Originally Posted by bananarama2

The one caveat I would add about mid-day watering is concerning the source of your water and its temperature. I water from a deep well, and sometimes the water runs pretty cold. In this case, I try to water at soil level only (say during a particularly hot spell), but like Tommy mentioned, the best time is early in the day. This provides the plant with enough moisture reserve to avoid wilting during the afternoon when the sun is hottest. In addition, I try to avoid watering after the sun goes down, so I don't cool the soil around the plant too much. So, often the bananas get a second little drink late afternoon, so the soil can warm up again. Note: Moist soil will hold heat much better than dry, helping plants in areas where the nights are often cool, such as the high prairies and some mountainous areas. My thoughts........