MediaHound

Looks like a lot of work, but rewarding!

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

bencelest

Jarred:
It's all FOR THE LOVE OF BANANAS!

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Banana Nut

bencelest

It's been raining a lot lately and the forecast more rain for the next 5 days.
I covered the canopy with clear plastic and I put some of my bananas and citrus there temporarily. Enclosed with the teepee dome is an atemoya.
Note that the dwarf Brazilian on the background was fried because I put up the canopy after we had a cold spell.

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Banana Nut

High_Brix

I like the looks of your project! Nice work! Did any of my pictures help you out?

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bencelest

Thanks High Brix.
Of course. Your pics inspired me to start my project. But of course the accumulation of data and pictures that I learned in this wonderful forum served me to inspire my project.
So you know who you are and I thank you all.

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Banana Nut

Taylor

And yet the CG is fine? Please explain!
I put mine in the basement because I didn't believe the 'hardy' theories...this is the exact confirmation I need.

Thanks

bencelest

And I got me some sand. Next is steer manure.

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Banana Nut

bencelest

Taylor:
This is a guess on my part : Notice that the Dwarf Brazilian is taller than the rest? It was also open to the elements and no protection from the wind or dew so when the tempt dropped it got fried. This also created a micro climate to the benefits of the ones that are shorter.
I had that pergola installed AFTER the DB was fried.

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Banana Nut

bencelest

I just got dumping the compost and the steer manure. Next will be course sand and pine bark and more steer manure. Any advice on what I should add more to the mix?
In the foreground is my rototiller. Once I got all the ingredients I will be ready to rototill the area.
I also found that I can get a bunch of bathroom glass sliding doors for $6 a piece. That made me think that those are good for cover on the roof. The glass can be remove from the enclosed metal.

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Banana Nut

High_Brix

Your project is looking great, nice work!! I am excited to see the finished structure. Keep up the good work.

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bencelest

Her's the 1/4 " rock size I am putting in the mix instead of course sand.



And here's how it looks after I spread it in my plat.
Next will be getting small pine bark and steer manure. Then I am ready to mix them all with my rototiller. And then....

I am ready to plant my bananas.

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Banana Nut

bencelest

High_brix:
Thanks for the nice compliment. I am also excited but I have a long way to go.
I am just shopping around where I can get the cheapest price. If I buy it at Home Depot, it's going to cost me a bundle.
It is better to buy them by the truckload.
Benny

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Banana Nut

Richard

I think the 1/4 inch gravel is a good choice given what's underneath. Composted horse manure would be better than steer, but availability might be a issue for you. Be careful with uncured pine bark, it has a pH near 3. Mixing potash (or just ashes from real wood) directly with the pine bark is one way to buffer it. I would start with no more than a gallon per plat.

I'm jealous. You are at least 4 months ahead of me in your plat construction.

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bencelest

Richard:
I noticed that you seem to be very knowledgeable on a lot of things concerning maintenance of plants.
Fortunately I can do everything that you suggested. And I thank you for a very sound advice.
The steer manure that I have in mind are ones that you buy at Home Depot that are already composted. I already put 15 bags in my plat but I want to put an additional 20 bags on top.
I put already 3 wheel barrows of small chips of bark and a 3 cu ft of red wood chips and I have a whole bunch in a pile of wood chips on standby. I also have a pile of the 1/4 " rock on a separate pile ready to add.
I also own a very good pH meter to test the soil which is crucial in taking care of my citrus in pots and now bananas.
And... I have a wood stove that I burn scrap wood, paper and what I have and use the ashes to raise the pH of the soil. I also use battery acid to lower the pH when I have to. And as an alternate I have different fertilizers that can raise or lower the pH in the long term.
To raise the pH I use flowable lime.
Richard the Spring is right around the corner so I am in a hurry to finish my plat to plant my new bananas that I acquired during this Winter. I am lucky to have 3 teenagers helping me do this things otherwise I will be behind also.
I just want to conditioned the soil so when all frost are gone I will be ready.
Thanks again for good info.

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Banana Nut

Richard

Benny, you are right on top of nutrition and in an admirably frugal way! It is wise to monitor potted plant pH since our southern California water tends to raise the pH over time. If you use a fertilizer that contains humic acids then this is not an issue. The GroPower brand works out to be about $14 per tree per year. If your tree produces sixty fruits each year then thats about 25 cents per fruit not counting the water bill. It would seem your solution is far cheaper.

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bencelest

Yes, I always think of ways how I can grow my trees in the most cheap ways that I can. And to me when you say admirably frugal way, I just had to smile because you hit me right in the head.
And thanks for all the good info you are giving us.
Benny

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Banana Nut

bencelest

Richard:
Here's the wood stove I am talking about where I can get ash to raise the pH of my soil.




And here's the progress of my project as of 2 9 08 I add the small bark chips and am about ready to spread some redwood bark soil conditioner I found laying around hidden in my yard.




Another angle to show the wood chips

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Banana Nut

microfarmer

Benny, be careful with the steer manure. Too many salts!

Chicken manure is a better bet, as is horse poop or bat poop. Don't forget worm poop. Also, bone and blood meal and kelp meal are good ammendments.

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My new hero...

Richard

The following data might be helpful:

Manure, Guano, etc. N - P - K
(composted)
Cow 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.2
Steer 0.7 - 0.3 - 0.4
Horse 0.7 - 0.3 - 0.6
Sheep 0.7 - 0.3 - 0.9
Sea Bird 1 - 10 - 1
Chicken 1.1 - 0.8 - 0.5
Shredded Alfalfa 2 - 0 - 3
Rabbit 2.4 - 1.4 - 0.6
Desert Bat 8 - 4 - 1
High-Nitrogen Sea Bird 13 – 12 - 2

Of these, "Sea Bird" and "Chicken" have the worst profiles for banana plants.

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bencelest

Thanks for the warning Microfarmer.
Since I have not bought the steer manure yet I will switch then to chicken manure. Ther's not much difference in price.

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Banana Nut