View Full Version : Help! Namwa stalk colapsing!
springtime_fl
07-22-2008, 02:26 PM
We have been growing bananas for several years and have just started having a problem this spring. It seems that when the stalk puts out a flower and the banana cluster is about 2-3 months old, it colapses at about 1-2 ft from the top of the stalk. It has happened to 3 of them so far. In fact, now that I think about it, it happened to one that did not have fruit on it. We thought it may have been because of a stressfull winter but this is now happening in the middle of the summer. Could we have a disease? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Dean W.
07-22-2008, 03:15 PM
Do you think it's because of the weight of the bananas? Post a picture if you can. I know some others put supports up for their bunches.
Bananachris
07-22-2008, 03:41 PM
When we saw this in the plantation we always supported the plant with a bambus cane and/or with a ribbon. This helps the plant to grow and develop the fruit.
Please take a look on the picture:
Banana Gallery - Supporting a banana with bambus cane to avoid colapsing (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11649&cat=500&ppuser=3564)
springtime_fl
07-24-2008, 07:42 AM
Thanks for the suggestions. I think that it may be another problem because I have had one collapse that did not have any fruit on it. My husband thinks it may have been because we had a bad freeze (22 degrees for 9 hours) last winter and there was not much support for the top of the stalk (mostly dead leave and only a few new green ones in the spring). I will try to post pictures.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/springtime123/Garden%202007/Garden%202008/PICT1462.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/springtime123/Garden%202007/Garden%202008/PICT1459.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/springtime123/Garden%202007/Garden%202008/PICT1458.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/springtime123/Garden%202007/Garden%202008/PICT1457.jpg
Bananachris
07-24-2008, 09:17 AM
Oh yes, it's the same problem that I have in my garden in Buenos Aires, because July and August are very cold. When I see this steam I "help" them and support them by laths and they go on growing and later I can harvest! Nevertheless, sometimes it fails!
Bananaman88
07-24-2008, 11:39 AM
I think it's partly due to the weight of the fruit. I've had this happen three times now to my plants with fruit. I'm not sure about the one with no fruit though. Could be the cold as you suggested.
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