How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Hello! I would like to know what is the trick to get your banana trees to grow really tall? I mean so far I think I’ve only been able to get my older bananas to about 6’ or so. It is kind of funny b/c I bought it at 5’! I think what might have happened was it had a pup and all the water & food went to it and not the Mom! Any tips or tricks I’d be grateful for! Thanks! :banana-computer:

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

I forgot to mention that the pup I just separated this year is at least 1’-2’ taller than the mother! Can you believe that?!

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

How do you control the growth of a banana tree?

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Get a tall variety. Other than that - fertilize, water and prune away suckers.

Also, bananas typically do well in numbers, at least for me. Several stems spaced out 12-24 inches in a circle do better than a single stem alone.

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

This new (to me) information may not make my wife happy....

"Hey honey I read on the banana forum that I need to plant 3-5 in a fairly tight circle"!!!!

I can see it now

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Course, plants compete for the sun that way.
Fertilizer, fertilizer, fertilizer,...., oh yes, water also helps ;)

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall
 

Okay thanks! I am certainly going to try it your way! Several in a row! I mainly only had one banana and then the pup originally. Now I’ve got 3 right near each other. I don’t think I knew that to keep them closer together! :0517:

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

That is hilarious! I love it! :bananas_b

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Thanks that is good to know! It makes sense that they would compete for sunlight though! :08:

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Okay, so I’m definitely getting a good idea of how to go about it! Water often, fertilize and keep some trees closer together! Plus take out the suckers! Thanks so much!

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

I just meant how to get the banana tree to grow up really tall like I heard some can get. I suppose in a way you sort of kinda can control the growth. Either by watering, feeding to grow upwards or chopping it down b/c it got too tall! Ha ha! :ha::08:

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

The reason behind semi-tight clusters is mutual protection from wind/elements. It also provides partial shade for young suckers. At least that's what I've read and it seems to do wonders for my mats. My tiny backyard looks like a jungle.

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

I may have some room to do just that!! This spring I'm kickin it up a notch

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Thanks that’s pretty interesting!

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Thanks again! I’m going to do that as well next year!

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

One more thing, what does mats mean? I’ve seen that word many times!

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

I might be newer at this than you but I believe that means multiple plants pretty close together.

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

The mat, is the root system of one established banana plant. It has transitioned from just a single corm, to a more complex "mat" of roots. One mat can hold multiple, or just a single above ground pseudo stem, which is the part you see that starts to produce leaves in increasing size as it gets bigger.

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Interesting. I think my Bordelons have done this.

Re: How to grow banana trees very tall!
 

Unfortunately in our zone we have only 170-+ days to grow .
As your plants mature they will get taller, bigger,wider each year.

After a few summers the plants will most likely be a their peak size for the zone your are in.....then winter happens and you have to start over again...overwintering progressively larger/wider plants each season.

Expect your plants to be at max size in our zone with minimal indoor winter care in 3-4 grow cycles...by then you might have a flower or two:):woohoonaner: