View Full Version : Hello from Cowtown, California!!!
permaculturekidd
02-01-2009, 04:37 AM
Hey I'm Lee & I'm from Vacaville (cowtown in Spanish) and I just wanted to learn more about bananas. I see a few stands of them in my city but I don't know the species, how to grow them and all the rest of that good stuff....
So I was wondering is there like a list of banana cultivars on this site that are in order by climate zones? If anyone knows any cultivars that fruit and can grow in zone 9 areas I'd be real greatful most defininitly! I also wanted to know if anyone knows about the affects biochar and terra preta has had on yields, I've been wanting to make char for awhile I just don't know if its worth it.
But um yah.. thats about it I want to be apart of this group and learn asmuch as possible,
PEACE! :03:
Michael_Andrew
02-01-2009, 09:28 AM
Welcome permaculturekidd,
I never heard of biochar before. These forums are great. It sounds like this could be something else we can do to help out plants along. I think I'll try it. What I found it sounds like the charcoal in the soil hold the nutrients in the soil to make it available to the plant. I kinda like the idea of adding it to the compost. I'm sure Richard can set us straight on its benefits. Thanks for the idea. Here is a link on how to make it:
Organic Gardening Backyard Biochar (http://www.ajm-organic-gardening.com/backyard-biochar.htm)
Michael
r3tic
02-01-2009, 11:07 AM
This post (http://www.bananas.org/f2/edible-bananas-north-4998.html#post42112) has good information on bananan zone hardiness.
mskitty38583
02-01-2009, 12:33 PM
welcome to the org!!! we have the banana wiki that gives you all kinds of info on different nanas. or just post a question someone will answer.:waving:
permaculturekidd
02-01-2009, 12:58 PM
Thanks guys for the help and welcomes I hope I can start growing some bananas soon with the help on this site.
Welcome permaculturekidd,
I never heard of biochar before. These forums are great. It sounds like this could be something else we can do to help out plants along. I think I'll try it. What I found it sounds like the charcoal in the soil hold the nutrients in the soil to make it available to the plant. I kinda like the idea of adding it to the compost. I'm sure Richard can set us straight on its benefits. Thanks for the idea. Here is a link on how to make it:
Organic Gardening Backyard Biochar (http://www.ajm-organic-gardening.com/backyard-biochar.htm)
Michael
The charcoal not only holds the nutrients it actually increases the bioactivity with fungi and micro-organisms only found in sizeable quantities with areas containing Terra Preta. While its use was for the Amazon Rainforest's thin and nutrient depleted soils it would not doubt be a useful admendment to anyones soil. Here is a link to a Permaculture forum that discussed it at length
Permaculture discussion forum • View topic - charcoal agriculture - Biochar - Amazonian Dark Earth (http://forums.permaculture.org.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1775)
Michael_Andrew
02-01-2009, 01:15 PM
Fix our soil and save the planet at the same time. Sounds like a win win. If I understand the process its isn't regular charcoal but made at a lower temperature making a specialized charcoal with more pores. These pores hold nutrients and adsorb greenhouse gasses. Cool!
Michael_Andrew
02-01-2009, 01:30 PM
Wikipedia has some info on it:
Terra preta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta)
harveyc
09-10-2010, 09:53 PM
Lee, belated welcome. I'm not far from you as I live just on the other side of the river from Rio Vista. I've got a couple dozen varieties and if you'd like to come by some time to check out my collection, just send me a PM. I've got extras of some and can let you dig some pups to take home, if you'd like.
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