Sucker (Plantain | Banana | Pineapple)

Description

Sucker

A sucker is a plant growth that develops from the rootstock of a plant that has undergone grafting.

• A sucker grows from the base of the root of the plant at a certain distance away from the plant.
• This undesirable part of the plant should be removed to prevent it from sucking away the plant’s energy.
• Rooted suckers can be dug up and planted elsewhere.

Plants that produce suckers 

• Blackberries and raspberries boast an impressive list of about 250 species, all of which reproduce via suckers.
• Other types of fruit that produce root suckers are apple trees, blueberries, cherry trees, plantain, plums, pears, pineapple, and bananas.
• In addition, several species of trees such as locust (Robinia) and elms (Ulmus) have aggressive roots that can spread via suckers.
• Other trees that reproduce using root suckers are Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), cottonwood poplar (Populus sp.), western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) and tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum).

Banana suckers

• Both wild species of bananas and cultivated bananas produce suckers.
• The clump of plants formed by the parent plant and its suckers is commonly called a mat. The botanical term for a mat is genet, and for a sucker is ramet.
• Banana plants (Musa spp.), with sweet, nutritious fruit and attractive foliage, have many uses in the kitchen and home landscape.
• Suckers come in three different types, but only sword suckers, or those with a well-developed root system, grow into thriving banana plants.
• Maturity generally ranges from 15 to 24 months.

Pineapple suckers

A pineapple plant flowers only once and produces one pineapple. Then it dies. But before it dies it also produces offspring.

• Suckers or pups are little plantlets that grow between the leaves of the mature pineapple.
• Some varieties will produce more suckers than others, some will start earlier and others later.
• But they all produce at least a few suckers or pups before they die.
• If you leave the suckers in place you get what is called a “ratoon crop”.
• How to take off suckers from pineapple plants: Grab them as close to the base as possible, and twist and pull at the same time. They usually come off easily.
• And then plant them like you plant pineapple tops. Just stick them in the ground and they’ll grow.
• Variety name: Smooth Cayenne.
• The maturity period is 18 months.

Plantain suckers

• Farmers traditionally depend on the natural regeneration process of new plantain suckers to replace their plantain plants.
• They often remove all the suckers on a mat, except for the ones selected to replace the mother plant.
• However, with the advent of technology and other sophisticated techniques, planting and harvesting plantain suckers require fewer inputs and can be planted immediately on the field.
• Generally, plantain requires 10 to 12 months from planting to harvest.

Considerations before planting sucker

If you are planting a larger number of suckers then it makes sense to think carefully and plan the layout of the new field. To do this, you have to take into account: planting density, number of trees, shade trees, the slope of the field, and windbreaks.

Planting density refers to the number of trees you plant in a given area.

The planting density is influenced by:

• Size of the mature suckers (larger trees means lower planting density).
• Amount of maintenance you intend to do (higher planting density means higher maintenance, more pruning in particular).
• The soil fertility and if fertilizer will be applied every year.

Things needed for sucker planting

• Narrow digging bar
• Pruning shears or sharp scissors
• Shovel
• Compost
• Container (optional)
• Potting mix (optional)
• Mulch
• Fertilizer

Warnings!!!

Do not plant suckers that are affected by any type of disease or pest problem.