Banana plants (forum)

Want2BeGardener starts with ...
i have a banana tree in my yard and I woulds like to trim back the dead leaves. I noticed that some of the dead leaves just pulled away from the truck easily but the ones closest to the green leaves were very hard to pull off.
So Im after information on how to prune them back properly without hurt the plant.

Time: 20th April 2010 10:44am

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About the Author Want2BeGardener
Rockhampton Queensland
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John Mc says...
All I do if I want to keep them looking tidy is to just cut off anything that's dead, dried or crispy. Sometimes that involves just cutting back the dead leaves or part of the leaf that's died and leaving the live parts till they die off.

Time: 20th April 2010 11:17am

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Charles cant spell says...
Yeah due to the fiber in the leaves unless they are well rotted you should be cutting them of with a knife etc. Pulling might damage your tree. That said if you have a variety that gets shredded in the wind its something you are going to have to get used to unless you can erect a wind screen. Bear in mind the plant is making food with those leaves, if they are all getting shredded or you are cutting most them off the plant wont do very well.

Time: 20th April 2010 1:01pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
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John I says...
Want2BeGardener, I just cut the dry bits off with an old pair of scissors a couple times a year. You don't need to be fussy, just a quick tidy-up.

Time: 20th April 2010 2:01pm

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About the Author JohnI
Melbourne
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John Mc says...
And shred it all up and put it all back around the banana tree. You can't give them too much mulch, they thrive in it.

Time: 20th April 2010 2:58pm

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trikus says...
commercial growers de-leaf often , as the horrible diseases can breed up on the mouldy leaves . Seen them doing this with a sharp curved knife on a long pole . Beware if doing this yourself as sap from bananas [ and Heliconias ] can stain very badly . I call it plant blood , as that is what it looks like after washing .
Best to cut off last few leaves before dry as its much easier then .

Time: 21st April 2010 8:27am

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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John I. says...
My first banana flower is emerging from my lady finger plant. You would think that I'd be wrapped but I'm worried because the plant does not have many leaves left after winter, and those that are left are shredded from the wind, and starting to dry up (I assume from sum burn or to much fertiliser). I only hope that the existing pup will help the plant produce edible fruit.

Time: 10th December 2010 9:54am

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trikus says...
Yes it will John , its attached so the sucker will feed the fruiting plant . Prop it up and get a bag ready , I have a few bunches ripening fast in this warm weather .

Time: 10th December 2010 11:13am

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About the Author Trikus
Tully
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John I. says...
Thanks trikus, I'm felling a lot happier about it now. By the way any idea how long it takes from flower to mature fruit for a lady finger plant (I release it will take longer this far south).

Time: 10th December 2010 11:33am

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John Mc says...
About 18 months here just north of Sydney.

Time: 10th December 2010 12:59pm

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John I. says...
John Mc, did you misread my post or are you really telling me that now that my plant has finally bloomed, I have to wait almost 2 more years for fruit?

Time: 10th December 2010 2:52pm

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ringelstrumpf says...
I had bananas in Brisbane and it was much less, don't remember exactly but maybe three or four month. But you have to harvest them green or the beasts will get it.

Time: 10th December 2010 6:35pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf1
Blue Mountains
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Eddie says...
Hey John happy its produced a flower for you hope mine comes soon as well post some pics up whenever you can good work

Time: 11th December 2010 12:15am

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Thanks Eddie. Here's a picture. It's only just started to emerge so it doesn't look like much yet..
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 11th December 2010 7:32pm

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Eddie says...
Looking good hope it gives a nice crop post some pics during the flower period will prepare me as well what to look for and do.

Time: 12th December 2010 2:19am

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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John I. says...
Here's the flower almost two weeks later. the weather here in Melbourne has been fairly cold with overnight temps dropping to 7c.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 23rd December 2010 9:42am

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Eddie says...
Looking good John has been cold at nights i think we need some of that humid weather we had at the start of the month which made mine grow nice and fast cant wait till u see the fruit

Time: 23rd December 2010 2:41pm

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About the Author Eddie
Melbourne
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