Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Hi,

I've just bought 2 60cm plants of the above musa. They're currently in 3 litre pots and I'd appreciate some cultivation advice.

Firstly, I'd like to know what the best next size container I can jump to is? Also, what's the most suitable growing mix. I've got a tub of chicken pellets and some slow release granules (sorry, can't remember the NPK ratio). Are these ok, and if they are, what are the most beneficial proportions?

I was thinking a higher nitrogen content might compensate for our less than steaming UK summers, though they are getting hotter. I threw a lot of chicken muck at an apple musa variety once and it seemed to really help Or maybe the plants can't handle high nitrogen without high temps?

I'll be growing them under glass (if I can subtly evict a few other things to make room, that is).

Any comments much appreciated.

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Hello paulM,

I am also growing Raja Puris in Zone9, so the following advice could be of
any help to you.

If the plant is 60cm or so, you can transplant into 50-60 litre pot/container
if you want to harvest the fruits. The bigger the pot, the larger the plant and
the fruits. The speed of its growth is very fast and it soon needs such big
pot. Your present pot is toooo much small.

Any PNK mixed fertilizer will do, but better is to add considerable amount of
composts.

Stan

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Thank you, Stan, for your advice. I was thinking my thread was just too basic for the members of the board.

The pot to plant ratio did surprise me. Suppose it's suppliers keeping down costs. Either that or it was dug up and squeezed into its container.

Thanks again.

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Ｈｉ　PaulM,

Stan is here again to add something that I forgot in the last post.

Growing methods and manners all depend on your intention whether you
wish to harvest banana fruits of your own, or just to enjoy its foliage.

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Stan,

I'm definitely shooting for fruit. I mean, you're got to try.

I potted them up yesterday. Very healthty fat white roots.

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Hello Paul

Where did you get your plants from in the UK? I have been looking around for one.

Sharon

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Sharon try jungle plants and seeds. Peter usually has them. He is even selling Variegated ones for £75.

Mark

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Hi Sharon,

I got mine from Jungle Plants, as Mark mentioned. They weren't cheap but they are big plants, considering they were sent in 3ltr pots.

Sharon, if you don't get one and if I ever get a spare sucker, I'm happy to send you one.

I did grow Raja Puri before but it gave up the ghost after one winter. Wish I saved one of suckers off it that I gave way, but there you go.

Happy hunting.

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Thankyou both for your advice, I looked yesterday but they are sold out, may be next year eh?

Sharon

Re: Advice, please, on Musa Raja Puri cultivation in the UK.
 

Sorry, Sharon. I think Amulree have had them in the not too distant past. Worth a try, perhaps?