Pups?
 

At what point should I expect to see pups? I have several banana Plants, three of them are at about 5 feet or more but no pups yet. I kind of expected I would have since by now. They are about 4 months old themselves and seemy to be healthy and growing vigorously. One dwarf Orinoco, one California gold and one ice cream. I also have a d cav, but it's stunted do to shading. Still looks cool though.

Re: Pups?
 

Some take longer than others, but I would say, "soon" Usually around 5 feet, give or take... My Namwah was almost 7 feet when it pupped, but my Brazilian was 4 and D.Cav was under 3 as was VC...

Re: Pups?
 

Have you used the Fruit Fuel yet (about 3/4 cup dissolved in a bucket with 5 gallons of water once every month per plant)? I bet you it will take less than a month .....

Re: Pups?
 

Feeding extra potassium 0-0-60 and Azomite seems to generate pups in my mats.

Re: Pups?
 

Not that often and not that ratio. I think I am using 2tbs per 2 gal, per the package directions. I don't mind upping that a bit.

Re: Pups?
 

Where do you find 0-0-60 and what is azomite?

Re: Pups?
 

Azomite is a natural mineral compound I have been wondering about how well it works... 0-0-60 is potassium sulfate which adds sulpher and lowers Ph or muriate of potash which contains chlorine which can kill off beneficial microbes.

AZOMITE® | Trace Mineral Products | Grow Everything Better - Naturally

Re: Pups?
 

Pups should come soon, i have been using Fruit fuel and i love it about every 5 days as directed. most of my pups have come up in the last 6 weeks.

Dwarf Ornoco going crazy with many pups 4ft, also Super Dwarf 1.5 ft, 2 pups, Patupi 3ft i have 3 plants and 2 of them have given my 1 pup each , and blue java 5ft 1 pup so far. and ornamental little prince 3ft, pups like crazy! { I have plenty little prince if anybody is close to Houston TX. and would love to come and dig up a few}

I am looking for my 1st flower, so far none. its funny i had a blue java and little prince at my old house,i admit did not take very good care of them and never fertilized and blue java fruited on its 2nd year with many pups at about 10ft. they looked healthy. i sold that house 6yrs ago and didn't take any pups winch me (now i am kicking myself) i have purchased 10 different varieties from bananas.org members last yr and this yr. and i thank all of you for filling up my garden. All my plants are healthy and happy and vigorsly growing, i just can't get them to fruit!!! i am patiently waiting this is only their 2nd summer!!!

Happy growing to all,

Darla

Re: Pups?
 

Pups will come when the plant is ready, I haven't fertilized my bananas at all they have enough pups. Once they start, you'll have enough of them. I have anywhere from 1-4 on my young plants.

Re: Pups?
 

0-0-60 should be stocked at your local feed stores. This site https://www.kelp4less.com/ has azomite and other forms of potash if you are adverse to the 0-0-60.
FYI: Hasn't killed a nana at my house yet.
Price on the site isn't bad when you consider shipping is free.
I am not affiliated with this site but I do like their service.

Re: Pups?
 

Try using a nice layer of top mulch. We don't use any fertilizer and get plenty of pups.

This pup popped up this morning, it's the first pup of a Variegated Florida that I planted less than a month ago.

Good Luck :08:

Re: Pups?
 

0-0-60 seems a bit excessive.

Re: Pups?
 

The worse thing you could be doing at this point is adding more ferts to your plants.

Your plants are young and small.....they need time. Lots of time

Re: Pups?
 

I disagree. 5' is not small for a dwarf plant. All my plants 5'+ get the full amount of fertilizer.

Re: Pups?
 

I use 0-0-62 muriate of potash in my fertilizer mix and the naners love it!

Re: Pups?
 

I agree with your disagree.....somewhat.

Here is why.

In northern zones(me) it is becoming late in the season for "best optimal growth "
Many growers notice their plants slow plant growth and start adding more, more, more to there plants which I feel is detrimental to its health.

I feel the plants should ease into fall and lack of growth and not growing gangbusters and then having the rug ripped out from under it at end of season.
This is when a lot of zone pushers unknowingly will damage their plants wether it be bananas or other trops.

But I forgot Vettekid is panhandle coastal Fla. and still has some grow time left.
and ferts will still help. But his window is slowly closing.


So I Absolutely agree with what y'all said.

Re: Pups?
 

Here is a site I use when mixing nana fert.
Normally use 13-13-13, 0-0-60 and, 33-0-0 (all available here locally)
for an N-P-K 25-5-30 mix.
You can choose ingredients based on local availability and desired N-P-K. And, of course, vary your feeding program based on locality and experience. I agree young plants need time to establish. My older plants produce more and bigger bunches when fed regularly during growing season.

NPK Soil Fertilizer Calculator - Metric
:bananas_b

Re: Pups?
 

Azomite being a mined mineral compound has other beneficial trace minerals, but it is mostly Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate; a calcium supplement. ... Calcium build strong cell walls to keep the plant upright, it provides transport for other minerals and aids in the uptake of (some ?) minerals/nutrients by the roots. ... BUT, too much calcium is as bad as no Calcium. thus, the use a of a balanced fertilizer for minerals is recommended if you do not do soil test.

Re: Pups?
 

I'm not telling anyone what to do or not, but I think anyone serious about gardening should read a book like this; https://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Micro...+with+microbes and educate themselves about their soils and the life within it.

The author tries to keep it simple as possible. I don't usually read, but I have to say this was a good read. It also explains briefly how fertilizers came about and what they do.

My 2 cents. ;)