Hi everyone, not sure how long I will actualy be able to keep coming up with tips I'm no master grower by any means; I'll try to remember to add a tip as much as possible. Feel very free to contribute your own "banana growing tip of the day or week"!


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SOIL
The first thing to consider when growing banana is to use the proper soil. It is very important to use a well draining soil; I've found that banana like lots of water "but" do not like to be swimming so a MIXTURE and 20% PERLITE should be added to it so that you have good drainage. Do not use regular dirt when growing banana such as potting soil, or soil from a yard. Be sure the banana rhizome when planting has about 1/2" of the base covered with soil.

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'All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.' - - - T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

Fertilize and water

Fertilze and water your banana at about the same time with any type of balanced fertilizer to help the banana have vigrious growth durning the active growing season when conditions favor rapid growth.

Bananas are heavy feeders its' best to fertilize very lightly every time that you water with the exception being that when you don't fertilize if you are not seeing any active growth.
Use a balanced fertlizer ( Balanced fertilizer means - a fertilizer that has all 3 numbers on the label ). After initial watering we would not water again until your soil is dry to a 1/2" depth. ( Easiest to just use your finger to test the soil ). Don't expect this to be a plant that you "water once a week". Banana grow very fast and need the fuel and warmth,light and water to make it all happen, and remember to much of a good thing is a good thing with banana ahhahaa

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'All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.' - - - T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

Grow banana with HIGH HUMIDITY of 50% and higher is desirable. Hot, dry air will destroy the leaves.

Also understand that Because heat and humidity speeds up the process of converting starches into sugars, which ripens the fruit, bananas are carefully maintained at 58 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature and humidity conditions are monitored which helps rippen the fruit to perfection.

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'All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.' - - - T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

Hi Administrator. I think that you got those facts from the Banana Tree's Web Site. Right?

Yes, from our banana tips page. If you have any tip ideas feel free to post them here as well, I'm sure everyone would appreciate any tips you'd like to share!

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'All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.' - - - T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

A tip from an enthusiastic Banana grower in cold dark West Midlands of England.

If potting up a small Banana (tissue culture or germinated seed) please take care NOT to plant in too rich a compost. I have lost plants in the past by giving them high fertile compost.
They can take it as strong as you can give when the plants are about 2-3 feet tall but not until.

I am looking for like minded enthusiasts to exchange ideas etc. Would give ANYTHING to obtain "Ae Ae" (not available in UK)........

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Banana trees absolutely loveeeeee tomato plant food - I usally use about a tablespoon every other week around the top of the soil where they grow - thought I'd share some nice helpful information.
Hope

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Joe A

banana plant needs to be fertilized.
every plant needs (about): 300 g of N (nitrogen), 800 to 1200 g of K (potassium), 50 g of P(phosphorus), 50 g of Magnesium, 80 grams of Ca. these are the macro elements.
make sure to convert to the pure form of the element when you do the calcultions when you fertilize. and you have to have these elements on the growing season, like the time you usually irrigate your bananas.
example, if you irrigate 50 times, divide the amount you want to add by 50, but try to increase the K application before flower stage.
but these are all rough estimates, you can be more acurate when you do soil analysis. Because soil texture and soil nutrient contant variest from place to another. bye

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bob

I have found that banana's in the deep south do better with some aftersoon shade and of course keep them blocked from winds unless you like that "shredded" look. Always mulch well. This will help in the water saving dept. I get fantastic growth/health with my own soil mixture: 1/4 good potting soil, 1/4 tree bark (shredded or small chips), 1/4 chicken grit, 1/4 bunny-worm compost. I know that everyone is not able to get such a compost unless you also raise these critters together as I do, so just use any good compost or aged manure instead. Good growing from The Bamboo Jungle n Gardens!

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Make your words soft and sweet; you just may have to eat them someday.

I recently ordered a banana plant from The Banana Tree, and took it with me to my house in Sinaloa, Mexico, where I planted it in 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 sand. The first two weeks, it grew alittle over 8", and I hear it now is really taking off.
My growing tip for you guys, is to get the hell out of Ohio, or what ever terrible, cold place you live in, and head south........

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Jim, you are right on there! But I know folks in Ohio that are growing some monster banana's. I think the trick for growing large banana's in the north is to get the plant in the fall, plant it in about a six inch pot with loose, moisture retentive, potting mix and grow under lights in a fairly warm part of the house or a greenhouse. Then come time to grow outside you can be sure to get a large plant quickly. It would also help to grow them in a raised bed (they get warmer faster) or a very large pot. Being in south Alabama, I don't dig my plants in the fall....just mulch well and I have no problem getting monsters every year. There are tricks for the "yankees", though.

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Make your words soft and sweet; you just may have to eat them someday.

But it's all the more fun growing tropicals in the Great White North. More of a challenge. You really should try heading north

You know, Spec, (can I call you Spec?) 40 years ago, I tied a snow shovel to the grill of my car and drove south until someone asked me: What's that thing on the front of your car? That's where I stopped. I guess there is some kind of masochistic pleasure in growing bananas and other tropical fruits while you are ass-deep in snow, but that is really not my idea of fun. I think gardening should be a way of working up a sweat so you can sit down and crack a cold beer. Now that's gardening!
All in fun, you guys; I don't want you throwing snowballs at me,
jim

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I can see your point. Having lived up north from birth to 20 and then getting the "hell outta Dodge!" I can't see myself struggling to grow my tropicals up there for the short growing season available. Of course, many people hate our average 95 degree days in the summer and don't want to deal with that. I get up before dawn to work in my gardens before the heat/humidity sets in, which is about two minutes after dawn.... My air conditioning season runs from mid march to mid Oct.......and I mean...we can't turn it off What I won't do for my jungle!

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Make your words soft and sweet; you just may have to eat them someday.

Hey, Spectrum.....Three weeks ago, I loaded up my pickup, and headed south to my home in Mexico. I was going over the mountains on Hwy 395 s near Mammoth Lake in California in the middle of a snow storm. I thought I would have to chain-up because of the storm, and then I remembered what you said about "growing tropicals in the Great White North" and "more of a challenge" and all that babbling you done. Well, it must of left an impression on me, because I had the damn-est urge to pull over and plant something. But, about that time I started to sober-up. I guess I'll never learn how rewarding it can be to see your own banana tree poking it;s little head up through the snow.
jim

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