Relocating a Banana Sucker.

I have an upcoming banana patch in my yard and recently it sprouted suckers. I want another patch to grow since it is rainy season here. Here is how I did this.

Step 1: The Sucker.

Thus is the more mature of the 2 suckers. I will remove this one carefully from the parent tree.

Step 2: Removing the Sucker.

Using my shovel, I dug into the soft dirt to cut the sucker from its parent. Next I pried it up and out. Now the sucker is ready for relocation.

An irritating fact of banana and plantains locally is that a nest of ants always set up shop at the roots. I got some bites and I wonder why such a relationship occurs between plant and insect. Perhaps the banana tree uses the ants as sex slaves. Or could the ants use the banana as a pimp? Who knows why but maybe in the future a naturalist like David attenborough can shed light on this topic.

Step 3: The New Site.

I dug a hole approximately 18 inches cube and got ready to plant the sucker.

Step 4: Completion!

Carefully putting the sucker into the hole, I backfill ed with the dirt I dug out. Now my yard should have another up and coming banana patch!

Comments

[heygeno]

The ants are eating sap from the plant OR entertaining their 'little cow' s the aphids....

[eirsa]

In 1968 I worked in banana fields in Israel. My main job was breaking the suckers from the mother plant and then replanting them. It was the hardest physical labor I have ever done. I don't remember ants at the roots. I remember rat and tarantula nests in the banana bunches. As one put one's shoulder to the bunch so that it would not fall on the ground when the cutter cut the bunch from the tree, the rat or spider would run down one's back. Creepy. I'd rather have the ants.

[Mjtrinihobby]

Lol I agree.