bananamarv

Hi All,

We live in Southern California and moved in to a house with a large patch of banana plants in the backyard in August 2018. The plants were never trimmed and had spread considerably so I thinned them out in September. Several bunches have grown and I've eaten the bananas, everything seemed fine. Small pups continue to form at the base of the mature plants.

The past few months, the mature plants do not seem healthy. The leaves are split and brown/yellow at the edges. There are black spots down the center of some leaves. One bunch began to form in an odd spot and there are black spots all over. I have also noticed a bit of white looking fungus on the ground around the base. While some of the smaller pups growing seem healthy, I am worried they might all be diseased.

Attached are some pictures - any ideas?

Backyard Banana Joe

possibly not enough airflow. some of my plants have it too.

PlantHoarder

I'm still pretty fresh off the farm in terms of nanner plant experiences but i've seen my plants show some of this once in a while.
It can be a drainage problem, and sometimes heat stress, sometimes nutrient issues.

If it's fungal it is likely it can be treated, it's important to limit potential bacterialogical outbreaks, because there are a few showing up in other parts of the world that are not treatable. They have had to burn the entire crop and not use the soil again.
Whomever does raise bananas needs to be quite on the ball about observing and limiting possible fungal issues. There are fungal sprays and drench solutions that could kill that.

I'd start by removing the potentially bad stuff and looking at the earth underneath it, if it is not attacking the roots then it's likely going to be OK but remove the bad stuff ASAP.
Keep that soil aerated too!

Dr earth anti-baterial is one brand I know of, all it takes is a little google-fu to come up with others. I've heard baking soda and cinnamon are potentially viable organic solutions for anti-microbial/anti-bacterial control agents but can't confirm.

PlantHoarder

Fungal outbreaks for 'nanners' are serious enough on a global scale, it is placing them on the endangered species list at least for the types commercially grown. Panama disease and its newer sibling are highly contagious, they cannot be eliminated even with best available sciences presently. They remain permanently in the soil once established.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...ng-bananas.htm

Ecologically between this issue and the issue of bee species dying off, these are very serious events.

Backyard Banana Joe

trim the plants without fruit to 4-5 leaves and throw away the leaves. I would cut down the one with the diseased fruit. also any trees that have fruited and the fruit is harvested. in case you don't know I think you have dwarf Orinoco.

sirdoofus

I don't know anything about growing bananas in warm climates, and only slightly more about growing them in colder climates.

However, I do garden with large quantities of wood chips and very often see fungal growth which looks like what you are seeing just below the surface. Usually it is either some form of wood rotting mushroom or mycorrhizal mat growing in concert with the soil and plants and has never been an issue.

Can't say its not some dreaded banana disease, but it looks a lot like something harmless.

If that helps anything

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