Question for experienced growers

shkm · 06-26-2009, 08:46 AM

Hi
I planted my first Banana plant (Ice Cream) last august and followed all instructions(plenty of water and fertilizer). Today I noticed a short leaf emerge. At this point, is there something that experienced growers recommend that I do to maximize my chances of getting a flower and a good harvest?

On another note, my father in law is growing one of those "short finger" banana plants. When his flower emerged, the bananas started to grow then turned black and rotted right away. What did he do wrong?

Bananaman88 · 06-26-2009, 09:28 AM

For your Ice Cream, it certainly sounds like it may be about to flower. Just continue to water and fertilize well and it should be just fine. I often think that folks worry too much about their banana plants and sometimes make things worse (by loving them to death) by trying to do everything just right. Bananas have been around for thousands of years and for the most part, they do what they do without much input from us. If you've gotten it to the point that it is about to flower that means you are doing something right. My advice: continue what you've been doing and all will be well. Sit back and enjoy the show!

Welcome to the org, by the way!

Jack Daw · 06-26-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shkm

On another note, my father in law is growing one of those "short finger" banana plants. When his flower emerged, the bananas started to grow then turned black and rotted right away. What did he do wrong?

Welcome pallie, to answer your second question:
The banana plant dies after fruiting, it's just the way things go with these plants. But many new pups should emerge from the ground and the generation will be kept.
Just make sure to keep one or 2 pups alive at any time and you will have lots of fruit.

lorax · 06-26-2009, 10:18 AM

Bunch rot is actually pretty common among the shorter-finger plants in my experience - they're really prone to fungus in humid areas, and if you're not careful and very vigilant about it you do lose the bunch.

Welcome aboard, by the way. Like Brent says, if you've got a flag leaf you're doing something right, just keep doing it.

shkm · 06-26-2009, 01:21 PM

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the info. I will keep everyone posted.

john_ny · 06-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Jack - I think what shkm is trying to say is that the fruit, before ripening, turned brown and rotted, not the plant.

06-26-2009, 08:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
shkm shkm's Photo Gallery Location: St Petersburg FLorida Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 BananaBucks : 13,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Question for experienced growers Hi I planted my first Banana plant (Ice Cream) last august and followed all instructions(plenty of water and fertilizer). Today I noticed a short leaf emerge. At this point, is there something that experienced growers recommend that I do to maximize my chances of getting a flower and a good harvest? On another note, my father in law is growing one of those "short finger" banana plants. When his flower emerged, the bananas started to grow then turned black and rotted right away. What did he do wrong?

06-26-2009, 09:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 216,758 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Question for experienced growers For your Ice Cream, it certainly sounds like it may be about to flower. Just continue to water and fertilize well and it should be just fine. I often think that folks worry too much about their banana plants and sometimes make things worse (by loving them to death) by trying to do everything just right. Bananas have been around for thousands of years and for the most part, they do what they do without much input from us. If you've gotten it to the point that it is about to flower that means you are doing something right. My advice: continue what you've been doing and all will be well. Sit back and enjoy the show! Welcome to the org, by the way!

06-26-2009, 10:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 301,578 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Question for experienced growers Bunch rot is actually pretty common among the shorter-finger plants in my experience - they're really prone to fungus in humid areas, and if you're not careful and very vigilant about it you do lose the bunch. Welcome aboard, by the way. Like Brent says, if you've got a flag leaf you're doing something right, just keep doing it.

06-26-2009, 01:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
shkm shkm's Photo Gallery Location: St Petersburg FLorida Find me on the map! Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 BananaBucks : 13,520 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Question for experienced growers Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the info. I will keep everyone posted.

06-26-2009, 01:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,014 BananaBucks : 606,756 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,057 Times Was Thanked 2,284 Times in 832 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: Question for experienced growers Jack - I think what shkm is trying to say is that the fruit, before ripening, turned brown and rotted, not the plant. __________________ John

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