Is it too late to transplant?

newbananagurl · 08-09-2014, 03:50 PM

New here - and new to bananas so please excuse if my question seems dumb...

I planted lots of different kinds of bananas into wooden containers my husband and I made. They are 2' x 4' x 2' tall. In them I planted 5 banana plants each, spacing them only about 6-8" or so apart, meaning to come back and transplant them when I finished doing other things around the garden. But they have grown so FAST from the little 6" high babies I planted about a month ago that my husband says it's too late to transplant them without killing them. He's afraid the roots are too intertwined with each other. They are anywhere from 3 to 5 feet tall now.

Should I just leave them or is it safe to transplant?

How far apart should they be spaced? (I read they liked to be planted in groups?)

Never grown bananas before and I don't want to mess them up they are so amazingly healthy and (for now) happy!

They are Williams, California Gold, Apple, Ice Cream, Grand Nain and Cavendish. All separated by type in different containers.

Thanks!

kubali · 08-09-2014, 04:53 PM

it's fine to transplant them again. Space them around 6-8 foot apart depends on kind and root system but that will be ok for those you described. I got all of the same except for Williams and mine are spaced like that and are perfectly growing and producing well.
they like to be planted in groups of 2 or more close so each can help support the other from the elements wind sun etc. If the roots are twined together you will not hurt them buy cutting them to separate them if you have to. Bananas are tougher than you might expect. hope this helps you.

bananagurl this might help you find some answers to your questions>>>>Banana Trees Banana Plants<BR> How to Grow Information.

my answers aren't always perfect but I always try to help.

newbananagurl · 08-09-2014, 05:46 PM

Thank you for the quick answer and thanks for the link!

I suppose then 1 plant per 2'x4' container?

Olafhenny · 08-10-2014, 06:48 PM

It is never too late to transplant a banana, as long as you can still carry it from
one location to the next

If you are living in HZ 9 or better (your profile does not state that for pertinent advice
very important information), you will probably want to raise them for fruit and in that case,
I would do as Kub suggested. However, if you live like I do in cooler climes and raise
them for the display of their leaves and the inherent exotic value in your are, you might
want to display them in patches of three or 4. For that you can plant them close
together (or leave them, where they are) or plant them each in a different location
and wait for them to produce pups and each to form its own patch.

Good luck,
Olaf

Olafhenny · 08-10-2014, 07:40 PM

Hi Girl,

I had originally tried to enbed this photo into my previous post to show a foliage based
sample for cooler regions, but either flickr or bananas have changed the method again,
so I am trying to insert here a link to the photo instead.

At this time I do not know if and how it works, but it should get you there.

https://flic.kr/p/oCYpYo

Sorry,
Olaf

PS: Yes, it will get you there. I just tried it.

Also a 2' by 4' x 2'deep container is plenty big enough for two plants c/w their pups
for some time to come. since you are talking about leaving them in containers,
I must assume, that you are not having any outdoor space or want to bring them
inside for the winter? Unless you tell us where you live or at least your hardiness
zone, and what you want to do with them next winter, we are at a loss to give you
any pertinent advice.

newbananagurl · 08-11-2014, 12:10 PM

Hi Olaf,

Wow beautiful pictures! talk about a green thumb!

I am in zone 9a, sorry. I should have filled out my profile...

I built above ground containers mainly to keep my large dogs out of the garden areas...They love to dig! Also my soil is very, very sandy, so I wanted to be able to custom blend better.

I am not bringing them in during the winter, but I do plant to "enclose" them into their very own green house. I built a pvc/plastic area around the banana boxes they are in now and wow do they love it.

I have a water mister over their heads and when it is scorching hot outside, I can turn the mister on them and they seem to love the gentle water mist and humidity, so I am going to continue that on a larger scale, regardless of where they are grouped. In the winter time it would be easier to give them emergency heat that way too.

Thank you for your answer. I will leave 2 per box because I really, really want them to fruit. They are just beautiful plants and I am thrilled with the thought of having our own bananas!

Olafhenny · 08-12-2014, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbananagurl

I am not bringing them in during the winter, but I do plant to "enclose" them into their very own green house. I built a pvc/plastic area around the banana boxes they are in now and wow do they love it.

Hi Girl,
Here is a much cheaper more practical means to built a support structure for your vinyl or
polyetheline shelter and than a wood frame would be.

PVC irrigation pipe is quickly assembled with the use of a few fittings to any size or shape
frame you envisage, similar to Lego without the use of screws, nails or even glue. In Spring
they can be easily dismantled and stored away, where they use minimal space

The three little structures below show such assemble made from ¾” pipe your structures
will probably have to be larger, than the ones shown in the pictures, then just use Diagonal
cross braces with a tee and a 45^ elbow at each end. To secure them into the ground I usually
pound a properly sized bamboo pole ground at each corners of the structure and shove the
pipe ends over it

If you decide to go that route, I which you the best of luck

Olaf
One Caveat though, these polyethylene shelter are very warm, when the sun shines, but during
cold nights they provide only minimal insulation. I even tried sandwiching the bubble wrap you
see in the last pic. Between sheets of construction grade vapour barrier and it mad very little
difference.

jeffaroo · 08-13-2014, 12:23 AM

I do the wood frame thing with 2x2s and go buy the auto airshock greenhouse Window opener thing at harbor freight. Set it for 85-90 degrees and you have cheap insurance

08-09-2014, 03:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
newbananagurl Location: Northeast FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 2,501 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Is it too late to transplant? New here - and new to bananas so please excuse if my question seems dumb... I planted lots of different kinds of bananas into wooden containers my husband and I made. They are 2' x 4' x 2' tall. In them I planted 5 banana plants each, spacing them only about 6-8" or so apart, meaning to come back and transplant them when I finished doing other things around the garden. But they have grown so FAST from the little 6" high babies I planted about a month ago that my husband says it's too late to transplant them without killing them. He's afraid the roots are too intertwined with each other. They are anywhere from 3 to 5 feet tall now. Should I just leave them or is it safe to transplant? How far apart should they be spaced? (I read they liked to be planted in groups?) Never grown bananas before and I don't want to mess them up they are so amazingly healthy and (for now) happy! They are Williams, California Gold, Apple, Ice Cream, Grand Nain and Cavendish. All separated by type in different containers. Thanks! Last edited by newbananagurl : 08-09-2014 at 04:03 PM. Reason: photo didn't upload

08-09-2014, 04:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
kubali kubali Location: lakeland,fl Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: kub Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 996 BananaBucks : 37,054 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,939 Times Was Thanked 1,438 Times in 627 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,608 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? it's fine to transplant them again. Space them around 6-8 foot apart depends on kind and root system but that will be ok for those you described. I got all of the same except for Williams and mine are spaced like that and are perfectly growing and producing well. they like to be planted in groups of 2 or more close so each can help support the other from the elements wind sun etc. If the roots are twined together you will not hurt them buy cutting them to separate them if you have to. Bananas are tougher than you might expect. hope this helps you. bananagurl this might help you find some answers to your questions>>>>Banana Trees Banana Plants<BR> How to Grow Information. my answers aren't always perfect but I always try to help. Last edited by kubali : 08-09-2014 at 05:04 PM.

08-09-2014, 05:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
newbananagurl Location: Northeast FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 2,501 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? Thank you for the quick answer and thanks for the link! I suppose then 1 plant per 2'x4' container?

08-10-2014, 06:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,149 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? It is never too late to transplant a banana, as long as you can still carry it from one location to the next If you are living in HZ 9 or better (your profile does not state that for pertinent advice very important information), you will probably want to raise them for fruit and in that case, I would do as Kub suggested. However, if you live like I do in cooler climes and raise them for the display of their leaves and the inherent exotic value in your are, you might want to display them in patches of three or 4. For that you can plant them close together (or leave them, where they are) or plant them each in a different location and wait for them to produce pups and each to form its own patch. Good luck, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

08-10-2014, 07:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,149 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? Hi Girl, I had originally tried to enbed this photo into my previous post to show a foliage based sample for cooler regions, but either flickr or bananas have changed the method again, so I am trying to insert here a link to the photo instead. At this time I do not know if and how it works, but it should get you there. https://flic.kr/p/oCYpYo Sorry, Olaf PS: Yes, it will get you there. I just tried it. Also a 2' by 4' x 2'deep container is plenty big enough for two plants c/w their pups for some time to come. since you are talking about leaving them in containers, I must assume, that you are not having any outdoor space or want to bring them inside for the winter? Unless you tell us where you live or at least your hardiness zone, and what you want to do with them next winter, we are at a loss to give you any pertinent advice. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

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08-11-2014, 12:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
newbananagurl Location: Northeast FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 2,501 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? Hi Olaf, Wow beautiful pictures! talk about a green thumb! I am in zone 9a, sorry. I should have filled out my profile... I built above ground containers mainly to keep my large dogs out of the garden areas...They love to dig! Also my soil is very, very sandy, so I wanted to be able to custom blend better. I am not bringing them in during the winter, but I do plant to "enclose" them into their very own green house. I built a pvc/plastic area around the banana boxes they are in now and wow do they love it. I have a water mister over their heads and when it is scorching hot outside, I can turn the mister on them and they seem to love the gentle water mist and humidity, so I am going to continue that on a larger scale, regardless of where they are grouped. In the winter time it would be easier to give them emergency heat that way too. Thank you for your answer. I will leave 2 per box because I really, really want them to fruit. They are just beautiful plants and I am thrilled with the thought of having our own bananas!

08-13-2014, 12:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
jeffaroo Location: Lodi, CA Zone: 9b Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 258 BananaBucks : 71,710 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 70 Times Was Thanked 243 Times in 132 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Is it too late to transplant? I do the wood frame thing with 2x2s and go buy the auto airshock greenhouse Window opener thing at harbor freight. Set it for 85-90 degrees and you have cheap insurance __________________ Keep shoveling on the potash till the ground bleeds

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