pcmacd

I live in The O.C. in Southern California.

I don't know the variety of my banana plant, but it makes "burro" sized yellow skinned fruit with a flavor unlike any other I have tasted. They are awesome!

It began to produce fruit in 2014 after several+ years with no fertilizer and LOTS of water in a soil that essentially heavy with clay. Oops.

In 2014 I put in a boatload of 15-30-15 slow release fertilizer, and got bananas. Problem is, a great many of the fruit get to be an inch or two long, turn black, and die, so I harvested about half a hand.

In 2015 I seriously cut back on the water, fertilized the same way, and had the same result.

No other additives, but gypsum is on hand as I always put a quantity in with a tomato plant to avoid calcium issues and others add a bit of acidity to the soil. I also have liquid calcium acephate (?) on hand.

The plant appears to be otherwise healthy, is shooting up four or five pups, and has none of the issues found on the web site Banana guide - plant nutrition to the best that I can determine by analyzing the photos.

I've seen in another post that an optimal fertilizer would be N-P-K at 2.1.3.

---> Does a particular brand come to mind? In slow release form (I've killed more plants with fast acting fertilizers than I can even begin to count...)?

I did not think to take a photo of the problem last season, and would like to avoid it this season if I can. These are awfully good bananas!

---> Any idea what's wrong?

tanks

pcmacd

Come on guys, help me out here?

I am completely at a loss.

I would like to avoid this same problem this season.

Any and all inputs appreciated.

Thanks, Mac

JP

When did it flower exactly? How was temperature when it produced fruit? Did you get low temps? What fert do you use?
Post pics of your plant and it's location; that will help.
I wouldn't use chemicals to fert but hey, that's me...

pcmacd

Thank you for your reply.

I can't recall exactly what time of year it flowers (i'll start keeping records!), but it is after the nights have warmed to around 55 or more F. I know because when the fruit is ready to eat the days have gotten fairly warm; high eighties, because I remember delivering fruit to some friends on some absolutely beautiful, shorts and sandals days. We usually have a ~20 degree F temp swing night to day in the summertime here.

I have no images of the issues (duh.me) and discussed the fertilizer in the first post.

I fixed the heavy water problem in 2015; I thought that was likely it, and was disappointed when it happened again.. I just needs some hints as to what the issues might be. Low temperatures is not likely one of them.