GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

Rick F. · 14-03-2007, 07:33 PM posted to rec.gardens

On 2007-03-14, wrote:
Hey everyone,

I live in North Central Florida, and have several banana plants in a
clump on my property. Some of the plants started producing fruit
back in November, however the recent freezing snaps have gotten to
them (despite my efforts). The plants with fruit stopped making
leaves soon after fruit appeared on them. Now after weather is
getting warmer, the other trees are making leaves (we cut back the
dried, dead leaves), however the trees with fruit seem to be sad.
Their fruit is blackened, and they aren't making leaves.
Additionally, their stems/trunks are very water filled, and not hard/
solid like the other plants.
I believe that I should cut them down, but I've never done it
before... I think I'll take a machete or a saw to the stem/trunk,
and cut it down to 3 ft or so. Is this right? Is there anything
special I have to do to the plant before (or after) doing this? Will
another plant grow out of the cut down one?

My wife & sister-in-law used to have a place out here on the west coast
(CA) and they had a large "clump' of bananas that were perhaps 15' across.
Anyway, generally the rule was that once a single trunk of the plant
put out bananas, it was cut-down afterwards (to the ground) and new shoots
would come up out of the ground.. In fact, new shoots were always coming up
out of the ground as the plot was always increasing in size.. The variety
they were growing was the kind that you cook with and find in Filipino
markets (among other places) and turn black/yellow when ripe. Anyway, for
you, I'd suggest cutting down the trunks of the plants that have the fruit
on them and you should get more growing it their place at some point.

As for what to cut them down with -- we used hand pruning saws.. The flesh
is very easy to cut with a saw..

YMMV!