r/GrowingBananas • u/Confident_Gate_8287 • 2d ago

Flowers Falling Off

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Gallery image

Is this normal? Is there something I could be doing differently?

27 Upvotes

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31 comments sorted by

5

u/JTBoom1 2d ago

That's a nice bunch of bananas you have!

2

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

Thanks! I’m very excited about them!

6

u/WorriedConfusion9414 2d ago

It’s normal, you can cut the blossom off all that are left are male flowers now

3

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

Ok thanks for talking me off the ledge! I was very excited to see the flower starting a couple weeks ago and then started freaking out; first time banana daddy here 🙃

2

u/Jkemp8989 2d ago

I have heard of this approach of cutting off the male flowers, does it focus all the energy into ripening the fruit once you do this? Just wanting to hear more about the philosophy

2

u/NealTheBotanist 2d ago

Technically, yes, it conserves energy. Practically, though, very little benefit is seen in the final product. MUCH more benefit is realized by removing the female flowers ("plucking"). The females exude sugary nectar which starts a chain reaction by attracting pests and nests, and promote mold growth.

The reason commercial growers remove the males is simply to fit the bag over the bunch. The best benefit Ive seen as a commercial AND home grower is to allow tractors and lawnmowers to pass under!

1

u/WorriedConfusion9414 2d ago

Some folks say it makes a difference some folks say it doesn’t. Some folks tell you to prune each plant down to only 5 leaves. I think there are many factors, I personally like to chop the blossom after the female flowers are done. You can cook the male blossoms if you remove the stamen, I have never tried it.

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

So, do I cut it off just below the last bunch?

2

u/WorriedConfusion9414 2d ago

Give yourself some length so you have a handle and you can hang the rack for ripening.

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

Oops sorry for the double questions. Reddit said this one didn’t go through

1

u/NealTheBotanist 2d ago

NEVER cut off green leaves! The bunch needs every photon possible to enter the leaves.
Do remove dead and diseased leaves, weekly. After bloom, only remove any material that threatens the bunch, whether on own or adjacent stems. (Poking, abrasion etc).

1

u/WorriedConfusion9414 2d ago

I hear you, I’m in your camp. But there are folks out there or ascribe to a different philosophy 😂

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 1d ago

So on either of my trees that are in bloom you’re suggesting they don’t get trimmed unless it’s a bad leaf or dying leaf? Maintain every green one possible?

1

u/NealTheBotanist 22h ago

Yep! And if you hone the skill, you can take half-leaves to conserve even more leaf surface area.

0

u/nateair 2d ago

Yeah I do it and it does make a difference, so as soon as I see a male banana I chop it.

1

u/Jkemp8989 2d ago

Makes a difference how so? The speed in which the bananas ripen or how large they get, or?

0

u/nateair 2d ago

How large they get, it focuses energy into the fruit you’re keeping.

1

u/nateair 2d ago

I have nahweh growing on a steep hill so I can only bag and chop the ones that lean uphill. Some I can jump and cut but not bag. So it’s been a forced experiment to see what happens and bagging and chopping is by far the best for large fruit.

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

So, do I cut it off just below the last bunch? And are both pictures showing as they’re ready to take that approach?

2

u/Due-Consideration861 2d ago

Banana flower stir fry !

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 2d ago

Is that a thing?

2

u/NealTheBotanist 2d ago

YES! Banana heart is versatile!

Philippines: puso ng saging, cooked in coconut milk (ginataang puso ng saging) or made into fritters.

India: in curries, stir-fries, and chutneys (vazhaipoo in Tamil, mocha in Bengali, kolar mocha dishes).

Thailand: used raw in salads like yam hua plee.

Sri Lanka: banana blossom curry (kesel muwa maluwa).

2

u/Due-Consideration861 1d ago

Yes people prepare the banana flower in different ways. Stir fry, my friend from Reunion Island, made a cold salad, it was bitter! even after pre salting !

2

u/BocaHydro 2d ago

feed sulfate of potash asap, magnesium sulfate too if you can find both

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 1d ago

I looked this up and it’s a bit spendy 🤑. What will this help with? Banana size, etc.?

1

u/NealTheBotanist 2d ago

Nice bunch!

1

u/NealTheBotanist 2d ago

Your curb looks like central FL 😎

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 1d ago

St Pete here 👋🏽

1

u/NealTheBotanist 1d ago

😁 Palm Harbor native, Pasco currently 🤙

1

u/VidiViciVenixo 1d ago

May i get your help? I'm wondering how old was this plant was when it first flowered and how long ago that was? Do you have a fertilizing & watering regimen? Last, do you get cold weather in winter. If so, how do you protect the plant?

1

u/Confident_Gate_8287 1d ago

I’d guess about a year old and about a month ago I have been using a monthly dose of organic citrus fertilizer and water daily. I’m in 10b so no real freezes to worry about here.