Spaugh

If you were going to plant several rows of bananas on a grid, what spacing would you use and why? Also what type of sprinkler head or drip emitter would you choose if you had to irrigate?

Gabe15

Depends on cultivar and how intensely they will be managed. But for most I prefer 6-8ft in staggered double or triple rows about 5ft apart. For irrigation I prefer to use Netafim 1/2” poly driphose with the built in emmitters or a 1/2” solid poly hose with 2 shrubbler type emmiters about 2ft apart in a set of 2 for each mat. One hose per row is normally sufficient. For some of the higher turnover varieties I will occasionally use T-tape with 2ft emitter spacing, but its so fragile that its not good for bananas as you always have to move it for mulching and desuckering and so its more likely to get punctures over time.

__________________
Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Spaugh

Thanks Gabe, I appreciate that. I am planning on 7.5ft space on columns and rows and each row having a solid 5/8" poly tubing going down it. I've got lychees planted already on a 15x15 grid and want to interplant the bananas to provide protection for a few years to the lychees. Based on your post it sounds like it should work ok.