Re: Musa/clay

I think that's right, Cathy. Most bananas I'm familiar with are from the wet tropics, so water is probably to their liking. Don't know about the fertilizer part, except it's true of the pineapple, a wet tropical bromeliad. You can't overfertilize a pineapple.

On Sep 5, 2005, at 2:03 PM, Cathy Carpenter wrote:

I was told that you cannot overwater or overfertilize bananas. Alas,
I do have heavy (understatement) clay. Will see how M. basjoo works
in a pot. Fruit is not necessary, I just want a healthy plant.

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On Sep 5, 2005, at 12:59 PM, james singer wrote:


My perspective, Noreen, is not very helpful. I've had only mixed
success with bananas, the edible type. In the last 6 years, I've
had only three crops--two Cuban reds and one dwarf cavendish. They
are planted in shade, part shade, and full sun. They are planted in
Florida black sand with enough irrigation to keep them from drying
out. I don't fertilize them; likely should. They've never been
harmed by cold.

Mostly, I've ignored them.

I have two suspicions--one, I need to fertilize them, maybe
heavily; and, two, I may need to up their irrigation schedule,
especially for those in full sun.

On Sep 5, 2005, at 1:20 PM, David Franzman wrote:



Hi Noreen

All of the information on culture for musas that I have found has
suggested sandy loam for the soil medium.  I will confess that my
interest lies with hardy or semi hardy bananas and so I have only
looked at about a half dozen varieties.  However it seems that for
the many folks I have talked with who have had stunted and under-
developed bananas, the root (pardon the pun) cause has been heavy
soils.  Here's a site that gives some care instructions including
the suggestions of sandy loamy soil.

http://members.fortunecity.com/coldhardyplants/hardiness/
musa_basjoo.htm

David
http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
----- Original Message ----- From: <TeichFlora@aol.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Musa/clay




Perhaps different species of Musa make a difference.  I have an
edible
banana, planted in the worst clay soil, goes through flooding at
times, and  does
wonderfully, producing clusters of the best tasting bananas
every  year. Most
of the bananas here in this area seem to be planted  in areas
where not much
else will grow, much like cannas, or such.  Perhaps  other
climate conditions
dictate how well they do in clay....how quickly it  dries out,
humidity, or
such.  I dont' know, I can just say what my  experience has
been.  Jim might have
more perspective on this.
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast

In a message dated 9/2/2005 11:02:35 PM Central Standard Time,
gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:

I've seen 'gardening in pure clay' in some of your questions/
responses.
Do  your M. basjoo grow in this 'pure clay', or to you have to
amend it
with  something(s) ? I have the same curse.
David: What say you about this  growing question ?

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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.0 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

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