mackmccaleb

Lots and lots of rain, but also some pretty strong winds. Not a catastrophe, but some pretty shredded leaves and leaning pseudostems. What do I do??

Stake up the bananas and support them til the roots regrow?

Cut down the big pseudostems and hope for lots of pups next year? (I'm starting my own backyard nursery, so a proliferation of pups won't be a bad thing)

Nothing? What will happen if I do nothing at all? Just have some leaning banana trees?

I'm sure in nature that bananas grow into a mat to protect themselves from strong winds. My intention was to manage my bananas by removing all pups except for two or three. Can I be proactive next time to protect my plants? Staking? Guy wires? Remove leaves before a storm to try to keep the pseudostems upright? Really appreciate all advice and suggestions. I'm sure many of you have dealt with tropical weather before. Check out this video of the damage

https://youtu.be/0nVc3Uhl3ts

Akula

My bananas took some damage too. Four newly emerging cigar leaves broke off, a couple of the larger older leaves collapsed/broke off and general shredding of leaves.

I will cut off the broken and collapsed older leaves. I will wait to see if the collapsed cigar leaves are still functioning and if they interfere with new emerging leaves before cutting them off.

On the positive side I found two flag leaves and those two trees look pretty good!

Your patch looks fine. I wouldn't do anything except re-plant the one that fell over. Maybe tamp the corns down with your foot a bit. I have stuff in my patch that leans as much or more prior to the storm than what you showed in the video. My bananas are planted on the north and east side of my yard and tend to stretch/lean to the southern/western sun a bit.

sputinc7

They will be ok... I would probably prop up the one leaning bad, but the others are ok. They may need propping when they have a bunch on, though as they were weakened a little by this.
Do it quickly while the ground is still soft.

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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.

mackmccaleb

Ok good, that is definitely relieving to know. I'll get everyone pointing skyward and hopefully no more strong wind the rest of this hurricane season

Iowa

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Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby

pitangadiego

Don't over think this. Damaged leaves will take care of themselves. Plants that are uprooted should be replanted. Pseudostems that are bent/folded should be cut back below the fold. The rest will take care of itself if you are patient.

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