo! Just gotta cut down a muntingia to make room.

Richard also has pretty good luck with his banana plants. So, any advice he gives on soil preparation for your area, I would do it.

Richard
03-17-2016, 11:44 PM
Thanks for all the input! Since Richard is closest to me geographically, I am guessing mine are good to go any time now. Wahoo! Just gotta cut down a muntingia to make room.

Here's a guide I wrote awhile back ... Banana Cultivation In Non-Tropical Climates (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/guide-fruiting-banana.html)

ronke
03-18-2016, 11:22 AM
Thanks so much, Richard. When I saw the website link in your last post, I immediately went to it. It is extremely helpful... though a little daunting; there is no way I have full sun anywhere in my yard. Nonetheless I do manage to grow a lot of fruit so I will hope for the best with these bananas. I am really only growing them because a son's girlfriend has developed an obsession with tasting a Gros Michel. I sure hope she isn't disappointed.

Gabe15
03-18-2016, 12:20 PM
Here is your photo, when you view it in the gallery, you simply copy the tex in the box labeled "code for bulletin boards", and paste it in your post.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59553&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59553)

ronke
03-18-2016, 02:04 PM
Oh thanks, Gabe. I never got a message from an MC Banana Commander before! And I definitely would never have figured out the copying and pasting. I'm impressed that you grow bananas up where you are. Washington is really non-tropical.

Richard
03-22-2016, 03:30 PM
Got mine in the ground yesterday ...

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59563&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59563&ppuser=1558)

ErichRoby
03-23-2016, 08:10 AM
I think Spring wherever you are...