BANANA - LADY FINGER

Banana - Lady Finger (Cutting) ^9/10

Comments: -

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2019

All survived Winter, with some minor leaf loss. Trunks still look healthy. Blue Java and Lady Fingers doing the best so far. Looking forward to the warmer weather to see if I get any banana flowers this year. Still using pea straw, sugar cane, compost and manure every couple of weeks. 

UPDATE APRIL 2019

Picture on left is bananas in August 2018.  Lady Finger variety is upper left.

Picture on right is bananas in March 2019. They've grown particularly well.  I have 5 different varieties - Lady Finger (upper left), Blue Java (upper right and doing exceptionally well), DPM25 (middle right), Dwarf Red Dacca (lower left) and Dwarf Cavendish (lower right). Have had numerous suckers from Cavendish, Lady Finger has one good, solid sucker, Blue Java yet to sucker (and the best grower) and Red Dacca just suckering now.  Hopefully they survive Winter again - will need cover if it's a cold one.

INITIAL

Always wanted to try growing bananas, however living almost in the Macedon Ranges just north of Melbourne I thought would make it impossible.  Decided didn't care - my gardening is trial and error, not what people tell me will work. So far, has not only survived a few light frosts, but growing well - in ground with three other banana varieties & worked a heap of compost, sheep manure, dynamic lifter and potash into the soil before planting.  I use an automatic watering system so they get watered and misted every day (for a minute, mind you, nothing over the top).  Will see how they survive the Winter as it's meant to be one of the coldest ahead. Wish me luck!

Planted: 2018

Height 2.1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic Lifter, Chicken Manure, Compost, Worm Tea, Seasol, lucerne/pea mulch

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control: Haven't really had any pests aside from blackbirds digging up around the base. 

Organic Status:Organic

Banana - Lady Finger (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: - Continuation of a shoot given to me 30 years ago. 

Fruiting Months October and November

Planted: 2010

Height 4 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 4

Fruit Harvest: 5 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 4 Years after I planted Cutting

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Summer

Pruned By: 1000% in After Fruiting

Pollination: Self Pollination

When I Fertilise: Never

Pest Control: Possums get yelled at

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Banana - Lady Finger (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

This tree has grown so quickly, initially 40cm tall in a 20L pot, it is now 2m tall in a 50L pot after 6 months.

April 2019 - Planted in the ground in full sun and mulched with sugar cane.  Approx 2m tall.

Fertilised with Scotts Organic Fruit and Citrus in Jan and April.

A bit of potash when fertilising.

Seasol once a month or so.

Planted: 2018

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Scott's Pure Organic Fruit and Citrus; Seasol

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Pest Control: Nil - Gets the occasional caterpillar on the leaves, but is too big to worry about that now.

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Banana - Lady Finger ^5/10

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Sun