Amending soil...

Cohiba · 05-27-2006, 08:08 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, 08:33 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, 03:54 PM

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

pitangadiego · 05-28-2006, 03:55 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, 08:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cohiba Member Cohiba's Photo Gallery Location: Arkansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 7 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 47 BananaBucks : 1,712 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	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, 08:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigdog Moderator bigdog's Photo Gallery Location: Smyrna, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,986 BananaBucks : 553,435 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 195 Times Was Thanked 1,698 Times in 470 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	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, 03:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cohiba Member Cohiba's Photo Gallery Location: Arkansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 7 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 47 BananaBucks : 1,712 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Amending soil... Thanks for the advice, I believe I'll do just that.

05-28-2006, 03:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,255 BananaBucks : 97,653 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,135 Times in 716 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	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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