caliboy1994

I was wondering what crops do well when planted underneath bananas (particularly ones that can be grown in California). I'd assume legumes like beans form a sort of symbiotic relationship with the plant where both parties benefit. How about other cover crops like squash, or maybe certain vegetables or fruits?

__________________
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~ Masanobu Fukuoka

Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer:
https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

redswe

Sweet potatoes work well just put them far enough away so they dont stay too moist.

__________________

Click for weather forecast

Worm_Farmer

I have been wanting to try Pumpkins!

Abnshrek

I grow Acorn squash, Pineapples, Cayenne Pepper, tomato's, strawberries, and cucumbers so far.. Banana Peppers and zucchini are next.. :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

sunfish

A cover crop is a crop planted primarily to manage soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in an agroecosystem

shannondicorse

Hi,

In the tropical location that I find myself (10deg N); I've used Sphagneticola (Wedelia) trilobata to rather good effect on a gravelly loam. I'm experimenting with it on clays; but it does not seem as terrific there. I'm also starting to try a kudzu, Pueraria phaseoloides, A forage Sweet Potato, Tradescantia zebrina (Zebrina pendula), Coccinea grandis and Momordica charantia (wild bitter melon) as exclusive groundcover crops per plot.

I'm planting bananas at 6 X 6 initial spacings.

Tradescantia, Coccinea & Momordica can be alternate hosts of banana pathogens.

Sphagneticola tends to be anti-nematode and helps against some pesty insects.

My main aim, however, is to do away with the need to weed the plots and to foster in situ nutrient conservation..

Caliboy, I'm just saying this because a good logical step might well be to plant temperate crops that deliver ecological services AND food too! So I think you are on track and you ought to shop around for low-light tolerating, rampant scrambling versions of beans, cukes, melons etc...

I am a live-off-the-land type and a medicinal herbalist, so several of the undercrops I chose were multiuse species.

How about that!



shannon

shannon.di.corse@gmail.com

bengtang

Don't plant kudzu or other climbing vines, they can kill bananas if they climb them. They twirl around the young leaves as they come out and don't let them open, they can break leaves. Other legumes are probably good, like peanuts, soy, etc. If they have enough light.

shannondicorse

Yet, Bentang, from experience, I find tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) very easy to maintain at 2metre X 2metre initial banana plant spacing. The vine does attempt to climb the banana pseudostem; but this can be controlled by weekly to fortnightly curbing of the kudzu immediately around the banana plant.

The payback in terms of tough grass reduction and soil amelioration is remarkable on sandy loams; and still pretty impressive on alluvial and vertisol clayey soils.

BTW, Ben, do you collect wild bananas and chance hybrids of wild X cultivar from your region?


shannon

shannon.di.corse@gmail.com

PR-Giants

My favorite cover crop for bananas is the Asiatic dayflower and wouldn't consider making Chinese food without it.

Yummy Yum Yum

__________________

PR-Giants Photo Gallery


15,000+ Varieties

cincinnana

The U.S. government has spent millions ......really millions to eradicate this noxious weed along the highways .
They planted it as an erosion control device ........ type of vegetation for the hillsides.
IT HAS GOTTEN LOOSE.
AND IT KILLS EVERYTHING IT CLIMBS UPON.
Everything!!
It is a non native invasive species that has taken over thousands of acres of land.
IN my humble opinion....I would not try it.
Pretty flowers ...generous seeder ........Disaster
Kudzu is not welcome here in the Miami and Ohio river valleys.
Just Sayin.

__________________

sunfish

cincinnana

Wow ...it really looks like that...... I am going to spray this post so it does not spread.....
Thx ToNy.

__________________

caliboy1994

I'm pretty sure it's too dry here for kudzu to become invasive. 15 inches of rain on average a year in my area. I don't plan on planting any perennial climbers, I'm already having to deal with creeping fig (Ficus pumila). Its roots are choking out my Namwah and slowing its growth, it choked out one of my Raja Puris to the point where I had to remove it, and I'm not going to let it touch any of my other plants.

__________________
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~ Masanobu Fukuoka

Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer:
https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

momoese

As you know I grow greens under my canopy.

caliboy1994

I do know that. I'm sure your vegetables are in full harvest now.

__________________
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~ Masanobu Fukuoka

Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer:
https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

momoese

I have a new crop of Arugula now. Tomatoes and peppers are also doing well. Kale is totally crazy!

caliboy1994

Kale? In the middle of summer? It's too hot for that here. I don't think it would enjoy the 100 degree heat of the North Valley.

__________________
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."
~ Masanobu Fukuoka

Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer:
https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

momoese

Yeah I know it's crazy, it has turned into a perennial. It's Dinosaur Kale. I cut off the whole tops along with the main stem and then it branches out new stems like a tree! Doesn't seem to mind the heat at all, just grows a little slower is all. Maybe it's because I use plenty of dust.