Cutting the bud = Rot
 

How is it that every time I cut a flower bud off one of my bunch's the stalk will start to turn black? The black will climb up the stalk till the fruit turns black and drops off. How do I prevent this from happening? Do I have to put something o the stalk after I cut it? This seems to happen every time I cut the bud.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

I've never had that happen.High humidity =rot ?

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

It's interesting, Mike - I was going to post something similar. What I find is that certain varieties (such as Ice Cream/Blue Java) are more prone to having the stalk blacken. After I noticed this the first time with my Ice Cream, I no longer cut the bud off. I may cut/break it off once the fruit have matured enough, so that by the time the stalk decays up a ways, the fruit are ready to harvest anyway. The bud is usually at least 16" past the last hand at this stage.

Conversely, with my Dwarf Cavendish and Mysore, I've always cut the stalk about 6 inches or so below the last hand of bananas and never had a problem with blackening. So, my theory is that certain varieties are prone to this, while others are not. I've seen this enough times to lead me to this not-exactly-scientific conclusion.

Nate

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Nice, it is happening on my IC, and everytime it has happen in the past was on the IC. My namwah I about ready to cut the bud but I didn't know if this wa going to happen again.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Mike ------- I'm seeing this happening more this year than before. Think it's all the rainfall.

Still, the theory that certain species are more prone is likely. My Datil bunch has this problem and it looks like the latest hand to show will be lost. It's happening slowly.

So - in wet years cut the bud off at 8 to 10 inches from the last female hand.

I love throwing the bud over the fence into the vacant lot like a grenade. I yell --- "fire in the hole".

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Dan, that's funny! I just compost them, the worms seem to like crawling inside them.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

I seldom have the problem, but find that if I leave 12" of stem below the last hand, that none have dried up (turned black) as far up as the hands.

Any time you cut a plant, just like a person, you open up the plant to disease, fungi, insects, etc. Pruning, broken limbs (from wind), sunburn, etc. all provide a weakened place on the plant, just like when you get a cut, scrape, sunburn, etc. Like people, some plants have better immune systems, are healthier, etc and can withstand the damage better.

If you find a variety where this is an issue, leave the flower on.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Why bother cutting off the male bud if you are having this problem? From what I understood, there's no compelling evidence that doing so is helpful in any way. Is there any evidence to the contrary?

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Ventura, it seems obvious that the removal of the bud eliminates a lot of energy waste. But you are right - have never seen any definitive info that says that it is helpful Thus my comment that on varieties or situations where it seems detrimental, to just leave it on.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

Yes there is, to keep it from dripping on whatever happens to be below it.

Also to keep those pesky Humming birds, bees and wasps away.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

It's either the humidity in your location, the pathogens in your garden, or both. I always cut off the male bud and never have this problem. However, our humidity here in San Diego is minor compared to yours.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

How about a bandage:ha:

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

I agree that removal of the bud is generally a positive towards hastening production. I'm sure there is a difference between certain varieties when it comes to this problem, as it always happens to Ice Cream and never to certain other varieties, regardless of humidity at the time (just speaking for C. Florida here).

Another precaution I started taking: when I do remove a bud, I simply snap it off by hand, which usually results in as clean a break as if it where cut with a knife/saw. This way, I can be sure I haven't harmed the stalk by using an infected tool.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

It does seem obvious that energy is spent on the male bud, but that that energy is significant and takes away from growth of the fruit is not obvious and depends on the energy budget of the plant. If the energy spent on the male bud is decreases the size of the fruit by 1%, then it's not worth cutting it if doing so risks disease. I don't know the real answer about the effect of cutting the bud. Maybe Gabe or someone knows of a proper controlled, replicated experiment that addressed this question.

Re: Cutting the bud = Rot
 

http://www.bananas.org/f2/removing-b...hlight=cutting


http://www.bananas.org/f2/removing-b...tml#post101536