lukem5

Ok so, I am trying to make big ass bananas... Like those freak 12" cavendish you see in the store every now and then, how do they get them big like that?

I already know the basics

#1: Ratoon crops yields more/bigger bunches

#2: Reducing pups on the mat to only a few.

#3: Correct/precise fertilization for soil type/climate/cultivar etc

#4: Climate

#5: Removing bottom hands so the upper ones get bigger. Also removal of male flower.

But they must be doing something else to get these freak bananas.

Two studies I found suggested

Gibberlic acid sprayed on emerging bunches twice, once after last hand has come out, and once again a month later with ~300 ppm Gibberelic acid has shown to modestly increase finger size.

There is another study that showed foliar feeding of mainly potassium gave considerable increase in finger size.

I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas for making big fat bananas?

Nicolas Naranja

High soil fertility and warmth. I regularly see huge fat bunches with long fingers on plants that aren't receiving much care, but are in a perfect spot. Also, your irrigation has to be done right.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

Narnia

Northern Queensland where its very hot is where big cavs grow.

RyanL

What exactly do you mean by done right?

Yuri Barros

I know what you want to do.............an EXPORT QUALITY fruit............

I´m searching to do the same with my Cavendish..............

First I just leave the Plant grow freely...........including keep the inflorescence...........

Many many fingers split...............

Maybe too thick...........or something.................

Then I made a try in the subsequent bunch..............

I remove the bell...............and I pruned all outside fingers.............

Check my thread with pictures.................

Bunch Question...........