Ashton_SFBay
06-25-2017, 07:17 PM
Hi Everyone!
This is my first year attempting to grow bananas! In Concord, CA. Hot (90s) and dry summers with mild (50s) and wet winters, with 2-3 nights per year getting to around 28F. Most winter nights around 45F. Zone 9b.
Back in December 2016, I got 6 RajaPuris by mail order. Had done a fair bit of research and decided these were my best bet to get some fruiting plants! For 3 months kept them indoors, under lights at almost constant 85F and 50% humidity. In approx. 5 gallon planters. Fertilizing with Stokes Banana Fertilizer. Grew like they were on steroids.
Late March, weather began to warm, so, after a week of taking them outdoors during the day and back in at night, I decided winter was over and it was time to fully take them outdoors (besides, 3 of them were getting too large to take through a doorway without damage).
Then disaster struck as the weather turned cold and we had a few close-to-freezing nights. Plants went into lock-down and stubbornly refused to grow. The weakest specimen gave up the ghost and turned to complete mush. So, 5 left! One had been planted in the ground, one in a 45 gallon fabric grow bag, one in a 30 gallon fabric grow bag and 2 in approx 10 gallon cheap plastic tubs.
Once the weather warmed up, they all began to grow again, with the one planted in the ground now looking the best with massive big leaves (after initially looking very touch-and-go and falling over and uprooting itself!). Both of the ones in the plastic tubs have put out 4 pups each. Mummy and babies all still growing well but I'm assuming the small tubs are what has caused the pups.
Anyways - fingers crossed they will keep on growing and that I will get some real live fruits! And great to virtual-meet everyone!
:goteam:
This photo shows the 2 bananas that are in the 10 gallon tubs:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61925&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61925)
This is my first year attempting to grow bananas! In Concord, CA. Hot (90s) and dry summers with mild (50s) and wet winters, with 2-3 nights per year getting to around 28F. Most winter nights around 45F. Zone 9b.
Back in December 2016, I got 6 RajaPuris by mail order. Had done a fair bit of research and decided these were my best bet to get some fruiting plants! For 3 months kept them indoors, under lights at almost constant 85F and 50% humidity. In approx. 5 gallon planters. Fertilizing with Stokes Banana Fertilizer. Grew like they were on steroids.
Late March, weather began to warm, so, after a week of taking them outdoors during the day and back in at night, I decided winter was over and it was time to fully take them outdoors (besides, 3 of them were getting too large to take through a doorway without damage).
Then disaster struck as the weather turned cold and we had a few close-to-freezing nights. Plants went into lock-down and stubbornly refused to grow. The weakest specimen gave up the ghost and turned to complete mush. So, 5 left! One had been planted in the ground, one in a 45 gallon fabric grow bag, one in a 30 gallon fabric grow bag and 2 in approx 10 gallon cheap plastic tubs.
Once the weather warmed up, they all began to grow again, with the one planted in the ground now looking the best with massive big leaves (after initially looking very touch-and-go and falling over and uprooting itself!). Both of the ones in the plastic tubs have put out 4 pups each. Mummy and babies all still growing well but I'm assuming the small tubs are what has caused the pups.
Anyways - fingers crossed they will keep on growing and that I will get some real live fruits! And great to virtual-meet everyone!
:goteam:
This photo shows the 2 bananas that are in the 10 gallon tubs:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61925&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61925)