By Umar Nsubuga
Joseph Bukenya who grows apple bananas says if any farmer wants to benefit from apple banana farming, he or she must properly plant the suckers, you must leave about four metres between rows.
He says a farmer must know that the first harvest is done after about 11 months.
“Spray the plants to control pests and apply organic manure to improve soil fertility,” he explains.
Bukenya notes the plant should be left with a few suckers around to maintain the sweetness and ensure enlargement of the fruits.
Sweet bananas are prone to pests. There is a challenge of insects like red ants. So you have to spray the plantation to kill them.
Bukenya also says it is advisable not to use a knife or a hoe to prevent wilt. It is good to plant different varieties because Ugandan customers need big sizes, while those outside Uganda prefer small ones.
Tips on banana maintenance
Controlling weeds in the first year of life is important. Once the plants get enough leaves to completely shade the ground, weeds become less of a problem and mulching can keep the weeds down.
Weeds can be hand-pulled or weeded with a hoe. Hand or hoe-weeding can either be carried out on its own or combined with chemical weed control.
For example, ring or row weeding of the banana plants can be followed by an herbicide application on the remaining weeds.
Chemical weed control is less laborious, provides longer control and is faster than hand or hoe-weeding. Chemical weed-killers are applied using a knapsack sprayer.
If a contact herbicide is used, precautions must be taken to avoid it from drifting onto the bananas. Spraying should be done on a day with no or slight wind.
