Planting and Fertilizing Bare-Root Baby Bananas

Rescuing Mail-Order Banana Plants

Eleven Basjoo baby bananas arrived bare-root with black spots. Owner cut stems to 2 inches, planted in yard (zone 9). Asks planting depth and fertilizer.

Guidance

• Black spots normal in shipping; cutting back is fine.
• Plant at pseudostem-root junction, mulch 1 inch above.
• First 6 months: half-strength soluble fertilizer (Peters/Miracle-Gro) every other watering.
• At 6 months: granular 10-10-10 or 6-6-6 plus monthly full-strength soluble.
• Fruit in ~12 frost-free months.