Fertilizer questions
 

I don't have access to a local source of Banana fertilizer. I have citrus and avocado fertilizer 12-5-8. What could I mix in to make this a nice blend for my bananas? Or, is the 12-5-8 o.k.? What is the ideal N-P-K ratio?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Andrew

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Here's a link that Bananaman88 posted in another thread :
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nelsons/...management.pdf
In it 13-3-37 is used along with other things .
I wonder what the members with all the bunches this year are using ?

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

You should be shooting for 9-3-27, but 16-16-16 is working good for me. However I have no hands yet so I can't really speak:)

Anyway, I think either or is fine, however the optimum is low in phosphorus, and 12-5-8 doesn't quite have the potassium they need. But it's probably still better than nothing.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

WOW! That was a cool document. Thank you!

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

To get a commercial-size crop, a banana plant needs 1 lb of Nitrogen and 1.5 lbs of Potash in the one year period ending with the bloom. It needs very little phosphorus, and it will ignore excess phosphorus. Now your soil might already have these elements in abundance, or perhaps the plants growing there have used them up. Either test the soil or start applying fertilizer.

It is helpful to know that the N-P-K on fertilizer labels is percentage by weight, regardless of whether it is liquid or solid. For example, a 9-3-27 fertilizer is 9% Nitrogen by weight. For this fertilizer, you need to apply 1 lb divided by 9% = 11 lbs of it over the one year period.

A better ratio for bananas is 20-5-30 water-soluble fertilizer -- soon to be appearing in my online store, Plants That Produce.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

I use 12-2-14.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Here in zone9b, I have used 8-8-8, but for better harvest, I began to use
10-10-10 fertilizer. I believe this works well.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Forgot to mention that I fertilized once ,about a month ago,and used 13-13-13 because it was cheap and easy to get . In previous years I used all likes of fertilizers and tea and sprayed liquid fertilizer each week .

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Thanks for all the helpful information! One last question: Is it o.k. to fertilize when my plants are in bloom?

Thank you,

Andrew

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

you could add K-mag. And yes, you can fertilize while in bloom!

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Richard, I like your website! Waiting for your special fertilizer made just for bananas. I am using Banana Fuel right now. I got it from one of the eBay vendors. It is a 15-5-30 formula with essential minor elements.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

I have used the 5 dollar bag of 10-10-10 from lowe putting on about a cup every two to three weeks and it has worked great. It may not be the "best" mixture, but the ones I have ferilized with it have done great. I think this is one of the things that you can spend as much much as you want.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

I'm not sure which 5-lb product you purchased. Looking at Lowes online for Durham NC, they have 5-lb Miracle Gro 10-10-10 for $11. That works out to $11/5 = $2.20 per lb, or more importantly, $2.20 / 10% = $22 per pound of Nitrogen.

That is quite expensive in terms of current prices. I would look for a primary fertilizer that also contains micros for under $15 per pound of Nitrogen. But maybe you did! What was the product, and how much did it cost?

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

It was a 40 lb bag. I believe it was where all the fertilizer for the lawns were where the mulch is.

I doubt it has any minors.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

I checked the lowes website but it wasn't on it. You might have to check out your local store to see if they have it. I bought it last year so I suspect the price may have gone up a few dollars too because of gas prices.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

Ahh, very good! 40 lbs of 10-10-10 for $5 is $1.25 per pound of Nitrogen!! I can't even buy it wholesale (a pallet at a time) for that price!

:woohoonaner:

Consider adding some ashes from charcoal or wood each time you feed your plants. Use about the same quantity as your fertilizer. Mix it in with the top inch of mulch to prevent aggregation.

Re: Fertilizer questions
 

FYI - In June 2007 I bought UN-32 (liquid 32-0-0) for $409/ton and in April 2008 it cost me $523/ton. It would be higher yet now because of higher oil prices.

I use a little of that, and some steer manure, but put on quite a bit of KMag that cost about $.20/pound when I bought something like 800 pounds for Joe Real, Benny, and myself. My soil already is naturally fairly high in phosphorus.