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Main Banana Discussion This is where we discuss our banana collections; tips on growing bananas, tips on harvesting bananas, sharing our banana photos and stories.


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Old 06-29-2016, 03:18 AM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Default Organic growing

Hi. Just wondering if anyone can provide information about growing organic bananas. Here are some questions.....

1. From what I gather, banana cultivation is pesticide intensive. However, we see organic bananas in grocery stores everyday so what does growing organic on a medium-large scale entail? I have just started growing bananas organically as a hobby and am now thinking about doing it for business.

2. Which would be the best Cavendish like dessert variety to grow in tropical Africa?

3. Can fruit from synthetic banana cultivars (FHIA?) be classified organic when grown without pesticides/fungicides/herbicides/fertilizer?

Any help/information will be much appreciated.

Thanks.
Billy
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Old 06-29-2016, 08:46 AM   #2 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Only GMO bananas would not be accepted as Organic. Sinve they are rare and not in public hands yet pretty much all available plants are organic. I know in Africa they use red spotted assassin bugs and similar for the organic control of rhino beatles and banana weavils.
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Old 06-30-2016, 02:47 AM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Thanks Botanical Bryce. Any idea which cultivar would be best suited for organic farming, fruit predominantly for the European market?
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Old 06-30-2016, 08:29 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Sorry but I don't know. I would think something from the fhia series. You want flavor , weight, and disease resistence.
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Old 06-30-2016, 09:29 AM   #5 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

There are guidelines in place for growers making organic claims; researching those would be better than asking here or at any other forum on the internet. I don't use any pesticides on my bananas; I have found no need to do so. (I use Neem and/or dish soap on other plants I grow.)
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Old 06-30-2016, 10:15 AM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Growing in Africa will be nothing like in Florida. Treating a backyard with neem and dishsoap is not comparable to large export plantation. His question is plenty valid for this forum since growers like PR Giants know cultivars and taste. He came to the right forum if certain people would chime in.
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Old 06-30-2016, 10:22 AM   #7 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

I began using and supporting this organization years ago.
I highly suggest reviewing the site and contacting them. They do have banana videos as well. If you wish to use assassin bugs I can help in that aspect.
https://www.echocommunity.org
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Old 06-30-2016, 10:39 AM   #8 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4N-QLhXjjY
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Old 06-30-2016, 10:44 AM   #9 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

https://www.google.com/search?q=Afri...obile&ie=UTF-8
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Old 06-30-2016, 11:06 AM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Botanical_Bryce View Post
Growing in Africa will be nothing like in Florida. Treating a backyard with neem and dishsoap is not comparable to large export plantation. His question is plenty valid for this forum since growers like PR Giants know cultivars and taste. He came to the right forum if certain people would chime in.
And growing in FL is nothing like gardening in MD or OH or any other place I've lived or visited. Holy cow! There are bugs here! Neem is recognized worldwide as an effective organic pest control; did you know you can actually grow a tree here in FL and harvest your own leaves? I don't know about soap being widely recognized for pest control but it's fairly easy to make and civilized people have a tendency to possess some.
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Old 06-30-2016, 11:09 AM   #11 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

I don't have much trouble with bugs, but fungus is always an issue with any plant here. Not to mention it's just a sand dune with grass on it.
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Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:13 PM   #12 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Most gardeners I have talk to have mixed emotions on neem. I found it generally useless. Volcanic and dioms have worked best but I found planting things that attract predators and bringing in spiders has pretty much wiped out all my pest issues. Once in a while I get a surprise but sending in the assassins solves the problem instantly. Ill post photos of the bug farm.
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Old 06-30-2016, 01:56 PM   #13 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Botanical_Bryce View Post
Most gardeners I have talk to have mixed emotions on neem. I found it generally useless. Volcanic and dioms have worked best but I found planting things that attract predators and bringing in spiders has pretty much wiped out all my pest issues. Once in a while I get a surprise but sending in the assassins solves the problem instantly. Ill post photos of the bug farm.
I had an army of praying mantis when I lived in MD once I figured out what those creepy looking things in my jasmine that I'd been tossing for several years weren't some form of bagworm nest. (Burn those!)

My pest devouring machines chose to come to a garden in the heart of the city where I used nothing "chemical" other than a spray of Malathion every other year or so for the worms that infected my #(**#* apricot fruits (hate those--grew them for the ex who also didn't like them so shared with a couple who ate them and the pits--both lived into their 90s) and scale on my Euonymus. (Didn't use Neem then and soap just didn't cut it.)

I was warned that bugs would eat your plants to nothing in FL and they did when I tried to garden in Jacksonville. Here in Titusville I have a clean slate. Okay, I have a yard where nobody has cultivated plants, mowed seriously and "dropped what was trash rather than bothering to walk it to the can" for over 10 years and probably more like 50. Every time it rains, more treasures come to the surface...

On my virgin land I've decided to use Neem and a bit a of soap; so far it's working.

I topped the sand (not even black sand--white nothingness) with compost from the County which is not organic because heaven knows what is in the mix besides pieces of tile and iron/steel nuggets. But I use it because to "fix up" 1/3 an acre with the compost I could make would take more years than I have on this earth.

I'm beginning to get accustomed to growing in a zone with "soil" (I now love clay!) unlike any "dirt" I've ever experienced. This old dog is learning as she goes. I'm trialing a potentially super "grape/cherry" tomato grown from a nicely shaped but typically lousy FL tasting fruit I had at a local dinner. Amazingly the grow out tomatoes are deemed by not just me to be spectacular. Sweet with enough crunch. So far the plants are laughing at the hot weather. Winner? Not quite. They look like torpedos including a pronounced point. They don't resemble the parents plus some plants have 1" fruits and others 2". Equally tasty but looks are important I know. Fortunately here in FL I have an extra season to seek stability with my prolific experiment. And I have enough space to test.

I won't change your methods and you won't change mine as long as what we do works. Right? I'll just keep using Neem and soap...if needed, I'll pick up some DE. Looking forward to pictures of your bug farm.
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Old 06-30-2016, 02:26 PM   #14 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Assassin bugs. These are a colonizing species east to produce in bins.
https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...g=eyJpIjoidCJ9
We raise millipedes. Raise these in compost bins. We just got in 2000 of them.
https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...g=eyJpIjoidCJ9
These are discoids roaches. Native to Florida and can not climb out of bins. These are used for composting and live in the mulch. These invite birds that also eat other forms of insects.

https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...g=eyJpIjoidCJ9
We also have mantids, lady bugs, and solitary assassins. In the future I will start getting lacewings. This started as a bioligical and pet supply but I am turning it to agriculturl homestead supply as well. We also have native snakes and eggs hatching now. Great rodent control. This presently produces $50,000 to $70,000 per year. More people should try this and implement them.
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Old 06-30-2016, 02:28 PM   #15 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

This business is not mine. I am only the assistant.
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Old 06-30-2016, 02:42 PM   #16 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Organic growing

Rodent control
https://scontent.ftpa1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...g=eyJpIjoidCJ9
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