shopgirl2

I havethree bananas that I left in the ground. The Corms are green and they have put pups. I cut back the dry stalk, and when I do, it smells bad and the center where the leaf is supposed to come out is mushy and sticky. The grandchild is the only one that put out new leaves and trunk.

Will these two bananas fruit after putting out all the pups? Or will the corm finally die?

Your advise is appreciated.

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Orinoco by the sunlight.

Banana Mike

Shopgirl, at this time of year, if the parent is not growing new leaves, but instead putting out pups, I'd guess that the parent as well as the parent corm is getting ready to die. Banana's are bi-annuals after all. They're typically good for two years.

In the normal life cycle, after fruiting they decline and eventually die. I have a theory that banana left outside to over-winter, at times never fruit, but instead start dieing at the beginning of the season and start that process by shooting up pups.

When that happens to me, that I see that plant is no longer putting out new growth and I see a bunch of new pups coming up, I cut the plant to the ground. The reason I do this is that the psuedo-stem at this point will start to rot beggining at the top and will work it's way into the corm. By doing this I think I'm protecting the psuedo-stem from pre-mature rot and well as signaling to the plant that it's definately time to push pups out, because this "death life cycle" thing is really happening.

I'm far from an expert, perhaps more informed minds than my own will chime in, those are just some of the thoeries I've been kicking around lately.

gOOD lUCK!!

shopgirl2

Did I say the pseudo stem/corm is about one and a half feet circumference? what a darn shame!

__________________
Orinoco by the sunlight.

Banana Mike

Well it definitely seems as if the tree has done it's job and is now ready to head into banana heaven.

But hey, sounds like you are going to have plenty of trees to replace it and that those trees will be nice and big. Least that's how I like my banana trees,,, big.

I'm in the exact same position. It's really sort of a neat thing to see.

I'd like a yard full of banana in a couple of years. I like the look, and I certainly like eating them!

shopgirl2

Do yours fruit, MIke? I was hoping for fruiting this year. There is a man who lives about 35 miles south from hwere I live. He does have bananas in his. I have asked him, but he won't share. The trees are planted in the ground and he leaves them there also.

__________________
Orinoco by the sunlight.

shopgirl2

ha, i ruined 4 of the pups already. dang!

__________________
Orinoco by the sunlight.

Banana Mike

I think the new ones will eventually fruit, assuming you have a fruiting tree. It's just that I have an idea that some trees grown in northern climates won't end up fruiting. I would guess it has something to do with what time of year it reaches it's peak at.

As far as I know bananas don't really care what time of year it is for fruiting, since in their natural habitat, they can fruit at almost an time of year, in general terms. Unlike, say, an apple. That's a seasonal fruit.

So my point is that since our bananas over-winter, it interupts their natural cycle, so some trees will fruit and others simply won't.

I'd be glad to learn more about this myself.

So all can really recomend is to take care of them and enjoy.

The banana tree.... one odd-ball plant. No doubt about that either.

Banana Mike

Don't ever give up on a pup!

I got 2 growing now, recently transplanted, with Zero corm. Man, it was a bad day for me that day. I really did a hack job. No corm at all, just two pup stems.

But I planted them and watered them good. They're doing good now. Both plants. I'd suggest maybe put yours in pots in the shade till they begin to grow.

I think the pups actually have some corm in their stems.

Good luck!!!