Banana
Planting, care and harvest, with the changes along the way.
The fourth feeding round begins
Top-dressing was starting while manual weed clearing continued.
Farm note · OngoingWet ground brings back hand-weeding
The rotavator had to wait, so we concentrated on clearing around each banana plant by hand.
Farm note · OngoingThe next feed, and a week’s delay
We postponed the calcium, magnesium and sulphur work while preparing the next base feeding.
Farm note · PlannedPreparing the next banana feeding
Magnesium deficiency prompted a plan for additional nutrients and a different application sequence.
Farm note · PlannedFoliar spray work complete
The banana foliar spray work was finished by the 27 October update.
Farm note · CompletedCaterpillar-control spray added to active foliar cycle
More caterpillars were reported on the banana plants.
Farm note · Mixed progressSecond top-dressing and earthing-up complete
The second banana top-dressing round and earthing-up were both reported complete.
Farm note · Mixed progressSecond top-dressing continues
The second soil top-dressing round was still in progress.
Farm note · OngoingThe second feeding round begins—and the product name is corrected
The second soil top-dressing round began in the banana planting area.
Farm note · OngoingEarthing-up, rotavator and second feeding remain active
The task list called for finishing earthing-up, completing the current rotavator work, then beginning a further pass across the plantation, and carrying out the second top-dressing round.
Farm note · PlannedSecond foliar spray and earthing-up ongoing
The second foliar round and earthing-up were ongoing.
Farm note · Mixed progressSmaller plants remain active despite height lag
About 5% of plants (roughly 600) were around 20 cm tall, with 6–7 small but active leaves and fresh leaf growth.
Farm note · Partly completeNext foliar spray planned for 4 October
A further NPK and Bavistin spray was planned for 4 October.
Farm note · PlannedFoliar cycle complete; new growth improving
The current foliar application cycle was reported complete.
Farm note · Mixed progressPlantation spray completed; soil work continues
The plantation-wide 12:61:0 and chlorpyrifos spray was reported complete.
Farm note · Mixed progressPlantation-wide spray began
A plantation-wide 12:61:0 and chlorpyrifos spray began after insect activity had been reported on a few young banana plants.
Farm note · OngoingRain replaced the planned irrigation
Recent rainfall made irrigation unnecessary after the first top-dressing.
Farm note · Mixed progressFirst soil top-dressing completed
The first plantation-wide top-dressing cycle was reported complete.
Farm note · CompletedFirst soil top-dressing began
A urea, phosphate and potash mix was applied around plants, with smaller plants assessed separately.
Farm note · OngoingFoliar feeding and weeding in progress
A further 19:19:19 foliar round and manual weed removal were each reported about 80% complete.
Farm note · Mixed progressWet soil delayed top-dressing
The ground remained saturated, so soil fertiliser was deferred.
Farm note · Mixed progressAnother 12:61:0 round partly complete
The follow-up foliar round had started on 27 August; about 40% of the planting still remained at month end.
Farm note · Partly completeFirst weed and 19:19:19 cycles complete
Manual weeding and the first 19:19:19 foliar cycle were reported complete.
Farm note · CompletedRainwater and weeds remained active issues
Repeated rainfall left water standing around banana for about a week.
Farm note · ObservationTargeted weed control under way
Spraying focused on the heaviest weed areas, while manual weed removal around banana plants continued.
Farm note · OngoingPlant survival checked
The planted tissue-culture crop had been checked for losses and failed plants were replaced.
Farm note · ObservationRain paused irrigation; weeds increased
Rain supplied enough moisture to pause irrigation, while rapid weed growth became the next immediate concern.
Farm note · ObservationSecond 12:61:0 round completed
A second foliar feeding round was reported complete after new leaves had developed.
Farm note · CompletedFirst irrigation and foliar round completed
The initial irrigation cycle and first 12:61:0 foliar spray were reported complete.
Farm note · CompletedDrenching complete; new leaves emerging
Post-planting termite and fungicide drenching was complete.
Farm note · CompletedTissue-culture planting completed
The main banana planting was complete after a week of phased work.
Farm note · CompletedBanana planting began
Tissue-culture planting began after land preparation; wet patches required manual bed work during establishment.
Farm note · OngoingBanana land levelling completed
The banana area was levelled ahead of marking, planting and irrigation setup.
Farm note · CompletedLand preparation began
Levelling began as part of preparation for the banana crop.
Farm note · Ongoing