sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I planted a banana tree about 1 1/2 years ago. Supposed to be real yellow Cavendish (sp) bananas.

Well, about two months ago, I fertilized around the stalk and while we were in Belgium, a big pod appeared and also a little sprout along side popped up.

So we're going to be parents of bananas soon and I've gotten conflicting info.

After the banana season and they are all picked:

1) Do we cut down the original plant and concentrate on the new sprout coming up - or

2) Leave both to continue growing ?

All photos straight out of camera (Nikon P900)

Sarge69

The Original Plant

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The Weird Pod That Appeared

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Looking Up Into The Pod

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Closeup Of The Inside Of The Pod

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The Pod, Original Plant and New Sprout

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gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Sarge, You can leave it there, it should continue to grow new suckers. Cover the bananas to keep insects, squirrels, etc. from them. Her is a link for more information. Good luck and enjoy. Gary http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-bananas.html

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

They will in time take over the area! LARGE trees weigh a ton when you go to remove them. (Experience in Florida)

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

After a stalk produces bananas it will die and should be cut down. Nurture the shoots. You will probably get up to three shoots growing simultaneously. Just looked at the last picture and you do have three. The larger shoot will produce next. :)

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Three ? I just went out and there are 9 shoots coming up with 2 fairly large now. Next year, if momma is any indication, I should be able to open a 'banana store'

LOL

Sarge69

The 1st bunch I saw

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I think I see more than 5 bunches

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Bananas coming swiftly

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The Myer Lemons are going good also

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The grapefruits are getting larger (Pink Centers)

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dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

Am growing apple bananas, which are popular here. Replanted 5 a few months ago and each have one prime and a few shoots. Unless I keep them under control they'll overrun the yard. Enjoy your bananas. Maybe you should set up a roadside stand or prepare to give away a lot of bananas. :)

mslubner Loc: Redskin Ridge, Texas

In Galveston, we had lots of banana trees in the yard. They are not like Century plants or Aloes and will bloom every year. They like to grow in clumps so we always left our "sprouts" alone and we'd get a nice clump. During a hard winter the outer ones helped keep the inner ones safe from dying out in the cold.