I’ve written quite a bit on growing bananas before, but recently I’ve really come to appreciate their value as a staple crop in the right climate.
In the latest edition of Totally Crazy Easy Gardening, I take you around the homestead to see some of the interesting banana varieties growing here, plus I smack down a detractor, just for fun.
Some might think I’m irritated at the snarky comments I get. In reality, I see them as a good chance to make jokes.
We have to keep ourselves entertained, right?
Enjoy.
I have a good post coming up on one of my reader’s Florida hugelkultur beds next week… stay tuned. And watch the YouTube channel! For now I’m sticking to the video a day thing. It’s too much fun to quit.
8 responses to “Growing Bananas”
Your best vid yet. You taught that commenter some Survival Snarking. lol.
Thanks. I try not to be mean… but sometimes I am. Heh.
I was wondering if you have tried inoculating biochar with your compost tea mix. And if so what were your results/thoughts. Thanks.
That is a great question. I’m going to make a batch and try it – it’s been on my list. I used to have an entire trashcan full of biochar at my old place. Here I’m starting again.
I haven’t been able to try making the compost tea yet. Need to get containers big enough. But I noticed that bananas can tolerate urine straight as fertilizer without dilution. Depending on the type of banana they definitely grow well and shoot multiple pups sooner. Am testing out 16 different varieties so far at the farm in different areas and configurations. I have a lot of open pasture with no canopy. So I let the pasture grow wild for a couple of years to establish native plants and insects. Pigeon pea works very well for a quick growing multiple use cover/windbreak/food crop/chopndrop/animal feed. Both plants love a good mulch. Can mix other plant layers in between them in food forest situation. Cow pea, Seminole pumpkin, Jamaican sorrel/roselle, jute spinach, pigeon pea all grow well together from seed in rainy season creating a quick micro forest you can plant canopy/fruit bearing trees in between. Different types of pigeon pea plants make good trellises for climbing plants: peas, yams, tomatoes, etc.. If you can grow them bananas are definitely great. But pigeon pea is one of my favorites.
Best bananas I ever saw were growing right next to a leaking septic tank. So yeah, they love it.
I like the way you’re managing the pasture. Quick micro forest indeed, and all very useful species.
I am enjoying being able to grow pigeon peas. In North Florida they did great all summer and into the fall, then invariably I lost almost all of the harvest to frost. Day-length was wrong for the climate.
David, some bananas do produce seeds and these rare seeds are of interest to so many seed and variety savers.
From farm past: Good to see you , the figs all of them are producing thanks to fish emulsion (bought this year not your formula, yet) are coming in the blueberries are amazing and still producing. I am commuting to the farm but I do this often…
persimmons coming, can you remind me their names?
Yes – I have had a seeded variety of banana before. The commercial varieties have had them bred out, though. I probably could have been more clear.
Those rabbiteye blueberries are the bomb. Great work with the figs.
I have Fuyu, Hachiya (the one by the front gate) and a few native American ones mixed in.