Kevin

I plan to plant my Dwarf Orinoco outside in the spring. It is currently in a pot, growing well, and 40" to the tip of the tallest leaf. (Btw, what is the correct way of measuring the height of a banana?). I would like some tips on how to plant it, wht type of soil, and how to properly stake it, so that it doesn't break and/or blow over in strong winds.

r3tic

I measure a banana from the point where the new leaf comes out, basically the trunk height. For soil you want to go with an organic, quick draining one. If the soil in your yard is not quick draining then you will want to consider a raised bed. In clay soils if you dig a hole and then plant in it, you basically make a pool of water and end up with a rotting banana. To help prevent wind damage, start strengthening you plants now by using an oscillating fan on them. That will encourage the plants to grow stronger. I'll leave the staking question to someone else as I have never done it with bananas before.

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Kevin

Thanks. The free-draining won't be a problem - it will be on a slope. Is it good to use lots of compost? Could too much burn the roots? I've got lots of leaf mould that I'd like to use. I'll put the pot outside when the temps get nice, and start digging the bed. I have a fan running now, but I can't get it strong enough for the plant to withstand 100-km/hr winds! It's very windy on the prairies, and occasionally we get strong storms. Can I do anything to protect the plant from this?
Oh, and if I measure to where the new leaf comes out, it is only 2' tall.

Abnshrek

The plant you describe when planted doesn't need staking. you put it in the ground make sure the soil supports the root structure and not up the P-stem or you will end up with problems.

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pitangadiego

Broadly speaking, dwarf plants have about 6' of trunk when full grown and ready to flower/fruit, and shouldn't require staking or support.

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Kevin

Ah, okay, thanks. How about soil? I'm really not expecting it to flower, but it would be a bonus. I think it will be too big by this fall to bring in for the winter, so I think that will be it for this plant. I hope I can get some pups, though. How can I make it grow as fast as possible, so I can get a nice plant to give a bit of a tropical look to my yard? I said I have leaf mold - could I use strictly this, with maybe some other compost added? Would that be too much nutrients? My Dad tried this with tomatoes, and they grew to be monsters!!

pitangadiego

They pretty simple, water, fertilizer, sunlight, heat, compost.

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Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

Kevin

So, there's no chance of over-fertilizing?

CookieCows

It gets windy where I live too and I just have to stake the pups I put out in the spring. I'm a worrier! We put a small stake on each side of the plant and loop two sections of soft garden hose around the trunk attaching them to both sides so it can't bend in either direction and the hose won't cut into the trunk. Then after about a month we take it off.

We have cows and horses so we amend the soil with that in the spring and then after that I use store bought fertilizer. I think if you type in 'fertilizer' in the search area you'll find a ton of info in older threads. I still have to do that at times to remind myself of everything I've learned here! This forum is like being in school!! I have read and taken so many notes in the past.

Keep us posted!!

Deb

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