halo

I have a few bananas growing around the hacienda, and after having them for a year or two, I am having to re-arrange how I have bananas. First off, is there any way to keep them from pupping and spreading so much? I have one or two around my house, and it is just getting way too big. I keep chopping the pups off, and keep 2 main stalks growing, but the more I chop the more they pup. Im thinking thats what they are supposed to do, but I dont want it getting so huge. And secondly, once a tree puts out bananas, what happens to the main tree? Ive seen some bananas groups down the road from me; they dont take care of them, they just grow wild, and they get bigger and bigger and bigger until they are just about taking over. Sorta like kudzu, only bigger... Im thinking Im going to transplant some pups down the back of my property farther from my house where they have room to grow, but Id still like to keep them tidy, if I can. Any suggestions? Thanks for any help.

Steve in France

Kathy have you thought about growing dwaft fruiting types and the different flowering Ornata types like "Royal Purple. Have a look at the link the guys posted the other day for some new Musa http://www.going-bananas.com/catalog.htm .
I replace plants that don't do what I want with something better , it beats hanging on to stuff that does not perform as you want even if you have put in a lot of time with the old plants.
later
Steve

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Always looking for a lost pup

halo

Thanks, Steve. The dwarf varieties is a great idea. I have a dwarf red and a super dwarf cavandish, and hadnt even thought of getting more. But I will. If Im going to have banana trees, I do want the kind that fruit. And oh my, you really didnt have to provide that link, did you? What interesting reading!! An education in itself. Thanks!

natedogg1026

is it true, the more pups u chop, the more pups u get back??

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Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.