keys to success in planting bare root bananas?
Hi all, I'm new to forum and new to bananas. Over the last 4 months I've started planting bananas in my small yard. I'm up to 10 plants of 9 varieties and am running out of space!
I wanted to start a thread about planting bare root banana plants because this is something I've struggled with a bit. All the potted bananas I've bought are doing great and just take off as soon as I put them in the ground; whereas the bareroot plants I've planted seem to struggle. I gather from previous posts, this behavior of bare root plants is not atypical -- it takes them a while to get situated and grow new roots, but I was hoping you experts might weigh in on the best approach for planting bare root.
What I've gleaned from previous posts is the following, but I'm eager to read corrections or other suggestions for success:
1. Don't overwater. Plant in well draining soil and after the initial watering at planting, only keep moist and allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry. After new leaves emerge, water more heavily.
2. Don't plant too deep. Plant the corm at the depth it had been growing.
3. Don't fertilize until new leaves have emerged.
4. Keep warm, but in shade for the first couple of weeks.
Potting initially and then transplanting into the ground can help with controlling overwatering and location (e.g., placement in shady spots).
Thoughts?
Cheers,
Mark
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