lk-in-central-florida

Hi, I sort of asked this before, but I came up with a new possible spot. I have a new patupi, and my spots are kind of limited. My goal is to have it in the best spot for producing pups, which hopefully I can then move and use to try different spots for banana growing.

This is where I just planted it. It's a thin strip (around 17" at the widest, 14" where the plant currently is). Length is many feet in both directions. The soil is pretty rich and drains well. It gets morning sun, until about 1 or 1:30 - though after the plant is higher than the 6' fence, it'll get sun all day.

Also, someone told me it would move the fence, uplift the pavers here. Is that true? I've also read banana roots don't do that.



This is the alternative spot. It gets late morning to full afternoon sun, and that won't really change. It drains well, isn't as rich as the other soil (though I can amend it), and shares the spot with the avocados there. Again, if it grows and pups, I intend to move the pups to other spots to try them out. It's like 3 feet or so by 4 feet or so, pretty big.



I really appreciate all thoughts and advice, I've never grown a banana before and want to give it the best shot to grow and pup lots.

I'm in 9b, coastal florida.

Thank you!

Lara

cincinnana

Yep.....everything that has been posted is in your best interest.........has been said.

Do a Youtube search on how to grow your plants"....".best answers are had from there.

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Art_R

If it weren't for the avocados, I would suggest the 3x4 spot. But, the avocados will eventually become full sized trees so in the not too distant future, you will have a conflict between the two. As for the first spot, you could try to select which pups to keep to train the plant to stay parallel to the fence. But looking at your photo again, I see that it gets even narrower in one direction and you have plants blocking the other direction. Also I can't say how well the pups will do in shade before they grow taller than the fence. I also suspect that your neighbor on the other side of the fence will end up with bananas in their yard. Neither spot is ideal. You probably don't want the avocados that close to the house anyway, so here is another thought: Find a different spot for the avocados and put the bananas in the 3x4 spot. You want to space your plants based on how big they will grow in the future, not how big they are when you first get them.

BTW... where did you get your Patupi?

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Here's what I'm growing: Grand Naine, Namwa, Blue Java, Raja Puri, Patupi, & a mystery nanner

lk-in-central-florida

Thank you. Will it lift the pavers? I read a ton of sites that said it wouldn't. Trust me, I've researched this a bunch. And will it move the fence? Nothing I can find online says it will.

I really appreciate all info, but I don't know if that was accurate. Other people said to switch it with the cavendish, but that one is in saline soil, which concerns me.

lk-in-central-florida

Thank you for the response! The other plants are blueberries, and expendable, I don't mind if the banana pushes them out. There's no neighbor on the other side of the fence, it's our RV parking pad, actually. As for the spot with the avocados, my thought wasn't to have my banana there forever, just long enough to pup a number of times and then try out different spots in the yard. Basically my goal is to turn my one $40 plant into several plants that I can experiment with to find the best placement. I intend that to be an avocado bed once they're larger.

Does that make sense?

Thank you for any thoughts!

Lara

lk-in-central-florida

Oh, I forgot two things ... the avocados actually aren't close to the house, that's just a small weird wall by our AC unit. Also, I read avocado roots aren't invasive, though mangos are which is why those are all far from our house.

I got the Patupi (called Kokopo? by them) from Rockledge Gardens, just south of Cocoa Florida. They had several nice looking ones ... they were $49 I want to say, for ?3 gallon? (as tall as you see). Mine was $39 just because I had credit. They also have several others - Ice Cream, and a few different ones.

If I can get this to pup where I have some different ones in different parts of my yard, growing and dependable, I am willing to send people pups (once I know how. Super new to this).

Thanks again!

Lara

cincinnana

Lol...I landscape south of you or close by....everything I say is accurate for your area......How can I help you....

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lk-in-central-florida

Oh, thank you! Your info says Ohio. Will it move pavers? It sounds to me like the avocado bed is the best for this little plant, and then I can experiment with the pups in potentially saline soil? If my goal #1 is this plant pupping so I can move the pups about, what is my very best bet?

Thanks!

Akula

I like the 3x4 spot better but agree with Art that the avocado will not appreciate a umbrella being put up next to him. The other spot is very narrow. I think it would be a pain to manage a banana plant in such a narrow strip. It will get overcrowded very quick.

lk-in-central-florida

Thank you! My thought is, I can put the patupi on the north side of the little avocado area, and it won't shade the avocado too much, and it'll just be one season. ... then I move the pups, as they appear, to other spots, and after this main tree fruits, and I cut it down, the avocados have the spot to themselves. They'll be okay with a season with less light (I have others in more shade), and then can grow more. Is that a reasonable plan? I'm trying my hardest to figure this out in a way that gets me the most pups to put in different places and see how they do.

Thanks for your thoughts! I appreciate knowing if you think my plan would work.

Lara

cincinnana

Well.......look up he growth characteristics of an avacado tree......can that space really sustain it.."..for 15 years. Awesome plant but takes a lifetime to mature and give edible fruit.

Btw....saline is a non issue for the backyard grower along the coastal grow zone.

Plants will grow right up to the water line in the area.

Give your plants the with most exposure you can give them..they will reward you.

Amend your soil the best you can.....you are off to a good start....

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lk-in-central-florida

Thank you! It's our stupid saline sprinkler water that seems to kill some plants. I researched that spot for avocados before planting, but there is *so much* conflicting info on the web. I've seen that massive pruning is the thing to do.

But I'll move the patupi to the bigger area and fully amend the soild, transplant as needed ... thank you! Growing things is hard, man!

cincinnana

Do what your neighbors are doing to grow your plant......the internet is just a guide...

My favorite saying is "pick and choose what works for you..The info the fellas are giving is golden.

Your good."

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