Bananas.org

Welcome to the Bananas.org forums.

You're currently viewing our message boards as a guest which gives you limited access to participate in discussions and access our other features such as our wiki and photo gallery. By joining our community, you'll have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Go Back   Bananas.org > Banana Forum > Main Banana Discussion
Register Photo Gallery Classifieds Wiki Chat Map Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Main Banana Discussion This is where we discuss our banana collections; tips on growing bananas, tips on harvesting bananas, sharing our banana photos and stories.


Members currently in the chatroom: 0
The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009.
No one is currently using the chat.

Reply   Email this Page Email this Page
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-14-2009, 11:40 AM   #1 (permalink)
Banana brain
 
supermario's Avatar
 
Location: Miami, FL
Zone: 10A
Name: Mario
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 298
BananaBucks : 59,476
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 251 Times
Was Thanked 348 Times in 139 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times
Default Banana tree support

Just wondering what you all use to support your banana trees when they are carrying a heavy load of fruit.

Also, I have a large fruiting banana tree that is getting close to my home's structure. Im worried that I need a few more inches of space so the bunch is not resting on the roof. Is there a way I can 'push' the banana plant a few inches in a given direction without harming it?

Thanks in advance!

Oh, and if you can provide pictures.. that would be even better!
supermario is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To supermario

Join Bananas.org Today!

Are you a banana plant enthusiast? Then we hope you will join the community. You will gain access to post, create threads, private message, upload images, join groups and more.

Bananas.org is owned and operated by fellow banana plant enthusiasts. We strive to offer a non-commercial community to learn and share information. Receive all three issues from Volume 1 of Bananas Magazine with your membership:
   

Join Bananas.org Today! - Click Here


Sponsors

Old 09-14-2009, 12:06 PM   #2 (permalink)
Bananaculturist
 
Bananaman88's Avatar
 
Location: Houston, TX area
Zone: 9
Name: Brent
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,019
BananaBucks : 216,096
Feedback: 22 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times
Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times
Send a message via Skype™ to Bananaman88
Default Re: Banana tree support

This has been covered numerous times here on the board...possibly as recently as last week if I remember correctly. Use the search feature and you should find quite a bit of info on this.
Bananaman88 is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To Bananaman88
Said thanks:
Old 09-14-2009, 12:21 PM   #3 (permalink)
jen
 
Zone: 10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 215
BananaBucks : 65,176
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 56 Times
Was Thanked 174 Times in 66 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times
Default Re: Banana tree support

I had a big bunch last year and it started to fall so my husband built a support (with instruction from all the great banana people on this site) using plastic pipe.
Jon at Encanto Farms web site has a better picture and instructions.
http://webebananas.com/culture.html it's about half way down the page "propping".

Here is a picture of mine.

Jen
jen is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To jen
Said thanks:
Old 09-14-2009, 01:36 PM   #4 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
pitangadiego's Avatar
 
Location: San Diego, CA
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,477
BananaBucks : 128,959
Feedback: 9 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 2,694 Times in 920 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Re: Banana tree support

see http://webebananas.com/culture.html section 4
__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com
pitangadiego is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To pitangadiego
Said thanks:
Old 09-14-2009, 03:45 PM   #5 (permalink)
Rabid Nanner
 
conejov's Avatar
 
Location: Houston, Tx
Zone: 9
Name: Alex
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
BananaBucks : 89,112
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 40 Times
Was Thanked 374 Times in 218 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 107 Times
Default Re: Banana tree support

There was also an Article in the BQ I think.
__________________
Click for Houston, Texas Forecast
conejov is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To conejov
Said thanks:
Sponsors

Old 09-15-2009, 01:38 PM   #6 (permalink)
Banana brain
 
supermario's Avatar
 
Location: Miami, FL
Zone: 10A
Name: Mario
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 298
BananaBucks : 59,476
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 251 Times
Was Thanked 348 Times in 139 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times
Default Re: Banana tree support

Thanks for all the suggestions! I am going to get some PVC pipe to hold up the bunch.

However, I still may have a problem with my manzano banana tree. The flower seems to be heading straight for my roof. There is a slim chance it will curve in more than expected and miss my roof, but I still would like to see if I could nudge the whole plant or bunch over a little bit without harming anything. Any suggestions?


Also, my newly discovered double mahoi banana tree will definitely not be able to support two bunches of fruit. Im not sure PVC pipe alone will be enough either. Please excuse the crude drawing, but I figured I'd scan an idea that I had for use as additional support.



Hypothetically, I would rest a 1x4 against the banana tree directly under where the fruit bunches are hanging, but not touching the stem.(I would use the pvc to support the stem). I would then place a 2x4 with one end in the ground and the other up against the 1x4 for support. I could also strengthen the structure further with more wood.

Im worried that the weight of the bunches combined with the flat surface of the wood might hurt the banana tree.. what do you guys think?
supermario is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To supermario
Old 09-15-2009, 11:21 PM   #7 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
pitangadiego's Avatar
 
Location: San Diego, CA
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,477
BananaBucks : 128,959
Feedback: 9 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was Thanked 2,694 Times in 920 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
Default Re: Banana tree support

The important point in designing a support it to take the weight off of the pseudostem. Think about removing the whole bunch and hanging it somewhere (by ther stem). That is the affect you want. Your support should carry the weight of the bunch of bananas at the highest point of the stem, so that you are in effect hanging the bunch. With the weight supported there is no stress on the pseudostem. The 45 degree elbow in the top of the support allows you to spread the legs apart at an angle. When they are also angled away from the pseudostem, you end up forming a tripod which will help support the pseudostem, as well, and help it resist the wind. Tying the support to the stem also makes it likely that the support will not fall off even if the wind picks it up.

If you support it anywhere lower, you are only moving the stress point when it is likely to snap off.

The pseudostemn can support itself. It is the leverage of hanging 50-100# of bananas on the end of something long and weak that creates the problem. It is all leverage and physics. Try holding that bunch of bananas with you arm extended straight out to your side. Much harder to do than bearhugging the bunch. The same thing happens when you hang it at the end of a long pseudostem, and putting it in the wind makes it that much worse.
__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com
pitangadiego is offline   Reply With Quote Send A Private Message To pitangadiego
Reply   Email this Page Email this Page

Previous Thread: Ae Ae Dawn!!!
Next Thread: Raja Puri grown in a wine barrel





Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Thanks for words of support harveyc Tiki Hut 65 10-17-2009 03:38 PM
Banana tree needs help mtilton Main Banana Discussion 1 05-20-2009 10:10 AM
Ensete ventricosa maurellii stem unable to support leaf eyefi Cold Hardy Bananas 7 05-18-2009 02:31 AM
Show your support for our friends in Burma mrbungalow Tiki Hut 3 10-02-2007 05:55 PM
banana tree josie0758 Member Introductions 0 10-06-2006 05:58 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:00 AM.





All content © Bananas.org & the respective author.