Banana plantation

There is a well tended and lush green Banana plantation on the way to Raee. It was planted the very year when we started our Raee venture. We have seen the first Banana trees grow by almost another foot every time we visited Raee on weekends.

Since then Abhay had this idea of planting Banana trees on Raee. He had also decided on the place for them. The lower left corner, where the water accumulates during rainy season. As you know Banana trees need lot of water. So the corner was deemed the ideal place for them.

Now with Bore well in place, it would be easier to water the trees. Any way with onset of the Monsoon, trees will not need watering for next 2 - 3 months. 

Abhay mentioned his idea of planting Banana trees to his friend from Jalgaon. Jalgaon is very famous for its Banana crop. The friend volunteered to send some Banana saplings.

On last Friday, he called Abhay from Jalgaon and said that 25 saplings were on their way. They are of the Mahalakshmi variety. They would reach the city on Saturday morning. So early morning saw us at the bus stand, wondering how are we going to transport these 25 saplings to Raee. But turned out that these were 25 corms, what we call “kand” in Marathi. They were well packed in a gunny bag. We took them to Raee.

The pits of 1 x1 foot were already ready.  We added some BSC powder for pest control and some manure as fertilizer.  Refilled the pit.

Planted around 9 – 10 corms in separate pits. Watered them.

 

We are already dreaming of Banana barfi and Banana cakes