Forcing Bananas?
 

Hello all. Is it possible to "force" a banana to flower like a pineapple? Would the same techniques like calcium carbide and water work? I was wondering because of the fact that someday, i'm going to want to grow a tall variety but not have a pot big enough for it to reach maturity. i realize that the fruit size may be smaller,but something is better than nothing, right?:2738:

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

I haven't had much experience with fruiting bananas, but I've not experienced or heard of bananas having a sure-fire way to induce or force fruiting. As bananas grow widespread, shallow root systems, keeping them in pots can have a bonsai effect that can cause them to mature sooner. But if the plant isn't happy or the container won't allow it to achieve a large enough size the mother plant often stalls out and the begins to sucker. This actually has an "anti-fruiting" effect on the plant. The most reliable way to ensure fruiting to allow the plant to grow in the ground. In containers, because the plant's growth is restricted, it's really a toss up. Sometimes they fruit sooner, but with lower yields, other times they don't fruit at all. The general rule I've been told to have the best chances for success is to grow it in as big a container as possible (30 + gallons) and choose smaller varieties that are under 10 feet. Dwarf varieties and a handful of varieties such as the Hua Moa and the Veinte Cohol are reputed to be the fastest to fruit and most likely to fruit in containers. Super dwarf varieties, however, are notorious for being finicky and difficult to fruit. Additionally, high nitrogen fertilizing will increase vegetative growth, so as fruiting time get near, make sure to back off nitrogen intensive fertilizer. Hope this helps! Best wishes,
Andy

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

most likely no. I wonder, what if one were to be root bound for a while? stress it out? I've seen Rajapuri's on google in real small pots, throwing out small flowers.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

if you do find a way let the world know..i do not know of anyone who has been successful,with good fruit..it probably can be done with certain hormones on a small scale,, but what about the fruit..flowers are nice but i like no i love the fruit..lots of PLANTS can be forced by light manipulation,,but i believe bananas are triggered by time not light cycles

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

I think forcing a banana to do anything other than be itself would fall under myths.. :^)

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

It seems to me anytime I put down Azomite my plants start to flower. I stopped giving Azomite to my bananas for this reason. An entire mat would throw out flowers so all 6 plants would flower at different ages and size. I am not careful with Azomite and only feed to plants that are about to flower or flowering. This time of year I have provide it to my blueberries and peach tree and have seen a BIG different in flowers. I would recommend that you try Azomite and see if it flowers shortly there after.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

What is Azomite?

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

I believe it has fluorine in it.. I use Fish emulsion to make things bloom. :^)

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Would gibberellic acid do anything? it has been used to induce flowering in taro.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

My understanding is that there is a genetically predetermined number of leaves that must be formed because a flower stalk can form in bananas. I can't swear to the veracity of this statement, but if it is true, you need to speed up the rate of leaf production by providing ample warmth, water, nutrients, and light. Growth hormones such as those in kelp can also help to increase the rate of growth.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

I wish that myth was true.

It's easy to increase leaf production but that will not hasten the bloom.

It's best to try and simply maintain a healthy plant.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

So, you are saying that you've counted the number of leaves put out from first emergence of a pup to bloom and if leaf production is rapid, more leaves will be produced before the bloom than for a plant that produces leaves more slowly? You've grown a heck of a lot more bananas than I have, but at least with the plants in my yard, the fast leaf producers are fast bloomers and the slow leaf producers are slow bloomers. And I'm pretty sure I've read that "myth" in scientific publications. Doesn't mean it is right, but I'd want to see some good data before I discarded it as a myth. Do you have such data?

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Common sense will tell you it shouldn't hasten the bloom, but I prefer to be certain and there was a slight possibility that it could work. I never considered comparing fast bloomers to slow bloomers, instead I compared the same plants under the exact same conditions and only increased leaf production in one group. Doing it this way allowed me to isolate the differences only related to leaf production.



When does a plant naturally increase leaf production?

It should take no time to answer, and that will lead you to realize it's myth.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Whoohoo Tony, nice find...

That thread should help some folks.

Re: Forcing Bananas?
 

Honestly Keith, I have no idea what you are talking about. There are several different factors that will naturally increase leaf production. I guess I'm just not smart enough to understand your cryptic comments.