amiart

What do you recommend for best watering techniques in temps above 100 degrees during the summer ?

Soaker hose, Small head type sprinklers, by had with hose ?

How often ? How much ? Do the different types vary a lot with their water needs ? Which type do better with MORE and which do better with LESS ?

edwmax

Short answer ... lots .... Do a forum search for 'water needs'. I've wrote several post about bananas water needs. ... Bananas transpire 1 to 1 1/2 gal of water per day; may be more. So not only do you need to replace water lost to daily soil evaporation (see your local Ag weather reports) but transpiration too.


I'm in zone 8b/9a and my sprinklers run in the morning and in the mid afternoon. I turn on the sprinkler when I see the leaves start to fold down. .... When the temps are over 100, the sprinklers run all most constantly. Afternoon shading is very beneficial here. Water on the leaves help to quickly cool the plant. Plants with foiled leaves are NOT growing. Leaf folding is the best indicator to watering of in ground banana plants



Drip lines will replace the soil water lost to evaporation, but sprinkler or high misting lines will cool the plants during high heat periods (90 deg Plus). Remember when the air temp is 90+ the sun radiant heat on the banana leaf is 105+.


Soil evaporation: In my area the average soil evaporation is 1/4 inch per day. Mature banana roots spread about 16 ft; this would be a lost of 30 gals per day of water that should've been available to the plant.



Many Members here do have sprinklers or misting systems on their bananas, but few will admit to it (??? hahaha). .... If you want bananas to eat, you have to water!

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Backyard Banana Joe

I don't have misting or dripping systems. What makes you think people don't want to admit it!?!?! I use rainwater from my roof. Then just dump it in the trees. I don't REALLY need to water, but I think it helps the plant out the have a little "extra" water lol

edwmax

Yea .... well living in central FLA is like living in a hothouse/greenhouse. The water table is about 24 inches down and one can see steam/evaporation raising from the surface. So Bananas can get their roots down to water.


Why does your username listed as 'Banned' but you can still post??????

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Backyard Banana Joe

I added that just for the heck of it lol

edwmax

haha ... thought so....

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cincinnana

You are in the sacramento region.......?

Me, I have variable drip .....0-30gph in containers and landscape.
And I hand water some plants also.

Do some long haul reading for drip irrigation...
Your gardening expierience will steer you in the right direction.
Irrigation, you will find in somewhat hands-on .............at first.
Then as you dial in the plants and landscapes requirements......your good.

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Akula

Sacramento doesn't get much water compared to the Gulf Coast and Florida (20" vs. 60-90") so irrigation by hand using a hose or on a meter system would be necessary. My city gets from 60"-90" of rainfall a year with summer months higher and winter months lower. I water by hand using a hose when the soil is dry (no rain in three days) but as the patch has increased in size hand watering is taking a lot time. If you have six or less plants than watering by hand using a hose is probably okay but if you have more plants its get tiresome.

I kinda like the bubbler system which puts larger amounts of water down closer to the root zone than the spray types emitters. I would allocate one bubbler per plant positioning it between the plants if they are planted in a row. I think you can adjust the size of the canopy of the bubbler and the amount of water emitted. They look pretty efficient and effective in youtube videos. Also mulch heavily to minimize evaporation from the soil. I bag my St. Augustine lawn clippings and use them.

I don't have a well and am on city water so I try to minimize my watering to when needed and I don't mist my plants either. My leafs fold every day and I don't have any problem with growth but my plants do get a lot of water.

Good luck!