pjkfarm

Wow! Whoo Hoo! First flower for a long time!! Not fertilized in years, just did - now wonder how often, how much, etc. Will figure out how to load pics as have some of the bunch from many years ago, plus pups this year and flag this year - when flower comes, will post as well, and hopefully someone can identify - comes from Mexico, commercial variety I would guess, but from a very small farm which grows for local market, so who knows. I can try to ask where they got it from but they did not knowm its name other than that it was a "dwarf" - pstem of 8-10 feet - current on e is more like 7, but I did chop it off early this year and it has regrown.
Will have lots of questions - fertilizer will be first as a few years ago got a bunch, but maybe only 10 or 15 fingers on 3 or 4 hands - not attractive compared to a few years (many?) before that when had many hands and many delicious nanas (like over 100).
BTW, just checked our oldest basjoo mat- seems like something underground is attacking them - voles? Moles, mice ? Are banana roots a delicacy for anything special? Corms do not seem to be affected.

edwmax

Actually it is too late now to fertilize . After flowering Nana roots take up very little nutriments from the soil and relies on its internal stores for nutriants. Apply some Murate of potash at the base & water in. ... Then foliar spray the leaves with Miracle Grow mix and bunch once a week. The leaves will take in the fertilizer where it is needed.

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pjkfarm

That was what I was afraid of re roots, but can do the foliar spray - would not have thought of that. THANKS!!

edwmax

Past field trials by researchers has shown & proved foliar spraying to be a benefit for bunch development after flowering. Foliar spray is a regular routine for plantation banana growers. ... Add some insecticide and fungicide to the spray mix for great looking fingers. Foliar spraying tricks the plant, the extra nutriments is from its own internal stores. ... I have posted details about foliar spray mix in other threads.

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edwmax

Oh ... another point about foliar spray. I believe the spray will cut harvest time by at least 30 days. ... Ty has reported with foliar spraying he has been able to cut flower to harvest time by nearly 1/2 normal for the variety. ... Just saving 30 to 45 days for 90 day normal harvest times in our short growing seasons is big deal for nanas.

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subsonicdrone

would sprayngrow be good or does it need to be something like the fruit fuel ratios

https://www.spray-n-growgardening.co...oductinfo/SNG/

also what is the best time of day to apply?

edwmax

The best time to spray is early morning while the leaf pores are open. .... The sprayngrow can work. I don't see/find the NPK but what you need to work out is a spray solution with N = .5% and K = 1% to 1.5% ... At package directions, what is the NPK of the spray? .... Economics is also a consideration too.


What I use is Miracle Grow with a solution NPK of .5-.13-1.5. The K is supplemented with MOP or SOP in the mix.

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