Philippine bananas
 

Hello Bananalovers:

I am a German citizen with a Filipina wife who just built a house in the Philippines on Boracay Island. Since bananas are THE fruits I love most we have turned a part of our backyard into a small banana plantation growing the banana species I like most, they have the size of the usual international market bananas but are already ripe and eatable when green, acutally they are ripe for only one day, the next day already overripe, becoming yellowish with brown spots. So clearly no export bananas but very tasty.
Now I have a general question: since several banana plants are growing close togehter, stemming from the same mother plant: is it better to cut down all of them except one so it will grow especially good or is that nonsense? Must be because they multiply that way, right?
We also have the problem that the plants become only maybe 10 feet high, bear the usual bunch which seems to be to heavy for the plant because then it tips over until the bunch is supported by the ground. Then the plant dies and the bananas become emergency-ripe. What is the probable reason for that?
They are growing on rocky soil, the rocks are limestone.

On a neighboring lot the same species reaches the usual height, we also have a cook banana species here which is about 5 meters high, maybe it grows on more soil.

Regards,
Lou

Re: Philippine bananas
 

Magandang araw Po, at maligayang bati sa Inyo!

The banana you are describing is called Bungulan. They DO export them, though they are picked green. There is a good demand for them because of their great flavor. They do ripen very quickly, as you described. They usually grow to 10-12 feet tall at the base of the leaves.

If there is overcrowding, then it would be good to thin them down to 3 in a "mat" or clump. The plant that has the bloomed and fruited, it dies. Thus, the remaining pups will take over after it. After the fruits are harvested, the plant is usually cut down so that it will no longer share the nutrients from the soil with the remaining plants.

Your soil is pretty loose, so it will give way to heavy weight easily. You will need to prop up the bunch of fruit with bamboo poles to keep it from toppling over. Up-rooting of the plant will have the same effect as cutting down the fruit bunch from the pseudo-stem. That hastens the ripening process.

Per your description, it could be the Saba variety. It is a very tall and stout plant. They are the banana used in many Philippine dishes.

Re: Philippine bananas
 

Welcome to the organization excaliburista!

Mat cultivation varies. A practice I use is a main pseudostem and two pups on each mat. I try to "space" them, so #1 pup is half the size of main stem and pup#2 is half the size of pup#1. I give extra pups enough time on the mat to start to develop roots. I then remove them to start another mat. Therefor mat pruning is continuous. There are variations of this practice, so develop your own method according to your growing conditions, and growth rates.

If there is limestone your pH is slightly to very alkaline. Find out what it is, bananas like slightly acidic pH, lots of organics will help, but make sure good drainage is maintained.

Watch and find out what the locals are doing and why (in terms of banana cultivation).

I hope this helps. Best wishes and welcome to the organization!!:2239:

Re: Philippine bananas
 

Mabuhay, herr Lou! Glad you joined us! We have some other members here from the Phils. Good luck with your plantation.
Salamat.

Re: Philippine bananas
 

Welcome to the best and greatest banana site in the galaxy!

Re: Philippine bananas
 

welcome to org.