Banana hands not getting bigger

14 years ago

I have my first bunch of bananas on a tree. I have six hands that look healthy and bananas are full size but still green. Shortly thereafter bananas started falling off, so I added fertilizer. About six or eight hands fell off, but then more stayed on. Now there are an additional twenty or so hands, but the bananas are not getting any bigger, just little things with wilted flowers. The initial six hands are OK, though ants like them. I have shaded the entire bunch with a Tshirt, but the stem is a bit brown on top and the brown is getting bigger.

Do I need to shade more? It's pretty hot here in So. California.

Do I need to cut off the bunch below the first six hands that are growing and abandon the rest?

Do I need to fertilize even more?

Unless I hear it's not a good idea, I'm going to let them all grow and see what happens, and if nothing else, I'll learn what works with these extra hands in the future.

Comments (3)

jamesmaloy
14 years ago
Well I am surprised someone has not replied to this post. Maybe to many questions. I believe the six hands you talk about must be the first ones formed. Yes I would remove the remainder of smaller later formed bananas and let the large ones go ahead and mature. I don't think you really have to worry about to much sun on bananas ripening. The leaves alone should take care of that. About fertilizing, The plant or clump should be fertilized about once per week especially if it is a fruiting variety They are heavy feeders. Hope this helped although a little late.
James Maloy
kathartis
14 years ago
What Fertilizer do you Banana growers recommend? We have moved to zone 10a Bonita Springs, Fl from Ky. and I am learning to garden all over again for this zone! Love it for sure... Any help is appeciated.. Thanks
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smittee
14 years ago
I have no advice! I am still reading/learning. I can certainly relate to the statement of 'learning to garden all over again'. I am from Western Washington State. Need I say more. lol