View Full Version : Bananas.org Wiki Question
Island Brah
05-16-2017, 09:39 AM
I have a question in regards to something that isn't too clear in the bananas.org wiki section. Who do we address those questions to?
Thanks for the help!
cincinnana
05-17-2017, 09:49 PM
I have a question in regards to something that isn't too clear in the bananas.org wiki section. Who do we address those questions to?
Thanks for the help!
The Wiki is Self moderated by members...
What are you not clear about?
Possibly some one can help.
Island Brah
05-22-2017, 09:32 AM
I'm currently using Banana Fuel from Wellspring Gardens (15-5-30). I will be trying out Fruit Fuel (16-8-24) pretty soon to compare the results for myself (if any) and Richard told me that his Fruit Fuel does not need a nitrogen supplement (like advised wiki when using Banana Fuel in the U.S.).
the wiki mentions this:
"Banana Fuel: 15-5-30. Great for the tropics but in the U.S. (esp. the midwest) you'll need Nitrogen supplement."
"Example -- supplementing Banana Fuel with a nitrogen source: Suppose you have Banana Fuel 15-5-30 and wish to increase the amount of nitrogen you are feed your plants with Fish Emulsion, 4-1-1. You would calculate D = (0.30*0.04 - 0.01*0.15) = 0.0105; A = (0.30 - (1.5*0.15)) / 0.0105 = 7.1 lbs per plant per year; B = ((1.5*0.04) - 0.01) / 0.0105 = 4.76 lbs per plant per year."
The example is too advanced for me in figuring out how much Fish Emulsion to add per gallon of Banana Fuel Mix (1 tsp of Banana Fuel per 1 gallon of water - Label recommendation).
So, my question is how much Fish Emulsion should I use as a nitrogen supplement per 1 tsp of Banana Fuel per 1 gallon of water?
Would I mix the Fish Emulsion into the banana Fuel/water mix or apply it differently?
edwmax
05-22-2017, 06:54 PM
A Banana plant needs 1 lb of nitrogen and 1.5 lb of potash per growing season (aka: year).
If you used 10-10-10 fertilizer, then for 1 lb of nitrogen you would need:
1lb / .10 = 10 lbs of fertilizer.
BUT, 10 lbs of 10-10-10 will only furnish 1 lb of potash (K). ... 10 lb X .10 = 1 lb Therefore, a supplement of potash is needed to furnish additional 1/2 lb of potash (K) for a total of 1 1/2 lbs. ... exam: potassium sulfate (0-0-52) => 1/2 lb / 52% = .96 lbs supplement.
So if the fertilizer is formulated to furnish the TOTAL needs of the plant, a supplement would NOT be required.
That is the basics. So now to your question, Banana Fuel 15-5-30.
5 lbs of Banana Fuel will supply 1.5 lbs of potash (K) ..... 5 lb X .30 = 1.5 lb
BUT, 5 lbs of Banana Fuel will only supply 3/4 lbs of Nitrogen (N) .... 5 lb X .15 = .75 lb Therefore, a supplement of 1/4 lb of nitrogen is needed.
Banana Fuel was designed for the Tropics where the environment furnished the 1/4 lb of Nitrogen by vegetation decay. ... Here in the US unless you use lots of compost with your banana plants then 1/4 lb of nitrogen should be furnished with a nitrogen supplement or a complete fertilizer formulated for growing bananas such as Fruit Fuel (16-8-24) may be used.
Fruit Fuel (16-8-24): 1 lb nitrogen / 16% = 6.25 lb fertilizer
6.25 lbs X 24% = 1.5 lbs potash (K) .... no supplement required for N & K
Knowing how to calculate the N-P-K needs of a plant you can adjust the type fertilizer being used to the plant needs and make fertilizer selection based on availability & cost. ... Using a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 with minors formulated for gardens & vegetables ($10 / 50 lb bag) and a potassium supplement, I can fertilize my banana plants at a cost of $3 per plant for the season.
cincinnana
05-22-2017, 06:59 PM
I have a question in regards to something that isn't too clear .Who do we address those questions to?
Edwmax......:woohoonaner:
If it is not clear now, its going to get alittle clearer...LOL:08:
Island Brah
05-23-2017, 07:43 AM
A Banana plant needs 1 lb of nitrogen and 1.5 lb of potash per growing season (aka: year).
If you used 10-10-10 fertilizer, then for 1 lb of nitrogen you would need:
1lb / .10 = 10 lbs of fertilizer.
BUT, 10 lbs of 10-10-10 will only furnish 1 lb of potash (K). ... 10 lb X .10 = 1 lb Therefore, a supplement of potash is needed to furnish additional 1/2 lb of potash (K) for a total of 1 1/2 lbs. ... exam: potassium sulfate (0-0-52) => 1/2 lb / 52% = .96 lbs supplement.
So if the fertilizer is formulated to furnish the TOTAL needs of the plant, a supplement would NOT be required.
That is the basics. So now to your question, Banana Fuel 15-5-30.
5 lbs of Banana Fuel will supply 1.5 lbs of potash (K) ..... 5 lb X .30 = 1.5 lb
BUT, 5 lbs of Banana Fuel will only supply 3/4 lbs of Nitrogen (N) .... 5 lb X .15 = .75 lb Therefore, a supplement of 1/4 lb of nitrogen is needed.
Banana Fuel was designed for the Tropics where the environment furnished the 1/4 lb of Nitrogen by vegetation decay. ... Here in the US unless you use lots of compost with your banana plants then 1/4 lb of nitrogen should be furnished with a nitrogen supplement or a complete fertilizer formulated for growing bananas such as Fruit Fuel (16-8-24) may be used.
Fruit Fuel (16-8-24): 1 lb nitrogen / 16% = 6.25 lb fertilizer
6.25 lbs X 24% = 1.5 lbs potash (K) .... no supplement required for N & K
Knowing how to calculate the N-P-K needs of a plant you can adjust the type fertilizer being used to the plant needs and make fertilizer selection based on availability & cost. ... Using a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 with minors formulated for gardens & vegetables ($10 / 50 lb bag) and a potassium supplement, I can fertilize my banana plants at a cost of $3 per plant for the season.
edwmax, this is awesome and so much easier for me to understand your breakdown for some reason. Thanks so much for helping me - You rock! Cincinnana, no kidding lol.
Okay, so that leads me to a few questions (I know, you're shocked lol) and light bulbs are starting to show signs of life on over my head lol:
1) I now know bananas need 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lbs of potash per plant per growing season/aka year. My growing season 35 miles northeast of Atlanta is from mid-late April until mid-late October-ish. If I follow the dosage instructions on the Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel labels, I would never hit the correct amount of nutrients needed in my growing season. For example, if I follow the Fruit fuel label, I'm supposed to use 1 tablespoon/per gallon of water/per month and my growing season is roughly 6 months, I'll never hit the 6.25lbs of Fruit Fuel needed to give it 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lb of potash. Does the banana plant get the rest of the nutrients from the soil then I'm assuming? If that's the case, how do you really know how much the plant is getting from the soil?
2) BUT, 10 lbs of 10-10-10 will only furnish 1 lb of potash (K). ... 10 lb X .10 = 1 lb Therefore, a supplement of potash is needed to furnish additional 1/2 lb of potash (K) for a total of 1 1/2 lbs. ... exam: potassium sulfate (0-0-52) => 1/2 lb / 52% = .96 lbs supplement.
Do folks just mix the correct amount (weight) of added supplement into whatever fertilizer they're using if both are water soluble or whatever? Like dump it in the bag and mix it up?
3) Which 10-10-10 fertilizer and potassium supplement do you use? (you knew that one was coming lol).
Thanks again!
cincinnana
05-23-2017, 08:43 PM
After carefully reading the posts.....what is the adjustment for a four foot banana plant growing off my deck....the previous posts seem way to strong for my new 5 foot plant.
Do you you think we should divide by 3/4 due to the small size of the plant.?
But this might work for my 12 foot basjoos!
edwmax
05-24-2017, 07:43 AM
First, the states stated nitrogen and potassium amounts in my post are for mature plants. This was correctly stated in the Wiki. Also review the 'Specific Needs of Bananas' in the fertilizer wiki. It gives details for reduced amounts for potted and young plants.
...
1) I now know bananas need 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lbs of potash per plant per growing season/aka year. My growing season 35 miles northeast of Atlanta is from mid-late April until mid-late October-ish. If I follow the dosage instructions on the Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel labels, I would never hit the correct amount of nutrients needed in my growing season. For example, if I follow the Fruit fuel label, I'm supposed to use 1 tablespoon/per gallon of water/per month and my growing season is roughly 6 months, I'll never hit the 6.25lbs of Fruit Fuel needed to give it 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lb of potash. Does the banana plant get the rest of the nutrients from the soil then I'm assuming? If that's the case, how do you really know how much the plant is getting from the soil? ...
Can you post a copy of the label and the given instructions? ... Are you saying that you apply 1 gallon of mixture per plant per month? if so that is not correct.
...
2) Do folks just mix the correct amount (weight) of added supplement into whatever fertilizer they're using if both are water soluble or whatever? Like dump it in the bag and mix it up? ...
You can, but then it is mixed for the bananas. ... Of course the NPK changes, but again that doesn't matter. ... I used the same fertilizer in the garden and for the pecan trees. So I just keep the potassium sulfate separate. It is easier. Monday I gave 1 cup full of potassium sulfate to each mat in my large patch.
...
3) Which 10-10-10 fertilizer and potassium supplement do you use? (you knew that one was coming lol).
Thanks again!
I use this fertilizer. The company that makes it, is 3 miles from my house.
This 10-10-10 is formulated for growing tomatoes and vegetable with a acidic base to help the breakdown of the nutrients which tomatoes, vegetable & Bananas love/need. My soil is ph neutral, so the acid is needed. Some fertilizers may be formulated to be alkaline to help in raising the soil ph or to be neutal. Be aware of the difference when buying fertilizers Look at your local fertilizer suppliers and Southern States, their pricing should be better than Walmart's $12/40lb bag.
http://caironet.com/banana/Graco10%2D10%2D10%2Ejpg
Island Brah
05-24-2017, 08:34 AM
First, the states nitrogen and potassium amounts in my post are for mature plants. This was correctly stated in the Wiki. Also review the 'Specific Needs of Bananas' in the fertilizer wiki. It gives details for reduced amounts for potted and young plants.
This is the instructions from Richard's Fruit Fuel (16-8-24) Guide on Banana Cultivation in Non-Tropical Climates. it says 1 tablespoon per 1 gallon of water every month:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/fruit%20fuel%20inst.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/fruit%20fuel%20inst.jpg.html)
This is the label for Banana Fuel (15-5-30) which says to use 1 tsp per gallon of water every 1-2 weeks:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/20160714_213856.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/20160714_213856.jpg.html)
I'm so darn confused. What do you think?
edwmax
05-24-2017, 10:38 AM
...
1) I now know bananas need 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lbs of potash per plant per growing season/aka year. My growing season 35 miles northeast of Atlanta is from mid-late April until mid-late October-ish. If I follow the dosage instructions on the Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel labels, I would never hit the correct amount of nutrients needed in my growing season. For example, if I follow the Fruit fuel label, I'm supposed to use 1 tablespoon/per gallon of water/per month and my growing season is roughly 6 months, I'll never hit the 6.25lbs of Fruit Fuel needed to give it 1lb of nitrogen and 1.5lb of potash. Does the banana plant get the rest of the nutrients from the soil then I'm assuming? If that's the case, how do you really know how much the plant is getting from the soil? ...
Thanks for the pics & info. Now look at the comment of the first table. It is stated to 'water normally'. More than 1 gallon of water should be used.
Next, look at the small note below the table in the label photo. It states to double dosage when soil drenching.
OK, there are 2 ways to do the watering. One is to use a hose end sprayer. Mix a stock solution concentrate and then set the spray at proper ratio to make the 2 tablespoon (if monthly) or reduced application as needed while watering. This involves a little math but not hard. Then apply water watching the solution level to know when to stop.
The second way which I suggest and easier, is to mix the ALL fertilizer needed for that application in a 5 gallon bucket. This may be stronger than the 2 TB / gal. Then pour around the plant (not against the stem) and water in with the garden hose to further dilute. Watering once a week may be better to keep the fertilizer concentration to a minimum.
Water is a question for banana plants in the ground. Most general garden guides indicated weekly watering at 1/2" equivalent for rain for plants and area. ... For a 10 ft X 10 ft area around a banana plant, this would be about 31 gallons of water. ... But!!! One of the Banana research reports I read stated a mature banana plant expires as much as 92 liters (24 gallons) per day on hot days. So during droughts or hot dry spells Banana plants needs much more water.
So how much water to give a banana plant? ... that depends ...
OMO ... Fruit fuel is lacking in its instructions for use as a soil drench. It doesn't give upper limits of use that would cause nitrogen root burn or other problems and allow reducing the amount of water needed. Exam: For your 6 mn grow season and watering once a month, you need to apply 1 lb per month at 2 tbl / gallon would be about 32 gallons of water per plant or 1 tbl /gallon would be 64 gallons of water per plant.
Fruit Fuel was formulated for potted plants; injection irrigation; and hydroponic use.
Island Brah
05-24-2017, 10:58 AM
The second way which I suggest and easier, is to mix the ALL fertilizer needed for that application in a 5 gallon bucket. This may be stronger than the 2 TB / gal. Then pour around the plant (not against the stem) and water in with the garden hose to further dilute. Watering once a week may be better to keep the fertilizer concentration to a minimum.
Water is a question for banana plants in the ground. Most general garden guides indicated weekly watering at 1/2" equivalent for rain for plants and area. ... For a 10 ft X 10 ft area around a banana plant, this would be about 31 gallons of water. ... But!!! One of the Banana research reports I read stated a mature banana plant expires as much as 92 liters (24 gallons) per day on hot days. So during droughts or hot dry spells Banana plants needs much more water.
SO, fertilize each banana plant (or corm) once a month with 5 gallons of fertilizer mix all at once instead of one gallon? And to change the dosage depending on plant size (1/4 dose for small banana plants, 1/2 dose for medium banana plants under 4 ft, and a full monthly dose for 4+ foot)??
Or fertilize each banana plant once every 2 weeks with 5 gallons of 1/2 the recommended monthly dose OR once a week with 5 gallons of 1/4 the recommended monthly dose?
Per labels:
Banana Fuel: Monthly dose is 2 tbs per gallon.
Fruit Fuel: Monthly dose is 1 tbsp per gallon
Sorry for all the questions on this topic but I wish the label told me how many gallons of fertilizer mix to use for each application. The labels lead me to believe to use 1 gallon each time I fertilize because that's the measurement they use.
edwmax
05-24-2017, 01:20 PM
No ... Fruit Fuel actually said to water normally every 7 to 14 days with 1 TBs per gallon of water used; or monthly with 2 TBs (small print) per gallon of water used. ... It just does not say how many gallons of to USE.
To apply monthly as a soil drench & a 6 month growing season, you need to apply 1 lb of fruit fuel. That needs to be diluted with 32 gallons on water. ... With this amount of water, I believe there will be a lot wasted with runoff.
This is why I use granular fertilizer for soil application.
edwmax
05-24-2017, 01:46 PM
You are correct about the label dosing.
Banana Fuel => 2 Tbs / gallon / month for soil drench - water normally
Fruit Fuel => 1 TBs /gallon / month
I was mixing label information. The 2 products are near the same and should be interchangeable.
Banana Fuel, 1 lb applied monthly for 6 month growing season as a soil drench (2 TBs/gal) would need 32 gallons of water.
Fruit Fuel, 1 lb applied monthly for 6 month growing season as a soil drench (1 tbs/gal) would need 64 gallons of water. ... Both of these I believe will have a large amount of runoff and wasted fertilizer.
This is why I use granular fertilizer for soil application.
edwmax
05-24-2017, 01:48 PM
Darn ... this is making my head hurt ...
need to get back to the simple life, grab a handful of fert & toss it out ... toss out more later. If bag is empty, buy more of the cheap stuff. ... and .. if the chickens have been active ... shovel sh't ...
Island Brah
05-24-2017, 01:54 PM
No ... Fruit Fuel actually said to water normally every 7 to 14 days with 1 TBs per gallon of water used; or monthly with 2 TBs (small print) per gallon of water used..
Fruit Fuel is 1 tbsp per gallon. Banana Fuel is by tsp per label.
Either way it doesn't really matter because I don't feel like dumping 64 gallons of water on each banana plant every growing season. I have 11 banana plants and that would mean I'd potentially need to dump a combined 704 gallons of Fruit Fuel mix on them each growing season!?!? AND like you said, who in the heck knows how much waste that will be with all the runoff....I'd say quite a lot!
I'm pretty sure that settles it unless there is a HUGE point that was missed by edwmax and I. I will start looking into which type of granular fertilizer will work best for my soil.
Edwmax, how often do you need to apply the Graco 10-10-10?
Which potassium supplement do you use with the 10-10-10? I know you're just south of me in Ga but I bet our soil is pretty similar.
edwmax
05-24-2017, 02:05 PM
That is 704 gallons each month.
Island Brah
05-24-2017, 02:09 PM
That is 704 gallons each month.
After all the research I've done on this, I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point hahaha
4,224 gallons the whole growing season....hahahaha yeah, I'm not doing that...
edwmax
05-24-2017, 02:37 PM
The 10-10-10, I apply monthly because it is not a slow release type.
Use Potassium sulfate which is 0-0-50 or 0-0-52. Check the NPK as this may vary from different sources. ... Potassium Chloride is also available, but in time the chloride salt could be a problem. These are available at garden centers in 5 lb bags for $6 to $8. I got my potassium sulfate from Southern States. I carried in a 5 gal bucket and they filled it about 1/2 full. It weighed 24 lbs and they charged me $8.
My fertilizer program is to apply 9 oz (1 cup) of 10-10-10 Plus every month per plant and with 8 oz (1 cup) of Potassium sulfate every 2nd (other) month to the mat.
To this I plan to be testing folar spray as needed if the plant appears distressed and when it starts to flower.
Any of the triples or balanced fertilizers (8-8-8;10-10-10; 15-15-15) will work. Just adjust the quantities applied as needed. Use what is available and gives you the most bang for a buck.
edwmax
05-24-2017, 02:41 PM
After all the research I've done on this, I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point hahaha
4,224 gallons the whole growing season....hahahaha yeah, I'm not doing that...
I said my head hurts ... I haven't done a damn thing all day except watch it rain.
Island Brah
05-24-2017, 08:41 PM
I said my head hurts ... I haven't done a damn thing all day except watch it rain.
Yeah we had 3 days of it north of you!
How many months is your growing season down there? 7-8?
edwmax
05-25-2017, 05:53 AM
Yeah we had 3 days of it north of you!
How many months is your growing season down there? 7-8?
About 8 months. Our first frost is historically about November 15th.
Island Brah
05-25-2017, 11:13 AM
My fertilizer program is to apply 9 oz (1 cup) of 10-10-10 Plus every month per plant and with 8 oz (1 cup) of Potassium sulfate every 2nd (other) month to the mat.
If you apply just over a half pound of 10-10-10 each month (9 ounces) for 8 months, that doesn't equal the 10 lbs of 10-10-10 needed to give the banana plant 1 lb of nitrogen per growing season (8 months). wouldn't that only give them slightly over 4 lbs of 10-10-10 and not 10 lbs?
Wouldn't you have to give each plant 1.25 lbs of 10-10-10 every month to give it the 1lb of nitrogen over an 8 month span?
edwmax
05-25-2017, 11:56 AM
You are correct. I wrote that as a note to me last fall. Currently all but a few Orinocos plants are less than 4 ft tall. So 1/2 dose is appropriate.
Now I was basing this on the fertilizer used in the Tifton Banana Trials by Dr. Fonsah. You can download his pdf report at this link. New Banana Cultivars Trial in the Coastal Plain of South Georgia - AgEcon Search (http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/162190)
Oh, incidentally I applied fertilizer for the first time this year this morning. Because of the drought conditions the banana plants in my large patch were late coming up and didn't break ground until around the first of this month. With no rain, then granular fertilize wont do much good. So I was holding off on fertilizer. ... We Got Rain!
edwmax
05-25-2017, 12:12 PM
Now I also did a little research for amount of water needed to water/irrigate banana plants. I was giving a lot of water to my small nana patch to keep the leaves from dropping and make the nanas happy during our drought.
The Fla home guide for growing bananas states/recommends a plant to receive 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. ... Other references indicated a banana plant root spread can be as much as 30 ft.; but the Fla Home Guide stated the root spread about 16 ft. Anyway I used 15 ft X 15 ft area & 1 in of water for the following calc.
15 ft X 15 ft => 225 s1 ft => 32400 sq in X 1 in = 32400 cu in. => 140 gallons +/- of water per mature plant per week.
I was watering 12 plants, but 8 of those were less than 3 ft tall.
Island Brah
05-25-2017, 01:13 PM
me realizing that makes me happy because I'm starting to understand this hair-ripping out part of banana growing!
I figured you had a whole farm of bananas tas much as you know about the fertilizer for them etc.
Island Brah
05-25-2017, 01:16 PM
140 gallons +/- of water per mature plant per week.
That's way too much work for for me, man! i just drench water around and on them when we haven't had rain and it's hot.
crazy banana
05-25-2017, 01:24 PM
After all the research I've done on this, I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point hahaha
4,224 gallons the whole growing season....hahahaha yeah, I'm not doing that...
And here we loose another member to "cactus.org" ;) .....
crazy banana
05-25-2017, 01:26 PM
After carefully reading the posts.....what is the adjustment for a four foot banana plant growing off my deck....the previous posts seem way to strong for my new 5 foot plant.
Do you you think we should divide by 3/4 due to the small size of the plant.?
But this might work for my 12 foot basjoos!
I love your sense of humor 😂
edwmax
05-25-2017, 01:37 PM
And here we loose another member to "cactus.org" ;) .....
... http://caironet.com/smilies/2erOBh1%2Egif ...
cincinnana
05-25-2017, 08:23 PM
I love your sense of humor 😂
LOL:woohoonaner:
Island Brah
05-25-2017, 08:41 PM
LOL:woohoonaner:
Cinci, shouldn't you be potting yours up for the winter right about now LOL?! Ha You all are great!
crazy banana
05-25-2017, 08:45 PM
:ha:Cinci, shouldn't you be potting yours up for the winter right about now LOL?! Ha You all are great!
Island Brah
06-13-2017, 08:21 AM
Since I started my new granular fertilizer mix schedule a few weeks ago, my banana plants are absolutely exploding with growth. The new leaves and petioles are about 1.5 times larger than previously, the pstem space in between each leaf is way longer and thicker, the pstems are turning into fat freaks, and sword suckers are exploding out of the ground like rockets!
Now the fun begins! :08:
Thanks for all the help and input!
edwmax
06-13-2017, 10:59 AM
That's great results. ... But... while the UGa research reports indicated several Banana varieties can flower & fruit 24 to 26 weeks after transplanting in March, this will be too late in the year for the fruit to ripen. The reports also indicated several varieties proved to be choked the following spring. The banana plants were starting to push the flower when frost & cold set in and thus was coked the next spring. So I'll reduce the fertilizer application to 60% to 70% of the recommended amounts for this season; then apply full amount the beginning of next spring in hopes of forcing the flower & fruiting early next summer. ... Our problem is timing as was with the banana trials. :bananas_b
Island Brah
06-13-2017, 12:08 PM
Thanks, Max!
The banana plants were transplanted form pots in a greenhouse to ground on May 11 according to the journal article i read: New Banana Cultivars Trial in the Coastal Plain of South Georgia - AgEcon Search (http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/162190) . Mine was about 1' tall when I planted it in the ground on April 23rd. We had a few cold fronts come through that didn't help the roots establish quickly but I gotta work with what nature gives me :)
I was going to start cutting down the fertilizer near the end of the summer to reduce complications. I'd rather have one that chokes in one season then wait 3-4 years before it flowers - if it survives the dry-storing lol. I'll roll the dice with the choking.
The only two I have that has a prayer to flower and would be a HUGE surprise is the Veinte Cohol (pstem approx 2' now) and a Basjoo (pstem approx 6' now). I'm not counting on them to flower this season but I'm going to push all of them (Veinte Cohol, many Basjoo, tall Namwah, tall Orinoco, Manzano, and potted AgriStarts FHIA-01) hard and see what happens. All but the Manzano and AgriStarts FHIA-01 have pups so I'm planning to let the pups get a decent size then desucker them into pots over the winter in my basement lighting setup. I'm sure the Manzano will have a pup any second with the way the new fertilizer mix has the growth exploding with them all.
If I can get some decent size Viente Cohol pups in pots by around August/September then I should have more than enough time to have a few fruit next grow season.
The tall Orinoco will be dry-stored in my basement and I'll pot a pup or two. my friend down the road dry stores them at a cycle (small, med, large) and every one of the larger ones fruits a nice bunch every year. He had one fruit while being dry-stored in the garage last year lol. I'm going to follow his lead since I know it works for my area. Some of his tall Orinocos get over 20 feet tall and the base of the pstem is like a telephone pole - no exaggeration. he said the trick is not to lay them down but to keep the top as elevated as possible so they feed themselves all winter. I will eventually keep a few outside over the winter like in the article below. It is in a colder zone than I am and they never die back. I guess the corms/mats have to get giant to survive a colder zone than mine. https://subtropicalmemphis.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/the-nelson-street-bananas-of-cooper-young-district/
I'll see how the Manzano and tall Namwah do with dry-storing - not counting on good results. I'll keep a Namwah pup for insurance but I'm thinking of only keeping tall Orinocos and Veinte Cohols for my zone moving forward since I can't pot up a 8+ foot banana plant in my basement. I'll keep the AgriStarts FHIA-01 potted and lug it in and out until I get tired of doing that or it flowers - if it ever flowers.
Welp, that's my banana season life story...sorry such a long post lol.
Max, didn't you say you had a huge tall Orinoco mat just south of me? Would love to know how they did with your colder winters or what you did to protect them, etc.
That's great results. ... But... while the UGa research reports indicated several Banana varieties can flower & fruit 24 to 26 weeks after transplanting in March, this will be too late in the year for the fruit to ripen. The reports also indicated several varieties proved to be choked the following spring. The banana plants were starting to push the flower when frost & cold set in and thus was coked the next spring. So I'll reduce the fertilizer application to 60% to 70% of the recommended amounts for this season; then apply full amount the beginning of next spring in hopes of forcing the flower & fruiting early next summer. ... Our problem is timing as was with the banana trials. :bananas_b
edwmax
06-13-2017, 02:12 PM
...
Max, didn't you say you had a huge tall Orinoco mat just south of me? Would love to know how they did with your colder winters or what you did to protect them, etc.
I have 6 mid-size Orinoco (not 20 ft) that were transplanted as 3 ft to 5 ft pups last September. The pstems are about 8 ft to 10 ft. I didn't do anything special for protection. The leaves died back 3 times and regrow within 2 weeks during the winter. ... Oh, these new Orinocos are pupping like crazy. I may have more than a dozen new pups; a couple 5 ft now.
All my old plants (38 to 40 plants) were liked last July. ... Its been my experience (in my area) over the past 15 to 18 years if the pstem has good size it will not freeze to the ground. I think the sugar in the sap is like antifreeze. I regularly cut the dead tops off in the spring leaving a live pstem 5 ft to 6 ft. tall. Many of these would then grow & fruit. ... I have a neighbor that doesn't trim his nanas in the spring. They do fine also.
Botanical_Bryce
06-13-2017, 03:48 PM
Fertilize all you want but all I use is leaves, ash, and charcoal and i can't keep up with growth. Nothing has a problem fruiting either. Waste of money IMO to buy fertilizer.
edwmax
06-13-2017, 04:08 PM
Fertilize all you want but all I use is leaves, ash, and charcoal and i can't keep up with growth. Nothing has a problem fruiting either. Waste of money IMO to buy fertilizer.
That works if you have it. I'm building new mats and just don't have enough leaf debris. I do use hardwood ashes when available. ... My old mats and nanas had 16" + of leaf debris built up over the years and were growing well without addition fertilizer. :bananas_b
Island Brah
06-13-2017, 06:11 PM
Fertilize all you want but all I use is leaves, ash, and charcoal and i can't keep up with growth. Nothing has a problem fruiting either. Waste of money IMO to buy fertilizer.
100lbs of my fertilizer mix cost me like $35 so that's not too bad since it will last me years. I also use Black Kow composted manure and black mulch as top dressing. Leaves get put down in the fall when the oaks drop them.
Im quite a bit north of you so they need to go fast lol. I wish I lived in Florida man. I'm down there all the time.
Island Brah
06-13-2017, 06:45 PM
That's pretty awesome that you don't have to do anything to them. What are the lowest winter temps in where you are in southern GA?
It may get down to 20-25 degrees for a night or two 35 miles northeast of Atlanta but it's pretty rare. You think I got a shot of my tall Orinocos making it outside through my winter?
I have 6 mid-size Orinoco (not 20 ft) that were transplanted as 3 ft to 5 ft pups last September. The pstems are about 8 ft to 10 ft. I didn't do anything special for protection. The leaves died back 3 times and regrow within 2 weeks during the winter. ... Oh, these new Orinocos are pupping like crazy. I may have more than a dozen new pups; a couple 5 ft now.
All my old plants (38 to 40 plants) were liked last July. ... Its been my experience (in my area) over the past 15 to 18 years if the pstem has good size it will not freeze to the ground. I think the sugar in the sap is like antifreeze. I regularly cut the dead tops off in the spring leaving a live pstem 5 ft to 6 ft. tall. Many of these would then grow & fruit. ... I have a neighbor that doesn't trim his nanas in the spring. They do fine also.
Botanical_Bryce
06-13-2017, 09:46 PM
That works if you have it. I'm building new mats and just don't have enough leaf debris. I do use hardwood ashes when available. ... My old mats and nanas had 16" + of leaf debris built up over the years and were growing well without adtdition fertilizer. :bananas_b
I get mine from neighbors and out of the forest floor with my truck. I project a thousand pounds of bananas this year but I chopped up everything for propagation and moving things around.
edwmax
06-14-2017, 05:42 AM
My neighbors use or burn their yard debris. My woods/forest is too thick with under brush sweep up liter. ... Might be a possibility of getting litter from the crops & fields in the fall. But the cotton stalks would have to be ran through a chipper/mulcher to be usable. .... Noooo... buying fertilizer is much easier and cheaper for now. ...:bananas_b
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