Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

My banana plants are doing well since I planted the pups 6 weeks ago. I now have small pups on my Kandrian and Goldfinger plants. Hopefully the Blue Java and Orinoco pup soon. :woohoonaner:

After I planted the bananas I put about 4 to 6 inches of wood chips all around the plants to hold the moisture in. A couple of weeks ago, i raked the wood chips back and put a shovel or 2 of black cow at the base. When I raked the wood chips away, I saw a bunch of new roots growing just under the wood chips and now I am wondering how I should top dress with my garden compost and manure. I do not want to harm the new roots or pups that are being put out.

:2722:

Should I just put the compost/maure on top of the wood chips like I do with the chop and drop or should I try to carefully rack the chips off and then add compost and cover?

How much of the compost/manure should I feed on them? I used one bag of Black Cow to dress all four plants the last time.

Scott

Re: Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

I just keep layering it all on top. Bananas have many feeder roots you wouldn't want to chop up. When it rains it all drips down into the roots anyway.

Re: Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

Thanks Janelle. This is great news!

Re: Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

I now have 5 pups on both the Kandarian and the Goldfinger so I must be doing something right. The Blue Java and Orinoco are still pupless. All of the new plants are putting on a new leaf every 5 to 6 days and are getting much longer and wider. This site is a great source of information on the new grower.

Re: Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

A banana is a banana is a banana is not right.
All bananas are different. They do not all pup the same, or anything else.

Re: Feeding compost and manure to young plants
 

I layer mulch or top dress my plants too.:)
Remember this years mulch and top dressing becomes next years soil that your plant will grow into.
The plant will quickly adapt.

You may top dress or mulch with any organic material you can find.
Yardwaste is free.
Big box stores usaully have broken bag material on hand all the time....pick up some when possible and keep it on hand and it does not go bad.


Buy next years materials/fertilizers now at end of season prices.