How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground)

JaredZone9a · 06-02-2021, 10:39 PM

Planted a few bananas today and forgot how loose or packed to make the soil. My plants tend to want to lean if I make them too loose which bugs me because I’m OCD. I want them straight. :-)

sirdoofus · 06-02-2021, 11:48 PM

I am assuming the soil is decent, so if it were me I would pack it fairly well with my foot....but I don't usually put all of my weight on it. The roots don't care and will move through anything regardless. A good layer of mulch on the top will give them a nice loose area to utilize if you are concerned about it and will help retain moisture

cincinnana · 06-03-2021, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

Planted a few bananas today and forgot how loose or packed to make the soil. My plants tend to want to lean if I make them too loose which bugs me because I’m OCD. I want them straight. :-)

For me...I make the hole while adding amendments and ferts.
I make the soil loose but it settles over a few days.
I use a tiller to really whip up the soil and amendments.
Pack your plant in hole like you would any other plant...gentle yet firm.
Allow loose soil for your plants roots to spread horizontally.

On the other hand some growers in the tropics dig a hole pop in the plant and kick some dirt on it.

Your plants are still small so you may prop something heavy against it till your plant sorts itself out and the soil settles in a few weeks.
Grow em like you stole em.

.

Till the largest hole by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Basjoo planting
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

JaredZone9a · 06-03-2021, 09:53 AM

I think I may have packed them too tight. I stood on top and packed it with my feet. I’m worried that the water and fert won’t seep down to the roots that well. I’ll have to really soak it. Maybe I should dig it up and make it more fluffy and loose.

pitangadiego · 06-03-2021, 04:49 PM

OCD and bananas don't mix.

cincinnana · 06-03-2021, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

I think I may have packed them too tight. I stood on top and packed it with my feet. I’m worried that the water and fert won’t seep down to the roots that well. I’ll have to really soak it. Maybe I should dig it up and make it more fluffy and loose.

Looks perfect....As long as you did not use a post hole digger to plant ...you might have a shot

sirdoofus · 06-03-2021, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

I think I may have packed them too tight. I stood on top and packed it with my feet. I’m worried that the water and fert won’t seep down to the roots that well. I’ll have to really soak it. Maybe I should dig it up and make it more fluffy and loose.

How did you amend the soil? If you amended it well, then you should have nothing to worry about.

Having said that, if its going to bother you....bananas are supposed to cause smiles, not stress.....then I would just re-do it in the manner that you feel best about.

Regardless of what you do at this point, you will learn something valuable about growing bananas

JaredZone9a · 06-03-2021, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitangadiego

OCD and bananas don't mix.

I think it will help me reduce pups and keep the leaves pruned. Lol

JaredZone9a · 06-03-2021, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdoofus

How did you amend the soil? If you amended it well, then you should have nothing to worry about.

Having said that, if its going to bother you....bananas are supposed to cause smiles, not stress.....then I would just re-do it in the manner that you feel best about.

Regardless of what you do at this point, you will learn something valuable about growing bananas

I used locally sourced organic garden soil and black cow mix together. Not sure that’s the best mix, but hopefully they’ll grow with my fertilizer I’m about to lay down soon.

I top dressed with some cypress mulch.

sirdoofus · 06-03-2021, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

I used locally sourced organic garden soil and black cow mix together. Not sure that’s the best mix, but hopefully they’ll grow with my fertilizer I’m about to lay down soon.

I top dressed with some cypress mulch.

Not sure what black cow mix is but it certainly sounds reasonable and most 'garden soils' for sale have a fair amount of sand in the mix....at least in my experience. I think you are good and the mulch on top will ensure the mix doesn't dry out and become hard, so should accept water in fine fashion.

So I would sit back and enjoy the show you are about to be treated to

crazy banana · 06-03-2021, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

I think it will help me reduce pups and keep the leaves pruned. Lol

No pruning of leaves unless they are brown or dead. Banana plants are not like palm trees. Leaves are needed for photosynthesis and development of a strong plant, inflorescence and fruit bunch.

JaredZone9a · 06-04-2021, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Looks perfect....As long as you did not use a post hole digger to plant ...you might have a shot

I used a shovel and dug a large pit. :-)

JaredZone9a · 06-04-2021, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

No pruning of leaves unless they are brown or dead. Banana plants are not like palm trees. Leaves are needed for photosynthesis and development of a strong plant, inflorescence and fruit bunch.

I see a lot of farmers pruning lower leaves, but leaving 4-5 leaves at top. I think you’re right in that they definitely need leaves for photosynthesis. Sometimes I wonder if trimming a few lower leaves would reduce the amount of resources going to those leaves a provide more energy and fuel for new larger leaves and also provoke vertical growth or push the plant into fruiting earlier if it were close to that stage. I’m just a newbie with limited experience and knowledge in plants other than corals. So just ignore any of my goofy ideas. :-)

JaredZone9a · 06-04-2021, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdoofus

Not sure what black cow mix is but it certainly sounds reasonable and most 'garden soils' for sale have a fair amount of sand in the mix....at least in my experience. I think you are good and the mulch on top will ensure the mix doesn't dry out and become hard, so should accept water in fine fashion.

So I would sit back and enjoy the show you are about to be treated to

Black Kow is a cow manure 0.5-0.5-0.5 that is Suppose to be beneficial for flowers, shrubs, and trees. Says it feeds continuously for 3 months.

wstrickland1 · 06-04-2021, 10:24 AM

Black Kow has worked pretty well for me. My best results were with digging a hole and 50/50 Black Kow and miracle grow garden soil. Believe it or not I planted tissue cultures directly in the ground with that mix, no doting or babying and they skyrocketed. I follow the rules now but don't seem to have near the success. Weird.

I'd also use Black Kow like I would mulch here and there. I need to go get some...

JaredZone9a · 06-04-2021, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

Black Kow has worked pretty well for me. My best results were with digging a hole and 50/50 Black Kow and miracle grow garden soil. Believe it or not I planted tissue cultures directly in the ground with that mix, no doting or babying and they skyrocketed. I follow the rules now but don't seem to have near the success. Weird.

I'd also use Black Kow like I would mulch here and there. I need to go get some...

Did the sun affect the TC’s at all?

wstrickland1 · 06-04-2021, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredZone9a

Did the sun affect the TC’s at all?

literally received them, opened up the USPS package and planted the wimpy TC in the ground. Every time I've done it it worked not good but fantastic. I did the same with (3) Gran Nains as well. That was before I joined B.org. Now I know better. I don't break rules. I don't want to get corm-shamed because I have been corm-shamed and it hurts....

I mean who knew you had to baby the hell out of them...I sure didn't. But now I do.

wstrickland1 · 06-04-2021, 12:02 PM

The June 10 picture was deleted (by me) from my gallery therefore doesn't show up on the post, but just know that on June 10 it was taken out of the shipping box and planted. Also to note I watered the hell out of it because after all it's a banana and bananas need lots of water. Who knew these little tissue cultures would rot if you watered them too much.
Ole Lou will be 1 year old in 6 days. I don't have anything special planned but we may smoke some boston butts or brisket.

Happy Birthday Lou

06-02-2021, 10:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
JaredZone9a Location: Bacliff, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 244 BananaBucks : 28,967 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 410 Times Was Thanked 159 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) Planted a few bananas today and forgot how loose or packed to make the soil. My plants tend to want to lean if I make them too loose which bugs me because I’m OCD. I want them straight. :-)

06-02-2021, 11:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,094 BananaBucks : 38,877 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,236 Times Was Thanked 1,284 Times in 637 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Re: How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) I am assuming the soil is decent, so if it were me I would pack it fairly well with my foot....but I don't usually put all of my weight on it. The roots don't care and will move through anything regardless. A good layer of mulch on the top will give them a nice loose area to utilize if you are concerned about it and will help retain moisture __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts??

06-03-2021, 09:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
JaredZone9a Location: Bacliff, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 244 BananaBucks : 28,967 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 410 Times Was Thanked 159 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) I think I may have packed them too tight. I stood on top and packed it with my feet. I’m worried that the water and fert won’t seep down to the roots that well. I’ll have to really soak it. Maybe I should dig it up and make it more fluffy and loose. Last edited by JaredZone9a : 06-03-2021 at 10:02 AM.

06-03-2021, 04:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 197,704 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,732 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) OCD and bananas don't mix. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

06-04-2021, 10:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 968 BananaBucks : 69,143 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 307 Times Was Thanked 1,430 Times in 597 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) Black Kow has worked pretty well for me. My best results were with digging a hole and 50/50 Black Kow and miracle grow garden soil. Believe it or not I planted tissue cultures directly in the ground with that mix, no doting or babying and they skyrocketed. I follow the rules now but don't seem to have near the success. Weird. I'd also use Black Kow like I would mulch here and there. I need to go get some...

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06-04-2021, 12:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 968 BananaBucks : 69,143 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 307 Times Was Thanked 1,430 Times in 597 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: How loose/tight do you leave your soil (in ground) The June 10 picture was deleted (by me) from my gallery therefore doesn't show up on the post, but just know that on June 10 it was taken out of the shipping box and planted. Also to note I watered the hell out of it because after all it's a banana and bananas need lots of water. Who knew these little tissue cultures would rot if you watered them too much. Ole Lou will be 1 year old in 6 days. I don't have anything special planned but we may smoke some boston butts or brisket. Happy Birthday Lou

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