This is my first year growing bananas. My Musa Basjoo is doing well and there are a half dozen or so pups 2 to 3 inches from the base of the main plant. How big do these need to be before you can separate them & transplant? Are they hard to cut away from momma? Any other helpful hints? Are the methods pretty much the same for other varieties of bananas? Thanks, in advance!
Separating Musa Basjoo Pups
I use a bread knife to cut straight down between pup and trunk,then lift with a small spade,I replace soil and water riht away,I go deep to get good roots,mine seem to come loose with best roots when they are about 8 to 10 inches tall.good luck.
Thanks, root. Just removed two of them. The bread knife worked great. The first was about 1 1/2 feet tall & had no roots yet. I potted it anyway. Might it grow roots in the pot by itself? The second was 2 1/2 or 3 feet tall & it has some nice roots. It must take longer out here for them to root. I do water & fertilize real well. I guess I have to wait until they are at least a couple feet tall to remove them.
Mine root better small,Glad you got them loose,not sure if I would feed them yet,keep them very wet.
sewcrazy, how did you do with your Musa's? Mine is now over 1 1/2 feet in my greenhouse., and seems to be growing by the day!
I soooooooo want to grow her to her full potential this season.
Sue lots of good compost,and Water,Water ,Water!
Hey Root, here is a toast to a great summer with our Banana trees! And sewcrazy, please update us with your progress in here in western WA!!
Rootdoctor, Our lows now are 'right around' 43 degrees....still a bit early to put em out, but I cut out the heat in the greenhouse. My mean way of hardening them off for summer I guess! Looking forward to May when I can kick, (ahem) I mean, plant them all out in the garden. Will summer hurry up already? :-D
Edited to say:
I wimped out and set the heat back on in the GH. Call me a softie! Okay, and then call me practical, after heating these babies since November! LOL!
This message was edited Mar 16, 2004 7:20 PM
Toast right back at you!!
I would not put them in the ground until the soil temp is 50º or warmer.