Hi everyone -followowingup on Nickmaccann's comment
You can separate the pup once it has developed several leaves with no harm to the parent plant at all; just sever that section of the Corm it is attached to and then dig the entire section up and relocate; there shouldn't be more then 4-5 plants growing in a mat at any given time, this enables more nutrients to be uptaken by the individuals and optimum fruit production will result.
This site
BANANA Fruit Facts talks about pruning being important for fruit bearing
Pruning - Only one primary stem of each rhizome should be allowed to fruit. All excess shoots should be removed as soon as they are noticed. This helps channel all of of the plant's energy into fruit production. Once the main stalk is 6 - 8 months old, permit one sucker to develop as a replacement stalk for the following season. When the fruit is harvested, cut the fruiting stalk back to 30 inches above the ground. Remove the stub several weeks later. The stalk can be cut into small pieces and used as mulch.
What do the experts say about pruning?
It will be awhile before i have to worry about pruning for my new plants but my main goal is eating home grown nanas and i have one mat with several pstems -should it be thinned now or next spring?
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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina
