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View Full Version : Dispelling or confirming Banana leaf wive's tale?


rmdelete
08-01-2017, 03:40 PM
okay sooo my Grandma told me that supposedly it is best to remove all older banana leaves and leave just the newest 3-4 leaves on the banana AND to remove any pups after the 3rd one appears. She claims that it saves water and helps the Banana grow faster? She of course told me this in Spanish since she can't speak English (she understands English but don't ask me how she got this far living here in the states without talking it hahaha) I have been looking online for more details about this but keep hitting walls, I am not sure how much (no pun intended) water this holds but would like your feedback on the practice of removing all but 3-4 newest leaves off a banana? Is there any benefit / damages doing this? I am very confused but open to learning! Thanks everyone!

Botanical_Bryce
08-01-2017, 03:48 PM
Only remove the brown. According to ECHO Global trials the got best results with one main stalk and keeping 3 suckers. Leaves use water but also supply energy and form the stalk that holds the fruit.

edwmax
08-01-2017, 05:07 PM
I wouldn't remove any green leaves, only the brown or yellow leaves. Leaves help cool the plant during days of high heat and bright sun by expiring water. If the plants leaves are drooping during the heat of the day, give it more water to replenish ground water loss and mist the leaves to reduce heat stress.

Richard
08-01-2017, 11:40 PM
http://growingfruit-images.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/e/d/ed06524584a2fa19133ea8396b49af11a1825ad1.pdf

rmdelete
08-02-2017, 04:40 PM
thank you guys! yeah I have no idea where my GMa got this from ahhaha and I didn't feel like challenging her XD