Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

I have several banana's that I dug up from my parents yard in Florida that I brought bak to Atlanta. I also brought back a bunch of croms (sp) that I dub out of thier neighbors yeard who doesn't like bananas. SOme of these thigns are huge.... as in 40 pounds or so. Anyway, I have an area in my yard that is a lowspot and also over the end of my septic tank drain field. When we get alot of rain that area stays wet for a few days longer that any other point in my yard.
I am wanting to make that area a banana / elephant ear spot.
will the bananas thrive with wet feet or do they need more drainage?

Re: Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

Bananas need drainage. You would be better served planting them on higher ground. I'm not sure about the elephant ears but some plants like Taro which are sometimes called elephant ears do thrive in sittting water.

Re: Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

Even though they do like drainage, I dont think you'll really have any problems. They are normally unaffected by being submersed for a few days a a time, worst that can happen is some may die back but will quickly regrow, but only if its really bad. Ive also seen bananas perfectly happy planted on the edge of ponds where the soil is always saturated, and Ive even seen bananas used as a pseudo-aquatic plant in ponds. I would try it. And if it doesent work out so well, its easy enough to dig a few pups and replant elsewhere. Plus a flooded field of bananas kills banana weevils if they are present (Cosmopolites sordidus) and does not hurt the plants ;)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showp...t=500&ppuser=5

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showp...t=500&ppuser=5

Re: Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

I stand corrected. That is pretty crazy! They actually look pretty healthy too.

Re: Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

Wow.... I'm impressed.. I always thought constant wet would rot the corm... I guess that's only if it's cold and dark as well.. If it's hot and sunny it probably doesn't matter because they grow so fast with light & heat.

Re: Will Bananas thive with wet feet?
 

Wow, mine would never be submerged like that.
We are planning on having the backyard regraded since we removed about 25 pine trees last summer. We currently have lots of craters where the stumps were gound out. When I do the area where I want the bananas I might try to fill with a bunch of sand to help teh drainage .
Who knows, with all those pine tree removed the yard will probably dry much faster now.
These plants would be in full direct hot Georgia sun so they will get plenty of light and hopefully nutrition. My parents have had fruit from the bigger plants that some of my suckers came from every year. I dont know if the ones that I dug out of thier neighbors yard produce anything or not. Once they are growing I'll post some pics and see if anyone can identify them.

Thanks
Paul