To cut suckers or not to cut?

gaudesys · 10-18-2015, 03:54 PM

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?

pitangadiego · 10-18-2015, 04:49 PM

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.

raygrogan · 10-19-2015, 07:31 PM

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.

gaudesys · 10-19-2015, 08:49 PM

I am now watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cigy-hOgp2o

10-18-2015, 03:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
gaudesys Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 14,511 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 16 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	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?

10-18-2015, 04:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 143,736 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,730 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	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. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

10-19-2015, 07:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
raygrogan raygrogan's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 250 BananaBucks : 10,658 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 125 Times Was Thanked 314 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 17 Times	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.

10-19-2015, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
gaudesys Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 14,511 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 16 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: To cut suckers or not to cut? I am now watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cigy-hOgp2o

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