Putting the banana bed to sleep for the winter.
My youngest son didn’t know I cut these down every year. (Normal teenager, oblivious to what mom actually does.) Anyway, pole saw is the best tool for this. I use one like this: https://amzn.to/49KNJbn
Electric pole saw is a definite no. It ended up being like trying to shred an onion or celery in a food processor. Extended hand saw was quick. Extended chainsaw sucked.
A lot of work, but it was pretty quick. Especially with my kids moving the cut stuff around. Tomorrow I’ll tent the bed with plastic. Hopefully some of the cut stalks will make it and I’ll get a better banana harvest next year.
I brought the bananas in when I cut the main plants down. I don’t think they’re going to ripen. But, I’ll give them the chance. They were supposed to be ready in 40 days. It’s been over 50 but it’s also been mid 70s during the day and mid 50s at night. However, this is the Kokopo short season banana’s second year in the ground. I’m hoping to have an earlier set next year with the bigger rootball. I’m going to try these when they get yellow, but they are so under ripe I’m not expecting to like them. But, by golly, after five years of banana growing I got some and I’m going to try them!
Meet you out in the garden to make a massive mess!
Crazy Green Thumbs
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Crazy Green Thumbs 
We’ve never had much luck, growing banana’s. I’m planning to start growing potato’s. I’ve heard they grow pretty well in Florida.
I grow potatoes and sweet potatoes down here in San Antonio. My problem with sweet potatoes is they will go down far below my raised beds. I also get wire worms in both of them. Benefitial nematodes will get rid of them. Thanks for stopping by! My bananas are a lot of work. But I bought short cycle ones and got fruit this year.
Gads! Although I know that I could contend with that sort of banana ‘tree’, I am concerned that I now grow about two dozen cultivars, and that, if not split very diligently, their colonies can eventually get bigger than yours. They are all so cute and innocent looking while young. I really should give some of them away before getting them started.
Yesssss. Bananas are sneaky like that. But, staying on top of sucker’s and limiting the amount of full sized growth these put out finally got me fruit. I’m in my 50s and doing this much sawing is a big deal. This is the first year I’ve insisted someone watch me do this in case I hurt myself. My years of taking care of the bed like this are numbered. It’s why I was super excited about the extension chainsaw. But, alas, no. It just made a mess, was too short to cut through and bogged up with the strands. I’ll try something else next year. Good to see you today! Merry Christmas!
I just use my pruning (hand) saw. It is the same saw that works as a pole saw, but without the pole. I can put it on the pole as the banana trees get higher. For small pups, I use a steak knife.
Sounds like we hit on the perfect tools! I like to be a little out from the trunk so if that falls it doesn’t catch me! Otherwise sounds like we hit them with the same things.