You can chop a foot high or lower and mulch real heavy and then cover it with something. My experience is the stalk that you are chopping is not the one that comes back but new ones off the sides that have to be removed so you only have one, if you want a taller tree. If you leave them all there , they will grow but not as tall. They are fighting for room and food. So once you plant and get it to grow you will have more to plant and give away.
I mention the soil, because the one I gave my neighbor is doing better than mine. Her soil is much lighter and richer in nutrients. That is why I am going to redo my soil, making it more organic and lighten it up.
I actually started these banana's from 3 inch tall plants, 3 years ago.
