Banana Growing in Perth

Here are the two banana plants that we moved 9 months ago when we decided to create a suitable microclimate for them. The smaller plant is producing smaller bananas and started first, but now above it to the right the next plant has a huge flower bell and has four hands of bananas.

This is the area today with the clump of bananas, putting them together, adding mulch, ponds and other plants has made a huge difference.

This is the same are 4 months ago with the ponds made from an old fridge and small Papaya trees as well.

This is the same are 7 months ago, the blue bag on the right is covering the first bunch of bananas from our original plant. In the foreground is a mango tree which is now doing very well also.

This was taken 8 months ago when we decided to move these struggling bananas from beside the pool and create an area suited to them. The change over this time has been rapid. We did make a mistake of trying to move more pups in summer, all of which died. We will not make that mistake again. This area has surpassed all of our expectations and has gone from being a problem area to one of our most beautiful and productive spots.

Hugelkultur Bed Today

Here is the first Hugelkultur bed experiment today, with a recently planted banana at the front looking a little sad.

The leaves on all of the plants are enormous and the vines have spread much further than we expected, although we have lost fruit due to the heat and the overhead watering which is a pity. However, we will get some produce and the fact that the plants have flourished so well is a testament to the Hugelkultur bed method. The Papaya Tree has disappeared amongst the leaves but still appears to be thriving....

Semi- Tropical Grove Update

 The two new ponds that I have created in an old fridge are located in the section that we have been  turning into a semi-tropical grove since August. The cardboard and mulch are doing a great job and we will gradually extend this area. The two bananas that we transplanted in August are doing really well and one has lots of pups. The palm in the pot is protecting a small papaya, which has looked much happier since it has had this shelter from the morning sun. The plastic chair is above another small papaya that I was given by a neighbour and will be left there for this season. The hugelkultur bed is not finished but we thought we may as well try some seeds in it and so far 8 have sprouted.

This shot shows the hugelkultur bed more clearly and the location of a Maqui berry tree which is under the chair closest to the back fence. We have a curry tree leaf plant in a pot shading the Mango tree and that too will stay all summer to protect it. Once they have survived their first summer here they should be fine. The bamboos at the back fence are growing really well and I have now added a passionfruit vine in a bid to provide shade, fruit and privacy. The choko vine on the side fence is also going well and I have moved the tropical guava next to it to do the same.