Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida

JCA433 · 07-08-2012, 07:11 PM

I moved to south Miami Dade county Florida last year and have already planted mangos and avocado and now digging hole for bananas. The soil here is alkaline limestone very hard to dig(need auger or demolition hammer). Should I amend the soil? Anyone growing bananas in this type of soil? The variety I am interested in now are Ice Cream and Raja Puri.

bananimal · 07-08-2012, 08:23 PM

Planting and growing successfuly in calcareous soil --- think backhoe and dynamite.

Seriously though, you need to immediately join the Miami RFCI and attend every meeting -- Rare Fruit Council Int'l. I have a cousin in Homestead and his topsoil is just 6 inches thick. They did the digging years ago and the avocados and mangos today are unbelievable -- great climate.

And if you are in Miami you are zone 10 -- not 9! I'm in 9b in PSL and I sure know the difference. The cousin is growing my truly tropicals and the plants love it down there!

Miami Rare Fruit Council International – RFCI | Tropical Fruit News Magazine

Caloosamusa · 07-09-2012, 05:49 AM

Augment "soil" (limestone) with lots of organic material. Also go over and see Don at Going Bananas. There are some cultivars much better suited for South Florida and much more productive.

Welcome to South Florida.

JCA433 · 07-09-2012, 07:05 AM

I am about 0.2 miles north of Homestead,Florida and near agriculture areas. I moved from zone 9 to zone 10. Should I amend the native soil with cow manure and garden soil?

There are a lot of weeds that seem to love the soil here.

Caloosamusa · 07-09-2012, 02:23 PM

Cow manure and garden soil are good organic augments. Yes.

bananimal · 07-09-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caloosamusa

Augment "soil" (limestone) with lots of organic material. Also go over and see Don at Going Bananas. There are some cultivars much better suited for South Florida and much more productive.

Welcome to South Florida.

JCA ----- I agree with Ken. Go talk to Don and he will tell you what you need to do to grow stuff. Call first for a visit. Sitting on top of a ancient coral reef is a totally different deal. And go to those RFCI meetings. Many doors opened for me when I joined my club. Cut my fertilizer expenses by 60% and gained lots of practical knowledge.

Why don't you pin yourself on the map so I can see how close you are to my cousin. They willl gladly give you a tour of their place. The monster avocado trees alone are worth the trip. And you will see my tropical naners growing there too.

Dan

JCA433 · 07-09-2012, 10:39 PM

I would like to meet some of the people here that are also residents of southeast Florida. Southeast Florida and the Keys are among the few places in North America where you can reliably grow Mangos and other tropical plants. Good luck to you all!

I have many fire ants on this property. You dare pick a spot to sit down and high risk they are all over you and they soon thereafter attack with gusto.

mm4birds · 07-10-2012, 01:22 PM

I'm growing in Hollywood (Ft Lauderdale) and have found the same problem. Wherever I dig I hit sandy soil with chunks of coral all over the place. I went to homedepot and bought bags of compost (many) and every time I dig I remove any sizeable coral and mix the removed dirt with the compost at a 1 to 1 ratio. The plants are growing really fast. I've tried to post pictures but the site says I am already filled up (will try again)

TrailGaiter · 07-12-2012, 06:02 PM

Stupid, I know... but I've been watching Animal Cops- Miami on Animal Planet....and am REALLY enjoying (and drooling over) the plants I see! I don't know how many people watch the plants on these shows...lol. But, I've seen a lot of beautiful bananas on this show, and so envious of people who can grow all these beautiful tropical plants in Florida! Some of the bananas I've seen appear to be growing outside of people's yards....wild like. Love it!

bananimal · 07-12-2012, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm4birds

I'm growing in Hollywood (Ft Lauderdale) and have found the same problem. Wherever I dig I hit sandy soil with chunks of coral all over the place. I went to homedepot and bought bags of compost (many) and every time I dig I remove any sizeable coral and mix the removed dirt with the compost at a 1 to 1 ratio. The plants are growing really fast. I've tried to post pictures but the site says I am already filled up (will try again)

Delete everything but 2 pages of pics.

kaczercat · 07-13-2012, 02:47 AM

Ive been to Hollywood FL and miami twice. perfect weather for bananas best of luck!

JCA433 · 07-14-2012, 09:05 PM

I dug a hole three feet diameter and two feet deep and added 500 pounds of composted cow manure and mixed with native soil. I have not yet planted though.

bananimal · 07-14-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCA433

I dug a hole three feet diameter and two feet deep and added 500 pounds of composted cow manure and mixed with native soil. I have not yet planted though.

Stick an Ae Ae in there --- it will be very happy.

JCA433 · 07-15-2012, 07:23 PM

I still have not yet planted my first banana. The soil is ready though. I must decide on a good cultivar. Earlier I decided to plant raja puri and ice cream, but not so sure now.

palmtree · 07-15-2012, 08:38 PM

If I lived in Southern Florida I would grow Saba, Ice Cream, Ae Ae, and praying hands to start and work my way from there!

JCA433 · 07-16-2012, 10:10 AM

The only bananas I have eaten are Grand Nain and Williams found in most grocery stores. How do the other cultivars compare in taste to Grand Nain? Are there big differences in flavor? I am very eager to try some cultivar other than Grand Nain to sample the flavor.

Have Grand Nain always been the most popular cultivar? Are there better tasting cultivars?

bananimal · 07-16-2012, 07:48 PM

For a first time growing something special --- Goldfinger, aka FHIA 1.

JCA433 · 07-30-2012, 02:27 PM

I planted my first banana Friday ; it is a Blue Java (Ice Cream). So far it is growing well and hopefully this continues.

trebor · 07-30-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCA433

I planted my first banana Friday ; it is a Blue Java (Ice Cream). So far it is growing well and hopefully this continues.

Good choice.. ha ha But thats the first one .. home grown bananas are really different tasting than store bought .. so a Gran naim from your yard will be a good one

JCA433 · 07-31-2012, 10:20 AM

Here is the Ice Cream banana recently planted.

07-08-2012, 07:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I moved to south Miami Dade county Florida last year and have already planted mangos and avocado and now digging hole for bananas. The soil here is alkaline limestone very hard to dig(need auger or demolition hammer). Should I amend the soil? Anyone growing bananas in this type of soil? The variety I am interested in now are Ice Cream and Raja Puri. Last edited by JCA433 : 07-08-2012 at 07:13 PM.

07-08-2012, 08:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 561,507 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Planting and growing successfuly in calcareous soil --- think backhoe and dynamite. Seriously though, you need to immediately join the Miami RFCI and attend every meeting -- Rare Fruit Council Int'l. I have a cousin in Homestead and his topsoil is just 6 inches thick. They did the digging years ago and the avocados and mangos today are unbelievable -- great climate. And if you are in Miami you are zone 10 -- not 9! I'm in 9b in PSL and I sure know the difference. The cousin is growing my truly tropicals and the plants love it down there! Miami Rare Fruit Council International – RFCI \| Tropical Fruit News Magazine Last edited by bananimal : 07-08-2012 at 08:28 PM.

07-09-2012, 05:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,578 BananaBucks : 27,873 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 3,829 Times Was Thanked 1,556 Times in 675 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 334 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Augment "soil" (limestone) with lots of organic material. Also go over and see Don at Going Bananas. There are some cultivars much better suited for South Florida and much more productive. Welcome to South Florida. Last edited by Caloosamusa : 07-09-2012 at 05:51 AM. Reason: Add

07-09-2012, 07:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I am about 0.2 miles north of Homestead,Florida and near agriculture areas. I moved from zone 9 to zone 10. Should I amend the native soil with cow manure and garden soil? There are a lot of weeds that seem to love the soil here. Last edited by JCA433 : 07-09-2012 at 07:11 AM.

07-09-2012, 02:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Caloosamusa Caloosamusa's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,578 BananaBucks : 27,873 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 3,829 Times Was Thanked 1,556 Times in 675 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 334 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Cow manure and garden soil are good organic augments. Yes.

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07-09-2012, 10:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I would like to meet some of the people here that are also residents of southeast Florida. Southeast Florida and the Keys are among the few places in North America where you can reliably grow Mangos and other tropical plants. Good luck to you all! I have many fire ants on this property. You dare pick a spot to sit down and high risk they are all over you and they soon thereafter attack with gusto.

07-10-2012, 01:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
mm4birds mm4birds's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 260 BananaBucks : 39,406 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 32 Times Was Thanked 138 Times in 75 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I'm growing in Hollywood (Ft Lauderdale) and have found the same problem. Wherever I dig I hit sandy soil with chunks of coral all over the place. I went to homedepot and bought bags of compost (many) and every time I dig I remove any sizeable coral and mix the removed dirt with the compost at a 1 to 1 ratio. The plants are growing really fast. I've tried to post pictures but the site says I am already filled up (will try again)

07-12-2012, 06:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
TrailGaiter Angie Location: Madison, Wisconsin Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Angie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 127 BananaBucks : 89,696 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 115 Times Was Thanked 117 Times in 64 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Stupid, I know... but I've been watching Animal Cops- Miami on Animal Planet....and am REALLY enjoying (and drooling over) the plants I see! I don't know how many people watch the plants on these shows...lol. But, I've seen a lot of beautiful bananas on this show, and so envious of people who can grow all these beautiful tropical plants in Florida! Some of the bananas I've seen appear to be growing outside of people's yards....wild like. Love it!

07-13-2012, 02:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
kaczercat kaczercat's Photo Gallery Location: Southern ON Find me on the map! Zone: 5b 9b Name: Matt Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,874 BananaBucks : 220,014 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,116 Times Was Thanked 2,111 Times in 750 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Ive been to Hollywood FL and miami twice. perfect weather for bananas best of luck! __________________ Matt

07-14-2012, 09:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I dug a hole three feet diameter and two feet deep and added 500 pounds of composted cow manure and mixed with native soil. I have not yet planted though.

07-15-2012, 07:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I still have not yet planted my first banana. The soil is ready though. I must decide on a good cultivar. Earlier I decided to plant raja puri and ice cream, but not so sure now.

07-15-2012, 08:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
palmtree palmtree 's Photo Gallery Location: New York City Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Alex C Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,016 BananaBucks : 103,722 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida If I lived in Southern Florida I would grow Saba, Ice Cream, Ae Ae, and praying hands to start and work my way from there! __________________ Location: New York City, zone 7b

07-16-2012, 10:10 AM	#16 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida The only bananas I have eaten are Grand Nain and Williams found in most grocery stores. How do the other cultivars compare in taste to Grand Nain? Are there big differences in flavor? I am very eager to try some cultivar other than Grand Nain to sample the flavor. Have Grand Nain always been the most popular cultivar? Are there better tasting cultivars?

07-16-2012, 07:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
bananimal Member bananimal's Photo Gallery Location: Port St Lucie, Fla Find me on the map! Zone: 10a Name: Dan Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,512 BananaBucks : 561,507 Feedback: 12 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,688 Times Was Thanked 4,979 Times in 1,509 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida For a first time growing something special --- Goldfinger, aka FHIA 1.

07-30-2012, 02:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida I planted my first banana Friday ; it is a Blue Java (Ice Cream). So far it is growing well and hopefully this continues.

07-31-2012, 10:20 AM	#20 (permalink)
JCA433 Location: Homestead, Florida Zone: Zone 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 330 BananaBucks : 83,649 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 433 Times in 162 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Growing bananas in southern Miami Dade county florida Here is the Ice Cream banana recently planted. Last edited by JCA433 : 07-31-2012 at 10:48 AM.

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