To cut suckers or not to cut?
 

I was told that after planting bananas (shorter variety) in the ground as medium sized plants I should wait until they grow up to be about 2 meters (7 feet) tall and then allow suckers to grow. So as I understood I have to keep on cutting off the suckers to make the main parent grow stronger and have fruits in about 2 years after planting? And I understand that I can plant the narrow-leafed suckers elsewhere to become strong plants and mulch the ones with wide leaves. Other people told me that I should not cut any suckers, after planting the bananas into the ground, or, as they said, I won't have any harvest (banana fruits) for a long time. Now I am confused. My climate (day and night, summer and winter) temperature extremes are 8C to 27C (46F to 80F). Could you please help me clarify this issue?

Re: To cut suckers or not to cut?
 

You can remove the suckers. But leave some to grow up for the next generation. Suckers help anchor plants of varieties that tend to have roots that fade out quickly after flowering (many of the Cavendish varieties, for example). You should not remove a lot of pups just before flowering as this disturbs the roots and diminishes fruit size and quantity on a plant about to flower. Suckers that have wide leaves very early are Water suckers (do a search) and IMO can be tossed as they seldom produce a strong plant or much fruit.

Re: To cut suckers or not to cut?
 

I used to not cut any suckers, did OK, but after reading the experts here started at least removing the water suckers, with good improvement. Another improvement I got here was removing suckers that are growing right under where the main one is hanging over so that you don't have fruit interference when the bunch comes. The most radical removing gives the biggest bunches, but maybe less total fruit, and more all at once vs spread out. On that one I remove all but the follower - so just have 2 stalks per mat.

Re: To cut suckers or not to cut?
 

I am now watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cigy-hOgp2o and they seem to be removing suckers only when they are really large, but perhaps this is the large variety of bananas that are growing in less windy areas.

I removed all suckers, and was unable to remove with roots so almost all died after transplanted, only two survived. Now will leave the suckers alone, only will cut off the water suckers and those that grow right next to the parent plant. I suppose just cut above ground and cover the wound with soil.

:nanadrink: