View Full Version : 2019 Banana Patch: Pensacola, Florida
Akula
07-21-2019, 04:43 PM
This is how my patch has developed this year so far. Good height for this time of year but with lots shredded leaves.
My first Namwa flower emerged two weeks ago from "Son of Monster Namwa" who stands 13' tall. The first hand contains 14 fingers and the last full hand contains 18 with 17 hand total. I might revoke "monster status" since he didn't clear the 300 finger margin like his parent.
This year's tallest Namwa is 15'9" and has a very large flower. Its is showing three hands so far with the first hand containing 18 fingers. It is located in the corner behind the pvc support. The photo angle is a bit miseading but this plant's is much higher than the other although based on the leaves it does not appear to be. Expecting big things from this one!
I also have a small bunch from one of my Unkown's that emerged in May. Its located in a dark corner so doesn't get much light, has numerous cracks and splits up and down its pstem. I think I counted seven layers were split so the pstem is quite weak and requires support. The bunch is light and the bananas quite small even after two months. This plants doesn't have very many leaves either but at least it has plenty of time. This Unknown comes from a different original plant than last year's Unknown.
Main banana patch:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=64972&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=64972)
Son of Monster Namwa
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=64973&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=64973)
Godzilla Namwa
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=64971 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=64971)
Unknown
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=64974&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=64974)
NativeRoots
07-21-2019, 09:34 PM
Very nice!!
Backyard Banana Joe
07-25-2019, 09:40 AM
WOW 😮!!!!!!! What do you do to to get that kind of a bunch? And if you run out of names for your massive racks, maybe Atlas would be fitting.
Keep it up whatever it is.:goteam::goteam::goteam::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonane r::0519::nanadrink:
Akula
08-04-2019, 11:55 PM
Godzilla Namwa Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65096&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65096&ppuser=26197)
This one is 15-16 hands with 18 fingers per hand except the last hand which is pretty good. This plant is just shy of 16' and I was expecting something around 20 hands like I got last year from my big namwa that was only 14'. The only major difference I can identify that might have impacted the number of hands is that my area has had 20 inches less cummulative rainfall vs. the prior year.
HMelendez
08-05-2019, 03:16 AM
Donald,
Congrats!.....Still looking impressive!.....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
edwmax
08-05-2019, 06:02 AM
Still a super good looking Bunch for our area. ... Temps are dropping. night temps are into the in our area and Night temps are dropping to mid & upper 60s. So I hope we don't get a early frost this year. ... Our bunches need the time.
Akula
08-05-2019, 08:49 AM
Thanks fellas!
I think my area has three good months of temps remaining which should be enough to get some good filling if we get adequate rainfall. My flowers came in mid September last year and I got pretty good results. It was very mild winter but there wasn't much filling going on after temps were below 50-55F overnight.
I should get a few a more flowers in the coming weeks and those bunches will be pruned. 25% prune for August flowers and 50% prune for September flowers.
We shall see. I'm hopeful. My plants look strong.
edwmax
08-05-2019, 12:42 PM
Darn ... after re-reading my above post, I would think that I was drunk. I'm not ... may be just not awake when I made the post.
Anyway, the low last night was 66 deg F and at 1:30pm today the temp got up to 70 deg.
luisport
08-05-2019, 02:51 PM
Your banana trees are awsome! They are very healthy. Congratulations!
:nanadrink:
Akula
08-25-2019, 09:50 AM
Small three hand namwa bunch at my Mother's house that's almost ready to be harvested. Very low maintenace. No fertilizer, no watering, and no winter protection. The plant's pstem is probably about 6' vs. 13'-16' for the same type of plant in my patch.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65221&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65221&ppuser=26197)
Christine1950
08-27-2019, 06:06 AM
Beautiful, what an excellent back drop for the pool :woohoonaner:
Akula
08-29-2019, 05:33 PM
Picked a few namwa fingers to check to see how long it will take them to turn yellow. Although a bit short (4") they are very fat (1.75") fingers! These fingers are from my the patch at my Mother's house. See post No. 10 above for the bunch they were taken.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65253&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65253)
Rmplmnz
08-29-2019, 07:02 PM
Impressive, you definitely know how to grow bananas!
Akula
08-29-2019, 08:00 PM
Impressive, you definitely know how to grow bananas!
Thanks Rmplmnz! I learned everthing from all you guys who have shared your knowledge and passion on this site over the past fourteen years. Thanks for making those cool video tours of your yard!
Backyard Banana Joe
09-07-2019, 11:44 AM
I think I got the same variety as ya bro...…..
Rmplmnz
09-08-2019, 09:35 AM
Thanks Rmplmnz! I learned everthing from all you guys who have shared your knowledge and passion on this site over the past fourteen years. Thanks for making those cool video tours of your yard!
Thank you for the compliment!!
Akula
09-13-2019, 12:03 PM
I added to my collection this year and started a new banana patch on the west side of my yard. From left to right there is Raja Puri, Dwarf Brazilian, Raja Puri, Blue Java, and Pisang Klotek. I didn't have this ground prepared in time to put in the Patupi that I aquired this year but plan to put switch him out with the center area Raja Puri.
My Pisang Klotek (Mysore) is not doing as well as the other plants in this location that gets a ton of son and is very hot. Has anybody noticed Pisang Klotek (Mysore) seems to like a bit shadier area of their yard/more sun protection than other banana plants? Thanks for any tips on growth habits and likes of Pisang Klotek (Mysore).
July 19, 2019:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65328&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65328&ppuser=26197)
September 13, 2019:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65329&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65329&ppuser=26197)
Tytaylor77
09-13-2019, 02:27 PM
Looking awesome! Now that’s a namwa! Especially flowering that early! Amazing job man!
HMelendez
09-14-2019, 07:19 AM
Donald,
West side new Banana Patch is looking beautiful!....Keep it up buddy!...Musa Patupi (Kokopo, Vudu Papua) will do awesome in the new spot, location!...
:2723::bananarow::2723:
Akula
09-16-2019, 09:33 AM
Ripe small namwa bunch from post #10 above. The individual test fingers were blah but after harvesting the bunch and letting it ripen on the back patio they turned out really good! Maybe I ate the test fingers to early or letting them ripen in the house (colder temp) effected the taste. Regardless these came out great in the end! Even found two quarters inside one of them ala PR Giants! Haha.
Perfectly ripe namwa hand with comparison to store bought:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65330&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65330)
Namwa finger
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65331&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65331)
cincinnana
09-16-2019, 08:42 PM
Ripe small namwa bunch from post #10 above. The individual test fingers were blah but after harvesting the bunch and letting it ripen on the back patio they turned out really good! Maybe I ate the test fingers to early or letting them ripen in the house (colder temp) effected the taste. Regardless these came out great in the end! Even found two quarters inside one of them ala PR Giants! Haha.
Perfectly ripe namwa hand with comparison to store bought:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65330&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65330)
Namwa finger
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65331&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65331)
Nice...,
Akula
09-22-2019, 11:46 AM
I pruned my 4th Namwa bunch today. The bunch consisted of 11 hands pre-pruning and 6 hands post-pruning. Painful! This plant was located a bit deep into the corner of my patch and doesn't get the best light hence I only got 11 hands on this one. Sunlight is important!
I have one more Namwa that should flower in a week or so.
Namwa (No. 4) September 22, 2019
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65348&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65348)
Pruned fingers (sad face)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65349&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65349)
Backyard Banana Joe
09-22-2019, 04:49 PM
It’s always sad 😞 to prune baby 👶 bananas 🍌 but necessary :nanadrink:
mari@adams.net
09-22-2019, 05:28 PM
What fertilizer are you using to get such big bunches of bananas.
HMelendez
09-22-2019, 05:36 PM
Looking good Donald!....At least you will be able to taste some nice Namwah bananas!....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
Akula
09-22-2019, 07:27 PM
What fertilizer are you using to get such big bunches of bananas.
Hello Mari!
I fertilize monthly using urea for nitrogen and potassium sulfate or muriate of potash for potassium. I apply postassium sulfate during the first half of the season and then switch to murate of potash after getting a flower. I apply my fertilizers based on a 8 month season. I also heavily mulch with St. Augustine grass on a weekly basis.
If my plants show signs of overfertilization then I skip a month to let the plant sort it self out. I've noticed that different plants can take different amounts of fertilizer. Namwa's eat it up! Others not so much so I pay attention to how the plants are growing.
mari@adams.net
09-22-2019, 09:31 PM
Thanks, where to buy your 'stuff'? I can't seem to find anything like what you use around here (big box stores).
Akula
09-22-2019, 10:21 PM
Mari,
I get my "stuff" from a local supplier to the landscape and lawn service industry (Ewing Irrigation) but any Farm and Tractor Supply store will have urea and muriate of potash in 50 lb bags. I order the potassium sulfate in 5 lb bags from the internet.
In previous years I used a blended Palm Fertilizer that was perfect and included all the minors which I got from my supplier at a super price but sadly they sold out and didn't restock.
mari@adams.net
09-22-2019, 11:21 PM
Thanks for the info, there is a Farm & Tractor Supply store near here that I will check out tomorrow.
Tytaylor77
09-25-2019, 11:13 PM
Any feed and farm store usually had it. Places that sell farming equipment. Especially mom and pop type stores. Sadly Tractor Supply doesn’t have any.
If you absolutely can’t get any! Watch the greenhouse megastore sales. They often give free shipping! Then you can buy it from them!
Looking awesome Donald! You always have some amazing bunches! Amazing work my friend!
Katie Thompson
09-26-2019, 04:35 AM
Awesome fertilizer info. Thank you!
Do you prune off the hands to get larger remaining bananas? Are there other reasons?
Akula
09-26-2019, 12:02 PM
Awesome fertilizer info. Thank you!
Do you prune off the hands to get larger remaining bananas? Are there other reasons?
Yes but in addition to larger finger size I believe the remaining fingers develop slightly faster since more resources are available per banana finger after pruning. I'm not sure if that last part is a fact or "bro science".
Katie Thompson
09-26-2019, 03:01 PM
Hahah awesome, 'bro science'.
I have read the commercial growers do this pruning too, so for whatever reason, it must be effective at improving the 'last bananas standing'. The plantations would surely only do it if the payoff was good.
mari@adams.net
09-26-2019, 05:03 PM
Neither Tractor Store nor Farm & Home Store here has any gardening products...it has all been put away for Christmas 'stuff'. Since viewing your pruning.....I'm wondering if I should go ahead and cut off the male blossom and the very small hand of fingers on the Orinoco plant. I will soon be taking this up and putting in basement for winter. Someone mentioned to leave it alone cause cutting might introduce a disease to the bunch. I'm wondering if a lot of needed nutrients for the small bunch of bananas are going into the little fingers and male bud.http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65369&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65369&ppuser=27877)
Backyard Banana Joe
09-26-2019, 05:16 PM
It should be fine to cut the bloom as long as it is cut 10-12 inches away from the bunch. And I would remove the last hand of hermaphrodite flowers as well :08: :woohoonaner: :08: :woohoonaner:
Akula
09-26-2019, 07:17 PM
Neither Tractor Store nor Farm & Home Store here has any gardening products...it has all been put away for Christmas 'stuff'. Since viewing your pruning.....I'm wondering if I should go ahead and cut off the male blossom and the very small hand of fingers on the Orinoco plant. I will soon be taking this up and putting in basement for winter. Someone mentioned to leave it alone cause cutting might introduce a disease to the bunch. I'm wondering if a lot of needed nutrients for the small bunch of bananas are going into the little fingers and male bud.
There should be a few places within your area that sell fertilizer stuff. Farm supply stores in the country or landscaping supply stores in the city. Urea and Muriate of Potash are very common fertilizers. Keep looking! Good luck!
I always cut off the flower a minimum of 6" below the last hand. Be warned the cut will drip latex staining sap like crazy for fifteen minutes or so.
mari@adams.net
09-26-2019, 07:43 PM
I think the weather forecast for next Thursday (week from today) has answered my questions...….the temps are okay through next week but Thursday is a high of 66* and a nite low of 50*. Think out nice warm days are soon gone. I looked back at last years picture and it was about this time (10/10/2018) that I had taken my non-hardys in. I think I have a couple weeks yet, so will start root pruning and cutting the leaves back half...…...What are you talking about 'hermaphroite' flowers?, are you talking about the 'very small bananas' at the end of the bigger bunch? Do I just snip each off since I am leaving a foot+ of the stock above the bud?
mari@adams.net
09-26-2019, 08:01 PM
Is this small 'bunch' of bananas what you call "hermaphrodite" ? Are these what I should cut off?http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65370&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65370&ppuser=27877)
Akula
09-26-2019, 08:05 PM
I have never removed those hermaphrodite/transition bananas from the bunch. They are a little to too close to the good bananas. Others might though.
Katie Thompson
09-27-2019, 04:24 AM
My neighbor has been awarded the rights to cut off the blossom from each of my banana bunches here, after the rachis is done. She cooks them, a lovely Filipino dish with coconut milk.
mari@adams.net
09-27-2019, 09:21 AM
I have read of such dishes, but looks confusing to me...and a lot of work. I will be digging this plant and taking it in for winter very soon, so don't know about cutting the blossom off. Thinking of doing it now so in a week or two, when digging, some of the pruning will be done.....root pruning, cutting the leaves back, etc. Our forecast temps are getting very iffy now, night low of 50's* in about a week. We are in our Fall now and can turn cold very fast. Thanks for the information. The bloom here doesn't look like it will ever get done.
Akula
10-06-2019, 10:17 AM
I got two new flowers that popped this week. These are from an Unidentified plant that I have in my patch. Photos quality is not very good. I will make some photos as it develops and submit them at one time for identifcation on a different thread. I wish the flowers had come earlier as this is a really tasty banana and wanted to see it fully developed. Oh, well, someday!
October 6, 2019
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65400&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65400)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65399&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65399)
mari@adams.net
10-06-2019, 10:42 AM
Could it be an Orinoco?http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65401&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65401&ppuser=27877)
Akula
10-06-2019, 11:27 AM
Thanks for taking a look Mari. I don't think so. I have tried Orinoco bananas (one time) and these don't taste like them. These have a great flavor when they are yellow and as I remember Orninoco needed to have lots of brown on the peel.
Couple other points. Just measured both plants and the pstems are 14'. There is a lot of sap on the newly opened female flowers and its very sweet. I can only compare to Namwa sap which is less in volume with a slight bitter flavor.
Again I will collect photos over the next month or so and then post them up in one thread for identification purposes.
Akula
10-23-2019, 05:48 PM
Temps are ranging from mid 50's to high 70's now. Bagged all my bunches to protect them from the cold. I expect to harvest my first big bunch of Namwas the first week of November which would be exactly 4 months since flowering.
I used large clear trash bags I bought at HD. I leave them open at the bottom to minimize the risk of condensation/moisture on the bunches. Look like ghosts hanging from the bananan trees for Halloween.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65460&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65460)
beam2050
10-24-2019, 09:01 AM
looking well tended. wish I could get mine to grow in a straight line like that. :ha:
Backyard Banana Joe
10-24-2019, 10:45 AM
Do you have pics of the bunches before they were bagged? Especially Son of Monster namwa?
Akula
10-24-2019, 11:05 AM
Do you have pics of the bunches before they were bagged? Especially Son of Monster namwa?
Unfortunately not BBJ. Son of Monster Namwa is pretty much filled out and I'm just waiting for one of the bananas to turn yelllow. November 5th will be 4 months from the flower appearing. The bananas at the top of the bunch (about five inches long) are twice as large as the bananas at the bottom of the bunch (about three inches long) but they are filled out/rounded too.
I'll take a pic of the bunch and post it when harvested.
Akula
10-30-2019, 11:04 AM
Just harvested my first big bunch from Son of Monster Namwa this morning. I was a bit worried about crashing onto the pool deck but I got it down under control. Sorry no video of that! This was a one man operation! Chopped the upper third of the pstem and then sorta eased it down while removing the support. Very heavy and confirmed by the scale at 78 lbs!!
I let the whole bunch mature. No pruning on this one. Took a total of four months in Pensacola, Florida. The top fingers are huge and twice as big as the bottom fingers in both length and thickness. Invividual fingers are all pretty plump but not nearly as plump as the small bunch I harvested earlier this year from a plant at my Mother's house which are shown above.
Today is cloudy with rain so not the best pics unfortunately.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65530&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65530)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65531&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65531)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65529&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65529)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65528&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65528)
Backyard Banana Joe
10-30-2019, 11:30 AM
Just harvested my first big bunch from Son of Monster Namwa this morning. I was a bit worried about crashing onto the pool deck but I got it down under control. Sorry no video of that! This was a one man operation! Chopped the upper third of the pstem and then sorta eased it down while removing the support. Very heavy and confirmed by the scale at 78 lbs!!
I let the whole bunch mature. No pruning on this one. Took a total of four months in Pensacola, Florida. The top fingers are huge and twice as big as the bottom fingers in both length and thickness. Invividual fingers are all pretty plump but not nearly as plump as the small bunch I harvested earlier this year from a plant at my Mother's house which are shown above.
Today is cloudy with rain so not the best pics unfortunately.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65530&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65530)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65531&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65531)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65529&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65529)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65528&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65528)
Again, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Backyard Banana Joe
10-30-2019, 11:36 AM
Sorry no video of that!
Maybe next time. Looking forward to it :D:D:D:D:ukkibannana::ukkibannana::D:):):D:cool::cool::cool: that pole supporting the bunch is bent! Lmao!!!!!!
mari@adams.net
10-30-2019, 11:46 AM
Super exciting and very impressive for us people in the North.
HMelendez
10-31-2019, 10:17 AM
Donald,
Congratulations!...…..Awesome harvest!.....Good job buddy!.....
:2723::bananarow::2723:
beam2050
10-31-2019, 11:17 AM
very nice work there showoff. :ha:
making me wish mine would make it thru the winter. shows you what just a couple of degrees difference makes with bananas!!!! if I was just few miles closer the big waters I might be of a little competition.. :ha: this year I have been fertilizing harder. maybe next year. :choochoo:
Akula
10-31-2019, 05:44 PM
very nice work there showoff. :ha:
:choochoo:
:08::08::08:
This year has been my best year so far and last year's warm winter helped tremendously. Unfortunately I had a pretty big water bill during the late August to early October draught to get these bad boys to the finish line. No guts, no glory!
Thanks Beam!
:bananas_b
Tytaylor77
10-31-2019, 11:12 PM
Making my tiny namwa bunches look bad! Hahaha. Amazing bunch congrats man!
Akula
11-21-2019, 05:39 PM
The big bunch from Godzilla Namwa came in at 60 lbs. The individual fingers were on average smaller than my previous bunches this year. The leaves on the plant were completely fried from overnight temps of 29F a week or so back so decided to go ahead and cut the bunch as I am not expecting much filling between now and the next freeze without leaves. My sister and her husband are coming for Thanksgiving and I want some bananas to give to them too!
Godzilla Namwa Bunch
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65575&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65575)
Squirrel damage on a couple of top hands. Gonna have to keep a better eye on the tree rats next year!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65576&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65576)
Backyard Banana Joe
11-21-2019, 06:11 PM
Having some minor tree rat damage as well!!!!!
Kanana
12-09-2019, 09:24 PM
Akula, wow, was that really only 2 months between those 2 pictures of the stand you have on the west side of your property? I started some of my TC plants back in 11/17 and in approx 2 years mine have grown to about the size of what yours did in 2 months.
I see you said you fertilize monthly and for example when the plants were smaller in July, how much nitrogen and potassium were you putting down per plant? I am guessing I am not fertilizing enough.
Also how did you get rid of the green grass in those 2 months? My backyard had weeds growing out of control from July to Sept. due to rains and the fertilizing of the banana plants. I have them staggered in an area of the backyard that similar houses to mine would normally have a pool cage. I was mainly growing these for privacy and I would have loved to have gotten a thick stand like on your pool side, in the 2 years I've been growing them. Thanks for your response in advance.
Akula
12-10-2019, 10:50 AM
Hey Kanana!
Yeah, that was two months of growth but I started with pups and not TC plants. I prepared the patch by digging it out and removing any competition i.e. roots from nearby trees, weeds, etc. and then backfilling the trench mixing in about 2,000 lbs. of black cow! This is a hobby not a commercial operation! Haha. I fertilized with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone during these two months applying 1-2 red solo cups per plant per month. I switched to synthetic fertilizer in September. Fertilizer is incredibly important to banana trees. I gave a four foot namwa pup to my neighbor in April/May and he didn't fertilize it and pups that popped up in my patch in June had eclipsed his plant by the end of August.
The green grass in the patch is actually St. Augustine grass clippings bagged when I mow my yard. I mulch with the grass clipppings to supress the weeds and provide organic material in the top layer of the patch. Works great. The fresh green mulch turns brown after a few days in the sun. Runners from the yard grass do get into the patch and I have to trim/remove the runners a couple times during the summer.
Kanana
12-10-2019, 11:28 AM
Hey Kanana!
Yeah, that was two months of growth but I started with pups and not TC plants. I prepared the patch by digging it out and removing any competition i.e. roots from nearby trees, weeds, etc. and then backfilling the trench mixing in about 2,000 lbs. of black cow! This is a hobby not a commercial operation! Haha. I fertilized with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone during these two months applying 1-2 red solo cups per plant per month. I switched to synthetic fertilizer in September. Fertilizer is incredibly important to banana trees. I gave a four foot namwa pup to my neighbor in April/May and he didn't fertilize it and pups that popped up in my patch in June had eclipsed his plant by the end of August.
The green grass in the patch is actually St. Augustine grass clippings bagged when I mow my yard. I mulch with the grass clipppings to supress the weeds and provide organic material in the top layer of the patch. Works great. The fresh green mulch turns brown after a few days in the sun. Runners from the yard grass do get into the patch and I have to trim/remove the runners a couple times during the summer.
Thanks for the info on the fertilizing and the way you prepped the area. 2000 pounds of black cow sounds like a lot. IIRC, I used maybe 1/2 bag filled in to each planting hole when I planted mine when they were big enough to go into the ground along with a liberal sprinkle of potassium sulfate.
Any suggestions on my back area with weeds? I initially covered this area which was part of my lawn, where I planted the bananas with a dump truck worth of mulch back in March of 2016 that sat there a year which I was hoping it would kill the weeds but it just made them come back with a vengeance the summer / fall of 2016 and I battle it every spring and summer here in SW Florida. I saw a few videos on using black plastic to smother and kill the weeds and I have yet to try this. A couple of years ago as an experiment I tried using this 10x20' thick blue vinyl tarp that was made from an old retractable pool cover to smother the weeds. It didn't actually kill the weeds as I could see roots forming from underneath the tarp and I had moved it around a few times during the hottest part of the summer. Seemed like the weeds laughed at it. I hate using roundup, and at this point I just weedwhack or mow, but the whole purpose was to just have a mulched area to avoid what I am dealing with.
Akula
12-10-2019, 12:02 PM
Thanks for the info on the fertilizing and the way you prepped the area. 2000 pounds of black cow sounds like a lot. IIRC, I used maybe 1/2 bag filled in to each planting hole when I planted mine when they were big enough to go into the ground along with a liberal sprinkle of potassium sulfate.
Any suggestions on my back area with weeds? I initially covered this area which was part of my lawn, where I planted the bananas with a dump truck worth of mulch back in March of 2016 that sat there a year which I was hoping it would kill the weeds but it just made them come back with a vengeance the summer / fall of 2016 and I battle it every spring and summer here in SW Florida. I saw a few videos on using black plastic to smother and kill the weeds and I have yet to try this. A couple of years ago as an experiment I tried using this 10x20' thick blue vinyl tarp that was made from an old retractable pool cover to smother the weeds. It didn't actually kill the weeds as I could see roots forming from underneath the tarp and I had moved it around a few times during the hottest part of the summer. Seemed like the weeds laughed at it. I hate using roundup, and at this point I just weedwhack or mow, but the whole purpose was to just have a mulched area to avoid what I am dealing with.
I used a pallet of Black Cow that I got at a pretty good price from a wholesaler. I guess about 50 bags at 40lbs per bag.
A lot of vegetable farmers (strawberries) cover the soil with a plastic like tarp (plastic culture) so it could work but they run drip lines under the plastic for irrigation and fertilzing. I used burlap in my tomato and watermelon patch which did a pretty good job of weed supression but it only lasts one season. There were some weeds underneath but they were stunted and I pulled the ones that grew through the burlap by hand. Reduced weeding by about 97% vs. without the burlap. The burlap just rots away by the end of the season.
Again I have had great luck mulching with grass clippings. I mow about every five days and just dump/spread the clippings on the patch about an inch deep. Fresh mulch every five days. Mulch plus a subtantial banana canopy shading the ground below the banana leaves zeroes out any weed growth for me.
Another thing is that I have a fence on the other side of my banana patch that provides shading to the ground (supressing the weeds) from the North or the West side (depending on which patch).
Kanana
12-10-2019, 04:33 PM
I used a pallet of Black Cow that I got at a pretty good price from a wholesaler. I guess about 50 bags at 40lbs per bag.
A lot of vegetable farmers (strawberries) cover the soil with a plastic like tarp (plastic culture) so it could work but they run drip lines under the plastic for irrigation and fertilzing. I used burlap in my tomato and watermelon patch which did a pretty good job of weed supression but it only lasts one season. There were some weeds underneath but they were stunted and I pulled the ones that grew through the burlap by hand. Reduced weeding by about 97% vs. without the burlap. The burlap just rots away by the end of the season.
Again I have had great luck mulching with grass clippings. I mow about every five days and just dump/spread the clippings on the patch about an inch deep. Fresh mulch every five days. Mulch plus a subtantial banana canopy shading the ground below the banana leaves zeroes out any weed growth for me.
Another thing is that I have a fence on the other side of my banana patch that provides shading to the ground (supressing the weeds) from the North or the West side (depending on which patch).
Is there a go to place to buy burlap? I figure I will need 1200 sq ft or so and I am already planning on buying the 4 mil thick black plastic ($60 or so from HD or Lowes) for this area to kill the weeds and then maybe remove it and do your burlap suppression method. What about cardboard under the burlap for even more suppression? It too would rot after a year or so and also help with feeding the soil.
I would try the grass clippings mulch but most of my lawn in the back yard is a mixture of weeds, bahia and bermuda grass. I've tried it in spots in the past, and the weeds grew up from underneath the 12 inch pile of clippings. Unfortunately I have no fencing on my property and the HOA limits the type of fencing to that ugly white poly fence material and only 5 foot high...
I remember looking this past summer on youtube for weed suppression and someone had these spent bales of hay several inches thick, and it worked to keep it weed free. He was getting the stuff for free (actually re-watching it now, and he said $3.00 per bale), but I've called around feed stores, horse suppliers and Tractor Supply and they want like $9-$11 per bale and I'd need a ton of them. Plus they only sell the green bales and this guy suggested the aged spent straw colored bales. I'll post the video back here if I can find it.
Found it: https://youtu.be/5W40KEKadTk
Akula
12-10-2019, 08:14 PM
Burlap is kind of expensive it seems to me for your purposes but I found 60" wide by 50 yards long roll for $143 including shipping on Amazon. I primarily use it to wrap the pstems of my banana plants up to about 6-8' in height for winter protection. I've been able to reuse use it for three years so far.
Tytaylor77
12-12-2019, 11:27 PM
Cardboard!
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