View Full Version : New member from Hong Kong
ptktam
01-02-2009, 06:54 AM
I am a retiree and I am practising organic farming in a small piece of land (about 2000 sq. ft) in Hong Kong. In addition to the growing of banana "trees", I am also growing veggies and some other fruit trees for my own use. Recently, I find some parts (big sections) of some banana leaves turn yellow and black in colour, and these black parts are very dry. I don't understand. I search through Google to find the reasons, and then I happened to find this wonderful website "bananas.org". I hope I would find an answer to my question eventually.
Welcome to the org ptktam, we seem to have many of the same interests as do many of our members. I'm sure someone here will be able to help point you in the right direction to figure out if you have any disease or cultural problems with your bananas, good luck, Bob
Tog Tan
01-02-2009, 07:39 AM
Hi ptktam andwelcome to the board from a fellow SEAsian!:ha:
What you are experiencing on your plants is a very typical ailment of the leaves of cultivated 'naners in the tropics. It is very common here and they do no harm whatsoever to the fruit production. The best way is to keep cutting the infected leaves and after a while the problem will lessen though it will not be eradicated. Please dispose off the infected leaves by burning them. I found that this even affect 1st generation planting of TC plantlets as they grow. :02:
Richard
01-02-2009, 10:30 AM
Your plants probably need micronutrients, especially zinc and copper. The zinc will promote healthy leaf development and the copper will help protect the plant from infections. One way to obtain these is seaweed extract. If you use straight kelp, be sure it has been 1st washed before shredding to remove the sea salts. Here are some guides to help you:
PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/column/PTP_2008_12_Fertilize_II.htm)
Micronutrients (http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/guides/Micronutrients.htm)
Chironex
01-02-2009, 01:45 PM
We would also like to see photos of your banana and other plants. Welcome to the group.
Worm_Farmer
01-02-2009, 04:06 PM
Awesome are of the world to be from. I have heard that Hong Kong is very pretty. I would love to take go on holiday there one day.
ptktam
01-03-2009, 07:36 AM
Dear all,
Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I would take some photos of my plants and then learn how to post them up for you to see. Thanks to Tog Tan and Richard for your professional advice. I have mistakenly put the black banana leaves into the compost heap. I should have burnt them or throw them away instead. My banana plants are now four months old. I expect to have the bananas ready after four more months. Two months ago, when the weather is still hot in Hong Kong, I see big white worms eating my banana leaves. I kill them. However, I wonder if these white worms to be eatable and is a source of protein. Best, TAM
Tog Tan
01-03-2009, 07:49 AM
Hey Tam,
You are welcome. What 'naner cultivar are you growing now? Can you also give a list of the names of the 'naners grown in HK? I have no idea of the stuff from your area.
Cheers!:0517:
ptktam
01-04-2009, 07:59 AM
Dear Tog:
To be frank, I do not have the expertise to answer your question. However, what I can say is that the climate of Hong Hong is similar to the southern tip of Florida, and so are the plants and veggies. I find a lot of sub-tropical products to be easily grown here, such as bananas, papaya, oranges, mango, and so on. From a practical point of view, I like to grow bananas, because birds do not eat them. Similarly I like to grow oranges and papayas for the same reasons. I also grow organic veggies according to the season, because they are good for our healths.
By the way, I have uploaded two photos in my gallery. Best, TAM
Richard
01-05-2009, 12:42 PM
...
What you are experiencing on your plants is a very typical ailment of the leaves of cultivated 'naners in the tropics. ...
What Tam is experiencing is common anywhere that micronutrients are not present to deter disease, and where major nutrients are not supplied in sufficient quantity to provide robust plant development, and especially where manures are applied that contain the wrong proportions of minerals.
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