Banana disease

[Colin1110082]

Hello, recently I made a post about some disease my banana has. It had gotten worse. Can anyone identify what is attacking my Basjoo banana and how I can treat it? Sunday we have a predicted deep freeze so it might die back, but I don’t want this disease to come back in the spring. Thank you 

[happypalms]

It looks like banana freckle it’s a fungus that comes from soil splash. A bit like the ones tomatoes get all you can do is remove the leaf burn it and try to get some good mulch over the soil to prevent leaf splash from the soil good luck.

[Colin1110082]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

It looks like banana freckle it’s a fungus that comes from soil splash. A bit like the ones tomatoes get all you can do is remove the leaf burn it and try to get some good mulch over the soil to prevent leaf splash from the soil good luck.

Do you think I can use these leaves for insulation in the winter or should I chuck them away? I can put more mulch around the base I’m supposed there is even any soil splash. Next spring I’ll mulch it extra well. Is there a fungicide I can use that kills this? 
I was hoping to use these leaves to overwinter it now I don’t think I can

[happypalms]

26 minutes ago, Colin1110082 said:

Do you think I can use these leaves for insulation in the winter or should I chuck them away? I can put more mulch around the base I’m supposed there is even any soil splash. Next spring I’ll mulch it extra well. Is there a fungicide I can use that kills this? 
I was hoping to use these leaves to overwinter it now I don’t think I can

Yes just leave the leaves on banana trees are prone to leaf disease so don’t panic. Any fungicide spray should do the trick but try an organic one even milk can be used just google some organic fungicides there would be many recipes out there.

[Colin1110082]

2 hours ago, happypalms said:

Yes just leave the leaves on banana trees are prone to leaf disease so don’t panic. Any fungicide spray should do the trick but try an organic one even milk can be used just google some organic fungicides there would be many recipes out there.

Do you think it will come back next year if I use the banana leaves as insulation? Early next spring I can hit it with fungicide as soon as the sprouts re emerge. I don’t want it to kill the corm

[happypalms]

5 hours ago, Colin1110082 said:

Do you think it will come back next year if I use the banana leaves as insulation? Early next spring I can hit it with fungicide as soon as the sprouts re emerge. I don’t want it to kill the corm

I don’t have any experience with bananas in a climate such as your one. It sounds like it snows in zone 6. I assume it may come back given protection. I have read a few threads on Palm talk related to bananas in cold climates try and find a few and see what they say on winter protection. I do know in that cold of a place the leaves will burn. I see them burn in zone 9a and 10 in my area. There are all sorts of winter protection tricks out there you just have to find the one that works for you.

[Colin1110082]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

I don’t have any experience with bananas in a climate such as your one. It sounds like it snows in zone 6. I assume it may come back given protection. I have read a few threads on Palm talk related to bananas in cold climates try and find a few and see what they say on winter protection. I do know in that cold of a place the leaves will burn. I see them burn in zone 9a and 10 in my area. There are all sorts of winter protection tricks out there you just have to find the one that works for you.

Yeah I know that but what i’m asking is if I used banana leaves as insulation would the fungus spread even more and kill the plant? We get snow and my plan is to use leaves I raked from the backyard and mulch to cover the corm and many say that banana leaves as a layer are really effective. I would like to do this but my concern is the fungus on the leaves will get worse and kill the stems fully.

[happypalms]

5 hours ago, Colin1110082 said:

Yeah I know that but what i’m asking is if I used banana leaves as insulation would the fungus spread even more and kill the plant? We get snow and my plan is to use leaves I raked from the backyard and mulch to cover the corm and many say that banana leaves as a layer are really effective. I would like to do this but my concern is the fungus on the leaves will get worse and kill the stems fully.

I don’t see it being a problem from an organic speaking matter. Using as a mulch no matter what you use will be effective. The fungus is already in the soil unless you inoculated the soil using methole  bromide which I would not go near personally. Mulch away with anything something is better than nothing I guess. 

[Colin1110082]

12 hours ago, happypalms said:

I don’t see it being a problem from an organic speaking matter. Using as a mulch no matter what you use will be effective. The fungus is already in the soil unless you inoculated the soil using methole  bromide which I would not go near personally. Mulch away with anything something is better than nothing I guess. 

How should I treat the soil I don’t want it to come back. You said I could just re mulch right? I’m really surprised this happened in the first place 

[Silas_Sancona]

5 hours ago, Colin1110082 said:

I don’t want it to come back

Fungi, Viruses, or Bacteria,  All of which can spread around by air,  and / or  on / within  other organisms = Good Luck from keeping your plants completely free of any issues..  Treating one tiny patch of soil will not stop a fungus that could be present throughout your state / region.. What treating the soil w/ chemicals can do is kill the " good " fungi  ..that help fight off the pathogenic kinds.. Same idea w/  Bacteria ..Kill more of the good kinds, = lay down the welcome mat for the bad ones.. 

Only things you can do is keep your plants as healthy as possible ..so they have the best chances of fighting off any ailments that might threaten them.   That's  it 

[Colin1110082]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Fungi, Viruses, or Bacteria,  All of which can spread around by air,  and / or  on / within  other organisms = Good Luck from keeping your plants completely free of any issues..  Treating one tiny patch of soil will not stop a fungus that could be present throughout your state / region.. What treating the soil w/ chemicals can do is kill the " good " fungi  ..that help fight off the pathogenic kinds.. Same idea w/  Bacteria ..Kill more of the good kinds, = lay down the welcome mat for the bad ones.. 

Only things you can do is keep your plants as healthy as possible ..so they have the best chances of fighting off any ailments that might threaten them.   That's  it 

I wish it was easy but I am not sure what to do. I’m hoping that cutting the leaves and monitoring the plant next spring for first signs of fungus then hitting it with a copper fungicide will help 

[Allen]

I think it's just some cold damage and the leaves dying back a bit in fall

[Colin1110082]

2 hours ago, Allen said:

I think it's just some cold damage and the leaves dying back a bit in fall

That’s what I initially thought. I looked up a bunch of fungi for banana and it looks like it’s a disease called freckle of banana 

[SeanK]

Given it's so late in the year for you, I would treat the soil and mulch. Down my way, folks dig these up and overwinter them in a cool space. They replant in the spring to try getting flower or fruit.