jen

I'm completely new to this and I need some help. My banana tree is producing fruit for the first time. I have had it about two years. I planted it and it grew like crazy and had 4 babies pop up around it that are all a pretty good size now. I read after it bears fruit I should cut it down. Should I just leave the other 3 plants and let them go becuase there are two more (6 total) plants popping up so are they from the origonal plant or are they from the other baby plants? I'm so confused. Can I somehow attach a picture???

HELP!

microfarmer

Welcome! And congrats on the bloom!

What kind of banana is it?

The stem that is flowering, will not flower again. Just cut that one down after the fruit finishes up, and keep the next largest 2-3 pups.

I would not, however, cut any pups 'til the fruit is complete, as it's hard to cut a pup without cutting some of the roots that feed and anchor the plant.

I'm for sure others on this site will have more info for you.

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jen

Thanks for the quick reply. So when it's done with the fruit cut it down like out of the ground?? Then keep the 3 bigges and should I let those get babies or then does that mean every time a pup pops up cut it out? or only do major trimming after it flowers? I'm sorry I am such a newbie. I also have no idea what kind of plant I have but from my research today on the net I think its a Musa Iholene ??? I uploaded some pictures to the gallery but I have no idea if I did it right or not. They show the bananas and the big huge flower. I just walked out a couple days ago and saw it. Pretty neat! Thanks again for the reply and help...I really need it.

turtile

Once a growing point flowers, it can no longer grow and dies. You can just cut it down so it can no longer be seen. The pups grow from the original plant and can continue to grow. Unless you want to move the pups (too big, in the way, want to plant another somewhere else...), there is not much reason to remove the pups (unless you want a single).

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jen

Can the pups produce fruit since they were from the mother plant or are they each individual plants that can bear fruit one time EACH? I'm so confused!!! This is a cool web site.

buzzwinder

I'm no expert but I'ld cut it back after you harvest the fruit, leave the corm in the ground " The Bulb of the plant " as there is still some energy left in the corm that the pups can use to grow on. Congrats on the bloom !!!!!!!!!!

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microfarmer

Don't worry about firing out the questions, we were all newbies once...well, maybe not Gabe

Like buzzwinder said, leave the corm (bulb) alone. It is the source of your plant's energy. Just cut off the stem that produced the fruit. Also, you may not want the 3 largest pups, as each pup you save will fruit for you, and you want them to fruit over time, not all at once. Your harvest will go down if 2 stems fruit simultanaeously from the same corm. 2 bunches are taking more energy. Keep the next largest, and one that is the smallest, and one somewhere in the middle. I have had a large pup on my Ice Cream have a pup of it's own (3rd generation). Musa Double Mahoi is the exception to this rule as a double bunch of fruit is it's 'thing'.

The rest you can trade/sell/donate/plant in another spot in your yard. Hope this isn't too complicated...

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Dean W.

Jen, congrats and welcome to the forum. I think others here pretty much explained everything. Good luck.

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natedogg1026

Jen, After flowering, chop the mother plant to the ground. The babies (pups) are it's offspring and will eventually grow up and flower like mom did. You can-A. Separate the pups and have individuals to spread around, or-B. Leave them alone and they will grow in a group. This is called a mat, various nana's growing off of one corm(root ball). If you decide option A, those nana's will eventually sprout pups and form there own mat. It's just a continual process. Nana grows, Nana pups, nana flowers and dies. Pup grows big, produces pups,flowers and dies. Repeat. Hope this helps-Nate

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Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

jen

That was a great explanation. I really appreciate everyones help. I stayed up way too late on this site...I love it. Thanks again. I think after it's done flowering I will try to seperate just one. No I need to figure out what kind of tree it is.

Bananaman88

Jen,

Click on this link for some info I added to the Wiki. It contains some good basic information for newer growers. Hope it helps. I have another link I'll try to find and post for you later today. Here's the link: Info: General Growing Information - Bananas Wiki

mskitty38583

make sure that when you cut the p-stem that you compost it. its good for other plants and nanas. btw welcome to the org!!!

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Bananaman88

Jen,

Here's the other link I said I'd find for you. It is written for growers in Florida, but much of the basic info will apply regardless of where you live.

Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape

jen

Bananaman~
GREAT links! Thank you so much. I'm just soaking this all in and loving it. I seriously went outside and was trying to find a spot that I could plant more bananas. This is so much fun. Both of those links are full of good info especially the sperating and planting tips. I saved them in my internet favorites. Thanks!!!!

Jen

mskitty38583

lol! come fall youll be wondering how many nanas you can fit in a room to overwinter in there.

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Dean W.

That's what I do daily, Jen!

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microfarmer

Ditto...+1

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