Amending soil...

Cohiba · 05-27-2006, 09:08 PM

I am about to attempt my first in-ground planting of a couple dwarf orinocos. The soil we have here has quite a lot of clay in it. I have 3-4 inches that I can work with before the amendments that I'll use will start to spill over onto a concrete patio.

What should I use and how should I go about using it so that my bananas can grow and be their healthiest?

Will my bananas be alright once the roots get into the clay where the drainage isn't as good?

Would mulching be a bad idea?

Thanks!,
BJ

bigdog · 05-27-2006, 09:33 PM

Dig the clay out of there and replace it with good compost. I use composted manure, among other compost. Your bananas will grow in clay, just not nearly as well. Mulching is a good idea. The plants should be fine once the roots hit clay.

Cohiba · 05-28-2006, 04:54 PM

Thanks for the advice, I believe I'll do just that.

pitangadiego · 05-28-2006, 04:55 PM

Big hole, fill it with compost, add 6-12" compost on top every 6 months, and water it in with fertilizer.

05-27-2006, 09:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cohiba Member Cohiba's Photo Gallery Location: Arkansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 7 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 869 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 1	Amending soil... I am about to attempt my first in-ground planting of a couple dwarf orinocos. The soil we have here has quite a lot of clay in it. I have 3-4 inches that I can work with before the amendments that I'll use will start to spill over onto a concrete patio. What should I use and how should I go about using it so that my bananas can grow and be their healthiest? Will my bananas be alright once the roots get into the clay where the drainage isn't as good? Would mulching be a bad idea? Thanks!, BJ

05-27-2006, 09:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigdog Title-less bigdog's Photo Gallery Location: Knoxville, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,465 BananaBucks : 5,209 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 76 Thanked 373 Times in 155 Posts Welcomes: 84	Re: Amending soil... Dig the clay out of there and replace it with good compost. I use composted manure, among other compost. Your bananas will grow in clay, just not nearly as well. Mulching is a good idea. The plants should be fine once the roots hit clay.

05-28-2006, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cohiba Member Cohiba's Photo Gallery Location: Arkansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 7 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 48 BananaBucks : 869 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 1	Re: Amending soil... Thanks for the advice, I believe I'll do just that.

05-28-2006, 04:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 488 BananaBucks : 4,435 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 0 Thanked 177 Times in 70 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Amending soil... Big hole, fill it with compost, add 6-12" compost on top every 6 months, and water it in with fertilizer. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

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