Banana advice for newbies
 

For those new to banana plants, here are a couple tips I have learned over the years. Start young banana plants in rich highly organic soil, keep the soil damp to the touch but not drenched. Also keep the plants in temps between 70-90 deg. F with full to mostly full sun. If you buy a tissue cultured plant more time will be required for that plant to grow to a mature size vs. a division or corm from the mother plant. Very small plants will do best in partial sun until they get some size on them.

Once the plants become large fertilize heavily as banana plants are heavy feeders. What type of fertilizer to use? I like organic fertilizers such as seaweed, cow, horse or chicken manure. A good commercial fertilizer I like is a slow release 10-10-10 with minors. I have found that on mature banana plants you can almost never over fertilize a banana plant. A very heavy application with granular fertilizers will kill the weeds but will not kill the mat as most mature banana plants will only consume what they need. There is some variability with different varieties but generally speaking with these growing conditions one can expect flower and fruit within 1.5 years. Once the fruit emerges generally 4-6 months are required for the fruit to mature to an edible size.



Have fun!

:waving:

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Nice Tips!

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

yw

:goteam:

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Great tips!

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

I disagree with two points you made:
1) "keep the soil damp to the touch but not drenched" Most bananas do best when allowed to dry out to an inch or two below the soil regularly followed by a medium watering. If they are allowed to stay damp for any significant period of time (especially if temperatures are cool) then they can suffer from rotting.
2) "I like organic fertilizers such as seaweed, cow, horse or chicken manure." Most animal manure should be composted for many months before being applied directly to bananas. Otherwise, the high levels of nitrogen can cause burning and damage to the plants.

Other than that, great tips and thanks for sharing!

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Thanks Jeffery. How is your nursery doing, by the way?

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Thanks pretty sound advice :^)

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Thanks much for the advice! I'm just beginning to learn and, with two small plants and two more coming in the mail, I can definitely use all the advice I can get. :)

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

I don't think you can go by 1 to 2" it all depends on soil type and weather.

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

LRB,

Banana plants do best in temps 70-90 degrees, that's the caveat with my post with keeping the soil damp. With cold damp conditions constant damp soil conditions are not a good thing, but we are talking about growing plants in ideal conditions not the less than ideal. I am out of the nursery business but regardless, I think I know what I am talking about. Personally I have never had a problem with burn on my mature banana plants no matter how much fertilizer I put on them. On mature plants you can plop down as much chicken, horse, cow, or whatever manure on them without any worry. I have even taken entire concentrated 1/2 pound green packs of miracle grow and put them around some banana plants with very good results. But again this is for mature plants not for small starts or the like.

:0517:

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

In all respect, my intention was never to imply you didn't know what you were talking about in the least. My only thought was that, since this was directed toward newbie banana growers, that they might take your advice with incorrect assumptions. I merely wanted to point out some exceptions to your rules, that's all.

Again, thanks for sharing your information with the community! Much appreciated!

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

no worries lrb, I hope everyone benefits..

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Great info...

Re: Banana advice for newbies
 

Thumbs up!

Forgot something though.....
When u plant ur nanner, take a pic and keep all of us current with updated pix :)
and two: stand back and watch those babies grow OH YEA!!