looking for advice on starting a banana patch

[Rob Tucker]

I have access to some banana keiki and admit I am not knowledgeable about bedding or starting a new patch. Looking for some experienced advice.

Mahalo,

[kalakoa]

Deep mulch (1-2') in a low wet spot with as much sun as you can get.

Groundcover (sweet potato, peanutgrass) for water retention, weed control.

After a stalk fruits and dies, leave it; these are full of (stinky) water, which the rest of the mat will happily consume.

[Mangosteen]

Feed with a balanced fertilizer (8-10-8).

Stalks can be cut down to half size after producing if they are a taller variety. They will eventually fall and possible do some damage if just left to rot.

[kalakoa]

For the really tall varieties you'll want a banana saw, it's hard to get a machete through the stalk.

[Rob Tucker]

Do I plant the roots to the bottom of the mulch (dirt) or in the mulch?

Mahalo

[DoryGray]

Something interesting I heard from a kupuna. Historically bananas have been planted in "low wet spots" to designate them as such to future generations.

[ElysianWort]

The deeper the better, I would plant the roots in the mulch with lots of room to grow down. Good advice from kalakoa in planting location.

Maybe a banana saw would work although I don't know what that is.
I use a machete. I also own a metal file so it's a cinch to get my blade really sharp. For cutting leaves I use a serrated sickle. However in harvesting I use the machete and simply cut a wedge on the low side of the stalk. That creates a hinge on the back side of the plant as it comes down with the bunch of fruit. Your harvest doesn't come crashing down. Slow and steady. Then you can chop up the rest of the plant and compost it right there in with the other banana plants.

You can use any type of fertilizer but of course I would recommend organic. Best possible is some manure. Heaps of horse or cow dung is perfect.

[Rob Tucker]

Thank you all.

Mahalo

[terracore]

Preferably away from pigs. They will decimate them during a dry spell to get at the water leaving no trace at all, they will even uproot and consume all the keikis.

[rainyjim]

The area (Pahoa-Keaau) is infected with Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), Rob, if you can try to isolate your plantings from any other Zingiberales (think ginger, heliconia, etc) and if you can try to plant windbreaks along the prevailing trades to prevent/reduce any aphids blowing into your plantings. The black banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) is the vector of the virus. While other Zingiberales may also act as reservoirs of the virus, other plants may also host the aphid vectors in addition to the Zingiberales. There is really no successful way to control the aphid populations (toxic chemicals included) and since BBTV is already established in the area once you get aphids you will start to see BBTV symptoms.

Your best bet would be getting clean (virus free) planting material, preferably from tissue culture, and as many varieties as you can afford/source. If you are lucky you will probably be able to harvest a few times from each planting before you get an infection.