Red Dacca bananas

[doug e]

Does anyone have any thoughts on why a bunch of red daccas will only produce a max of 7 hands??? When the bunch is developing - the 1st 7 hands will form "normal" size fruit and the remaining hands will never get bigger than "thom thumbs". The bananas get well fertilised (twice a month) with a variety of fertilisers and receive plenty of water.

[doug e]

and a photo..........

[Yabbies4me]

Although a horticulturalist, I haven't had much to do with bananas, but one issue may be the "variety of fertilisers" you apply fortnightly... what are they?

Have you got a photo of the whole plant?... and what's it growing in... the ground, a tub, an AP system?

[doug e]

I use a granulated fert NPK of 10-9-7 "mainly". Occasionly I use chook **** and another high in "K". They are growing in the ground, full sun, no competition and look very healthy. My guess is that it is this variety.
cheers

[Yabbies4me]

I spoke to a friend last night that is growing two varieties, not these ones though, and he said it's not uncommon for the hands at the bottom to not form properly. He said you can just leave them, or you can cut off the smaller hands and flowers at the bottom so more energy goes to the formed ones.

[doug e]

Tried cutting off the flower but the "Tom Thumbs" dont do anything.