venturabananas

For varieties that fruit tall (the bunch at 15' +), where you need a prop about 20' long or more, what materials do you make the prop out of?

At that length, it seems like you have to go "industrial" because most of the normal materials I use (e.g., wooden posts, bamboo, PVC pipe) aren't available long enough or aren't strong enough. I think I recall PR-Giants using metal fence posts or something like that, but I couldn't find that thread.

My Pisang Klotek / Pisang Ceylan mat insists on fruiting at 15-16' p-stem height. Those plants are terrible leaners once they bloom (at least in my yard), and I haven't found a propping solution I'm happy with.

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Darkman

I'm using two inch PVC but my bunches are not large (3 - 4 hands) so I do not know how they would do with a 70 pound bunch. I think they would still do the job as they are only supporting not holding them up.

To clarify I have to use two lengths put together and cut to length I need. Properly glued they are just like a single piece.

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Darkman in Pensacola

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PR-Giants

Yeah they were fence posts, extremely strong and inexpensive. I bought a bunch of 30 footers, they come in handy.

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Island Brah

Check this thread out: is the support good?

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Darkman

I guess everyone does this but I put a T on the bottom which stabilizes the side to side motion a lot. We don't have a lot of wind here and I've probably been lucky but I've only had one fall over and it was dwarf that was only about six feet tall! Go figure. Oh and that one didnt have the bottom T.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

pitangadiego

2" PVC (not ABS)

See http://webebananas.com/culture.html for pictures of how to do it.

do NOT glue the pieces, so they can be re-used. It is very important to tie the prop to the tree so that when the wind blows and "picks up" the tree the prop stays in position. The two legs and the tree forma tripod which is very stable.

Shorten legs for shorter trees and add a piece with a coupling for taller trees.

The goal it to support the banana bunch stem, not the tree, the the point that is highest (furthest from the ground) so the weight is carried by the prop.

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venturabananas

The "theory" is straightforward, but in practice, there's no way I can get a tall enough ladder anywhere near these bunches hanging 16' up to tie the prop to the tree. Or have two legs to it, given that one would have to be in my neighbor's yard! Oh, the woes of tall bananas in small yards...

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hydroid

For my Saba bunch I use a 20 ft. section of 1.5" dia. aluminum tubing. I had this made at an aluminum fabrication place locally, only $20 ea. They also made Y's on the end to catch better. PVC would only bow on these monsters since they are so tall and the bunches weigh quite a bit.

PR-Giants

You should be able to figure out a way to "tie the prop to the tree" from the ground. Another nice thing about using a metal pole is that you can easily add brace bands to any height to stabilize your prop using guide lines without making it bow. It's also helpful to plan what side of the plant you want the bunch to drop prior to bud emergence.

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beam2050

the 2 inch pvc will probably take the weight. use schedule 40. but if its to tall to reach with a ladder put another 45 in one end and on the other end keep going around with 45s and 90s to create a C with just enough opening to allow the plant to go into the center of the C. also I would post hole the legs in. post hole and use a shovel to create a ramp to slide the legs into the hole so you do not have to pick it up and drop them in.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

venturabananas

You are clearly giving me more credit for problem solving that I deserve. How would I tie it to the "tree" from the ground?

And how would you plan which side of the plant you want the bunch to drop on? Force the plant to lean that way prior to flowering?

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beam2050

with that C hook you will not have to tie it. and I think that they meant you could make it lean a little to one side or the other. one foot 6 inches? or just use 2 more 45s one on either end of his contraption and make a u with 2 ft legs sticking straight up and you would not have to tie that either, almost would be like the y hydroid suggested.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

PR-Giants

There are two ways of planning it, either determine where you want the bunch to fall or where you don't want the bunch to fall.

I'm growing on a terraced mountain so I normally want the inside row to fall into the mountain which would need the shortest props to support them and also makes them more aerodynamic. The outer row I want to fall anywhere onto the terrace except if it's a dwarf, then I prefer them to fall onto the terrace but in a line so they don't block the pathway with a low hanging bunch.

Work smarter not harder.

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Darkman

How to tie a Tall bunch to your support.

1. Your support can be a V or a C but it must be capped on one side only.
2. Before you attach the cap, drill a hole in it slightly larger than whatever you are using to secure the banana. Also cut a hole in the side of the support pole about four foot off the ground. Alternatively if you think ahead instead of using a coupling to join your two pieces pipe use a tee and your hole is ready made. Make sure you put the ten foot section as the top.
3. Cut your strap as long as your support pole is. Your strap will be running through the support pole so make sure it will fit easily.
4. Run the strap through the hole in the cap and tie it in a knot that will not pull through the hole.
5. Secure the cap to you V or C. I suggest screws to do this.
6. Fish a cord twice as long as your support pole through the opposite side from the capped end with the strap. The cord should be equally split half through pole and out the tee or hole and half hanging out
7. Place your support where it is at the apex of the bloom stalk.
8. Take you strap and throw it over the top of the bloom stalk.
9. The strap should now be over the top and and hanging on the side of the stalk with the long cord hanging out.
10. Attach the cord coming out of the top to the strap. Make this a streamlined as possible. You could probably use electrical tape to make this connection or use twine to tie them together. Remember make this connection as small as you can.
11. Now pull the cord from the pole side and you will fish the strap through the top, through the support pole and out the hole. Now you can wrap it several times around the pole and tie it off.

This is all easily done. The critical part is using a strap that will pull through the 2" PVC pipe and making you cord strap connection as small and flexible as possible. Pulling the connection into the pipe and into the support pole is the hardest part. How flexible you connection is will determine how easily this works.

Have actually done this? NO but I have pulled many wires and ropes through pipe. This can be done with minimal effort. I don't have winds high enough to warrant strapping the bloom stalk. I just make sure I have a support pole long enough to lift the apex point about a foot which loads the pole with weight. The tee on the bottom with three foot side pipes provide a very secure brace preventing side to side movement.

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Darkman in Pensacola

AS ALWAYS IMHO AND YOUR MILEAGE MAY DIFFER!!!!!!!!

Life - Some assembly required, As is no warranty, Batteries not included, Instructions shipped separately and are frequently wrong!

Kentucky Bourbon - It may not solve the problem but it helps to make it tolerable!

Statistics - Data that analyst twist to support the insane opinions of those that pay them.

Hammocked Banana

PR, are you pulling the bud with a line on Dec 28?

PR-Giants

Yeah, and also in the photo below that one of the other dwarf Gros Michel plant.

There's a fixed loop at the end of the wire that slides over the upper portion of the bud and the other end is secured to the ground. A small weight mid line provides the force needed to direct the bud and once the peduncle starts to curve, the loop falls to the ground and the bud's own weight finishes the process.

EDITED to remove derogatory comments directed towards another which violate forum rules. Play nice.

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