Help! Namwa stalk colapsing!

springtime_fl · 07-22-2008, 03:26 PM

We have been growing bananas for several years and have just started having a problem this spring. It seems that when the stalk puts out a flower and the banana cluster is about 2-3 months old, it colapses at about 1-2 ft from the top of the stalk. It has happened to 3 of them so far. In fact, now that I think about it, it happened to one that did not have fruit on it. We thought it may have been because of a stressfull winter but this is now happening in the middle of the summer. Could we have a disease? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Dean W. · 07-22-2008, 04:15 PM

Do you think it's because of the weight of the bananas? Post a picture if you can. I know some others put supports up for their bunches.

Bananachris · 07-22-2008, 04:41 PM

When we saw this in the plantation we always supported the plant with a bambus cane and/or with a ribbon. This helps the plant to grow and develop the fruit.
Please take a look on the picture:

Banana Gallery - Supporting a banana with bambus cane to avoid colapsing

springtime_fl · 07-24-2008, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I think that it may be another problem because I have had one collapse that did not have any fruit on it. My husband thinks it may have been because we had a bad freeze (22 degrees for 9 hours) last winter and there was not much support for the top of the stalk (mostly dead leave and only a few new green ones in the spring). I will try to post pictures.

Bananachris · 07-24-2008, 10:17 AM

Oh yes, it's the same problem that I have in my garden in Buenos Aires, because July and August are very cold. When I see this steam I "help" them and support them by laths and they go on growing and later I can harvest! Nevertheless, sometimes it fails!

Bananaman88 · 07-24-2008, 12:39 PM

I think it's partly due to the weight of the fruit. I've had this happen three times now to my plants with fruit. I'm not sure about the one with no fruit though. Could be the cold as you suggested.

07-22-2008, 03:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
springtime_fl Location: Brandon, FL (near Tampa) Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 502 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 0	Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! We have been growing bananas for several years and have just started having a problem this spring. It seems that when the stalk puts out a flower and the banana cluster is about 2-3 months old, it colapses at about 1-2 ft from the top of the stalk. It has happened to 3 of them so far. In fact, now that I think about it, it happened to one that did not have fruit on it. We thought it may have been because of a stressfull winter but this is now happening in the middle of the summer. Could we have a disease? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

07-22-2008, 04:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,187 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! Do you think it's because of the weight of the bananas? Post a picture if you can. I know some others put supports up for their bunches. __________________ Dean Last edited by Dean W. : 07-22-2008 at 04:17 PM. Reason: incomplete

07-22-2008, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bananachris Bananachris's Photo Gallery Location: Buenos Aires Find me on the map! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 93 BananaBucks : 1,388 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 9 Thanked 37 Times in 18 Posts Welcomes: 2	Re: Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! When we saw this in the plantation we always supported the plant with a bambus cane and/or with a ribbon. This helps the plant to grow and develop the fruit. Please take a look on the picture: Banana Gallery - Supporting a banana with bambus cane to avoid colapsing __________________ bananachris.com my youtube channel Last edited by Bananachris : 07-22-2008 at 04:44 PM. Reason: Link to picture in my gallery didn't work

07-24-2008, 08:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
springtime_fl Location: Brandon, FL (near Tampa) Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 BananaBucks : 502 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! Thanks for the suggestions. I think that it may be another problem because I have had one collapse that did not have any fruit on it. My husband thinks it may have been because we had a bad freeze (22 degrees for 9 hours) last winter and there was not much support for the top of the stalk (mostly dead leave and only a few new green ones in the spring). I will try to post pictures.

07-24-2008, 10:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bananachris Bananachris's Photo Gallery Location: Buenos Aires Find me on the map! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 93 BananaBucks : 1,388 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 9 Thanked 37 Times in 18 Posts Welcomes: 2	Re: Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! Oh yes, it's the same problem that I have in my garden in Buenos Aires, because July and August are very cold. When I see this steam I "help" them and support them by laths and they go on growing and later I can harvest! Nevertheless, sometimes it fails! __________________ bananachris.com my youtube channel

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07-24-2008, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Pearland, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,107 BananaBucks : 8,854 Feedback: 15 / 100% Thanks: 114 Thanked 312 Times in 215 Posts Welcomes: 8	Re: Help! Namwa stalk colapsing! I think it's partly due to the weight of the fruit. I've had this happen three times now to my plants with fruit. I'm not sure about the one with no fruit though. Could be the cold as you suggested.

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