Log in

View Full Version : Fruiting bananas in pots.


druss
03-30-2017, 01:33 AM
I am looking at crossing some bananas and getting the different types flowering at the same time is going to be one of the challenges. I have a number of 1000L iso cubes Im thinking of cutting down to 5-600L. My plan was to coil dripper line throughout the potting mix so I can fertigate directly to the roots. It also means I can mive the plants Im crossing as required. The ones that need more heat I could place in my polytunnel overwinter. When flowereing I could place the ones I want to cross in closs proximity helping me to transfer pollen without going long distance. But I m wondering is 500l /110gallon enough?

druss
03-30-2017, 01:34 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61329&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61329)

My poly tunnel 😆

Gabe15
04-02-2017, 07:18 PM
It really depends on what plants you are considering. Different size plants will require different size pots to get full size in. They also might get larger than you can really handle being in a greenhouse, or moving them between outdoors and the greenhouse.

You don't really need full size plants to make crosses, you just need them to flower, and you don't need big pots to get them to the flower. In a smaller container, they will fruit smaller, which can be a good thing. So, the size of the pot doesn't really have to be as big as possible, just enough to not cramp them so much they will have greatly delayed flowering. What size is ideal for each variety you are working with will be revealed by experimentation, but I would guess 500L is plenty for whatever you are working with, and you might consider experimenting with something even smaller, say around 100-200L to stunt the plants so they are smaller and easier to move around.

druss
04-02-2017, 07:40 PM
Awesome �� anything under 500l is a win. I havent looked too deep into it yet but can bananas be induced to flower like other plants, once a certain corm size is reached?

Gabe15
04-02-2017, 08:29 PM
That's something I've thought a lot about and tried looking for an answer to, but as far as I know the answer is no.

I have some suspicions on things to maybe play with in the future, but for now the easiest way is just to keep them healthy and actively growing and they will do it when they are ready.

Gabe15
04-02-2017, 08:33 PM
I would also suggest just leaving the dripper hose on the soil surface, I can't imagine you'd be getting any real advantage by having it in the soil next to roots as opposed to on top above them, and suckers you won't be able to see can easily pinch irrigation tubes and stop the flow of water as they grow. Additionally, be careful of over fertilizing in containers, it's very easy to do and bananas don't respond well, they can become extremely stunted and produce abnormal growth, and in some cases even die back.