| Are there any soil additives that will help my trees produce bananas? |
| Banana plants need fertile soil and an abundance of moisture for best growth and production. It is essestial for the plant to be well cared for during the first 3-4 months after bloom, while the fruit is developing. Banana's Potash requirement is high. Young plants should be fertilized with a 6-2-12 fertilizer. Apply 1 lb to young plants at planting time. Fertilize every two months thereafter, and gradually increase the rate to 5-6 lb at flowering and fruiting time, 10 to 15 months later. Soil moisture should be high, but not flooded. In Florida at least one nutritional spray containing manganese and zinc is recommended annually. Copper should be added to the spray if no copper- containing fungicide is used. Seaweed fertilizers provide these and other micronutrients, and need to be applied about once per month. Once a stem has borne fruit, cut it back to the ground, and new sprouts will appear in its place. |
