Best time and method to move bananas

I am reclaiming an area about 12' by 20' that looks like it would be a perfect place to permanently settle my banana plants. They were put in this summer and have grown to be anywhere from 4' to 7' tall and quite thick. What would be the best time and way to move them to minimize shock and encourage re-establishment in their new environment? I'd hate to lose these babies.

The following thread was started by Merbert on September 25, 2007 at 11:29 am PST

That would be May, June, July. If you lost any of them during that period, then you did something wrong.

The above followup was added by Tom on September 25, 2007 at 3:53 pm PST.

The soil is warm still and I really would like to get the bed established sooner than summer if possible. What would my risks be if I moved them within a week here in Zone 9b, Sunset 15?

The above followup was added by Merbert on September 25, 2007 at 3:59 pm PST.

Nights are long enough so water actually gets to the plant. We wont have any frost until the end of November-if then. No top growth most likely-but plenty of rooting in. I vote go!

The above followup was added by stan on September 25, 2007 at 5:55 pm PST.

When you have 6-8 weeks of warm weather and good active growth ahead. Best to wait till April/May or thereabouts.

The above followup was added by potangadiego on September 25, 2007 at 6:44 pm PST.

The 4 footer would be spring, when it warms, say April. The taller one depending on what it is, is near bloom. Moving would most likely shock it and it could bloom a couple months later, or what every. With the 7 footer you could transplant in April, but I would take a good sucker from it and plant that instead to the new spot and leave the 7 footer to alone to see if it will bloom on time in June and early July. Oh ya, though, you don't get frost in winter do you. If not, bloom time is ok, but the fruit will just take a lot longer then say here in the Central Valley.

Transplanting now, it will just sit there and do nothing until spring, and maybe it could rot and die too.

Which one is 7 feet tall?

David

The above followup was added by DavidLJ48, Waterford CA, zone9 on September 26, 2007 at 1:52 am PST.

David had a good point of not to move if you want bananas next year from this or that plant. But if that doesnt matter-your willing to sacrifice next years crop in order to move the bed to where you want it-then now is still early enough.
I guess that the Sophie's Choice you have to make Merbert!

The above followup was added by stan on September 26, 2007 at 9:03 am PST.

Fruit is our goal so the bananas will not be going anywhere. Heck, when fresh fruit is involved, esthetics can take a back seat in my yard!

The above followup was added by Merbert on September 26, 2007 at 12:15 am PST.

I have been thinking of eliminating one row of bananas, to maybe make a bit more room for a greenhouse I would like to put in, but never got around to it. So I just left the new banana plant in that row alone, where it was this year, and will just move a pup to where I really want it this coming spring.

This spring it was still only 4 foot tall, and slow growing, but put it off. Now it is approaching 8 to 9 feet and has 5 pups of its own. Always another year to deal with things, the few nice things about winter.

David

The above followup was added by DavidLJ48, Waterford CA, zone9 on September 26, 2007 at 7:24 pm PST.

For you valley guys, what about planted rooted plants? I have a bunch in pots that I didn't get around to planting. If I leave them in pots and plant in spring is there any chance I will get fruit next year?

Robert
Madera, CA

The above followup was added by iwan on September 27, 2007 at 1:37 pm PST.

You can keep them in a pot, and they will not grow much, they stay juvenile for a better thing to say. Unless they root out the bottom. I potted a Raja Puri last year, now it is 5 1/5 plus feet tall, including the 5 gallon pot, with quite a large base trunk. I would of never thought it would get that big in a pot, even rooting somewhat out the bottom.

I have to wonder if that is not a example of how to grow dwarfs in colder areas. Grow in a pot, let it root out the weep holes, cut the roots and bring inside where it is warmer, then plant in the ground next spring.

David

The above followup was added by DavidLJ48, Waterford CA, zone9 on September 28, 2007 at 1:16 am PST.

I usually keep things on weed cloth, but you have a good point for bananas. I have seen some flowering pots in nurseries before. Mine are between 3-8' overall height, but have stalled so I am sure they are fully root bound. Guess I will hold off until spring.

The above followup was added by iwan on September 28, 2007 at 8:20 am PST.