maxandkaia

I have a banana plant in my backyard. I don't know what kind it is, although I suspect Dwarf Cavendish. Year before last it fruited and the bananas were big enough to eat. This year, it fruited early (Dec?) and the bananas have stopped growing and are small. First question: What kind is it? Second question (and I will happily post in other forums once I know what kind of plant this is) what should I have done to get better/bigger fruit and have it fruit at the right time?




Thanks!

maxandkaia

Nother try with different syntax:




Ahhh. Now that is much better

Dalmatiansoap

looks more like Super Dwarf Cavendish to me

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Gabe15

It is 'Dwarf Cavendish', not 'Super Dwarf Cavendish'.

Where are you located? There are lots of reasons why the fruit may not have developed, but knowing where you are located will help a lot.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

maxandkaia

I'm in San Diego. This plant gets full sun for about 1/4 to 3/4 of the day depending on season (3/4 day of sun is in midsummer). I have not been amending the soil or fertilizing other than general purpose feeding at the beginning of spring. (I probably need to feed it a lot from what I am reading)

Christian Rieger

Bananas are heavy feeders. Buy chicken manure and/or rock dust. Rock dust will show a difference in the health of plants in two weeks. With rock dust you should not have to reapply for five years. With chicken manure, I apply three or four times a year, depending on the appearance of other plants in the yard.

My red bananas, in what was poor, junky soil, look like this. About two weeks short of being harvested and hung for ripening.http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...st10112004.jpg

http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/a...st10112004.jpg

RAINFOREZT

hi WChristian Rieger
where do you get chicken manure in fortlauderdale?

jmoore

It comes in pellet form in big buckets here from garden centres. I should imagine it's similar in the states.

I'll have to remember that chicken poo is an excellent fertiliser for bananas, good tip, thanks.

Christian Rieger

In Ft. Lauderdale - - - I recall there being a place a block or two north of SE 17th, somewhere near Cordova Rd. If you are way north downtown, try the Jello Pages. The brand name is Black Gold. Whoever you call, don't let them talk you out of it if they do not have it. They will try to talk you into whatever they have.

Also ask if they carry the rock dust. Neither is cheap to buy, both are cheap to use. When you use rock dust, you will ask yourself: Where has this stuff been all my life? Reading about rock dust is what inspired Rodale to start Organic Gardening and Farming.

These Orinoco bananas were grown from chicken manure and kitchen scraps. They weighed about 60 pounds.The plant was about 12 feet to where the stem came out. One Cuban exile said he never saw one so tall in Cuba.

Notice that the 2 x 4 support is just below where the stem emerges from the plant, that is where most of the pressure will be that can bring a plant down. Also notice that it is strapped to the plant. This is done so if a wind comes from the direction of the "lean," the plant will have weight to keep it from blowing down on the opposite side of the support. The 2 x 4s are also bolted together.

Orinoco is the banana of choice in Cuba and much of Central America for tostones—a world of difference from plantains.

By-the-way, you will also find that red bananas make the best banana pancakes.

sunfish

Fertilizer will help with better/bigger fruit.As far as getting them to fruit at the right time,not much you can do about that.

AmberNichole

Do you have any suggestions on where to buy the chicken manure pellets or rock dust online?

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Christian Rieger

The price of shipping would be ridiculous. There has got to be a place nearby that sells both, at least the chicken manure. Also, Google "sea weed, fertilizer," that stuff works very well.

sunfish

AmberNichole

So u can just buy rock dust from a place like that? I didn't see "rock dust" on the site, u think they would be willing to bag it? i thought it needed to be a specific kind, like volcanic or something.

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George Webster

When I lived in Mississippi the farmers uses phosphate rock dust on pastures. Once every five years.

since I have been in St. Louis I have asked at nurserys and even at farmers co-op and they have no idea what I am talking about.

I would sure like to get some locally here in St. Louis.

George