»Preparing banana and plantain suckers for planting«

Nematodes and weevils greatly damage banana and plantain, by preparing suckers before planting using boiling or stem traps ensures better crops, high yields and increased plantation life span.

Additionally, when using the boiling method strictly immerse suckers for only 30 seconds this kills pests resulting into clean planting materials. Make sure to immerse suckers in hot water the right length of time to avoid damaging the growing tissues as well as properly kill pests. Requirements include firewood, boiling container, water, 2 ropes, 1 solid stick, 30 small stones.

Start by selecting healthy suckers, remove roots, rotten and damaged areas by knife. Ensure using suckers without weevil holes these should be clean, healthy and extracted from healthy plants. Thereafter, start the fire frame, boil water, tie ropes at basket with loops at ends in which a horizontal pole is inserted. With assistance, insert basket containing suckers in boiling water and start counting time.

This method is very effective in controlling weevils, begin by cutting fresh banana stems into 20cm length and then into halves, place cut stems with cut surface facing down on soil. However ensure that cut stems are placed 40cm away from banana plant. The cut stems should be placed in the garden either in the evening or early morning and monitor traps continually to pick and kill trapped weevils.