Companion plants to bananas
 

What are good companion plants for bananas??

:raftingnaner:

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

My number one is sweet potatoes. My number two is Gynura procumbens. They grow well in the masses of leaves and composting dump around them and both choke out weeds.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

Pineapples.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

Most popular worldwide i believe is cowpeas. They would improve the soil over time also. I like pink puff plants and sweet potatoes. I’ve had sweet potatoes for 2 years now and i doubt i could clear them out if i wanted. I like them since they are not too bushy so it’s still easy to get around.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

I read today that castor beans and coffee bean trees also are good companions to bananas.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

In most U.S. soils where we might grow bananas, that is not true. Don't get confused with "nitrogen fixation" vs. "nitrogen implantation". The former (e.g., from legumes) only occurs when specific nitrogen compounds and micro-organisms are already present in the soil. The latter isn't going to happen in southern U.S. soils -- even with soil amendments.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

Please understand that this whole idea of "companion plants" is B.S. from certain sectors of the nursery industry -- they want to sell you more plants. There is no horticultural basis for "companion plants".

On the otherhand, there is a basis for "indicator plants". For examples, plants that start to show stress prior to the main crop ... as an indication of low/high water, nutrients, etc.

Another term is "cohabitable plants" -- those that thrive in the same cultivation environment without disturbing the prime crop. For bananas grown outdoors year-round, pineapples are a good choice. Coffee is an extremely poor choice -- although they enjoy the shade their roots are extremely aggressive and out-compete the bananas.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

My favorite is laua'e fern (Microsorum grossum ‘Laua’e', synonym Phymatosorus grossus). It is tough enough to handle my tromping around, and when I pile chopped up trunks and leaves on top it just motates back up to the sun.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

http://www.bananas.org/f2/companion-...nas-36335.html

See my answer in this previous thread on this topic.

Re: Companion plants to bananas
 

Thanks! Thats a goof thread! :woohoonaner: