My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

I recently built a support for my beautiful rack of Blue Java banana. But it was still not enough and the inflo stem snapped in a recent crazy Arizona dust storm.

I found the rack with sap dripping down the PVC pipe support and a few days later the banana fruit are all kind of wrinkled and look like as if they are drying out.

Shall I still leave the bunch on the plant? Or just take out this whole banana pseudostem?

Here's the bunch with support structure before the storm.




Taken this morning, a couple days after the inflo stem snapped, you can kind of see the sap flowing down the PVC pipe. 😭

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

This may be too late. Because of the black on the fingers, I don't think the bunch will survive now. ... I would cut the peduncle & bunch from the plant. Suspend the bunch and place the peduncle into a large bucket of water like it was a flower. Watch for any improvements and weight gain on the fingers. If so a small amount of nutrients (miracle grow) may be needed.

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

They are most likely done for in my opinion...
It looks like you put the prop stick too far down the PS, too. Up more to where the bend is would be stronger for next time.

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

Yes it's gone sadly. Just cut the whole pstem down and mulch it. Sooner you do it the faster the energy will go to the daughter pup.

I agree, as Steve said above the prop should go under the peduncle bend (somewhere around where the bunch came out of the plant) I also prefer a 2 leg prop. It combines with the plant to make a very very sturdy tripod. I also use a piece of wire or similar to go through the pipe and around the area where the prop touches. It keeps the prop in place. We get pretty strong winds in storms all the time and I've never had an issue.

I would highly recommend the 2 legged prop. Just search prop and you will see lots.

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

Thank you all for the suggestions and feedback.

The reason we went with the single pole is the area is literally like a tropical jungle, no room for a 2 legged prop. I think the single leg prop worked, just my positioning was poor.

I am really sad since this is a really nice bunch. But there are 3 other bunches in the mat so, there is still hope. I am still eating the bunch that I harvested last month!

I will remove the pstem today. Thank you all!

:2738:

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

The supports/props need to support the weight of the bunch at the very highest point. They should be at a point where they would actually support the bunch is you cut the stem. In a manner of speaking, you are hanging up the entire plant and the bunch, as if you had cut the plant off the ground, and hung the whole thing, bunch and all, on a hook. The purpose of supports/props is to take the weight off of the pseudostem so that it doesn't bend/fold/break.

Re: My banana bunch was broken by the wind
 

Thank you so much for the clarification on the position! I will definitely apply this to my next bunch!