I've had GOING BANANAS planted in ground here since summer '08. It has increased very little (2>4/5 fans?) & has a FFO about July 7 ... & rebloomed but sporadically (Sept/Oct) over the years.... NOT what I would call even good performance. (Probably US Zone 4 here on the edge of 5?) My natural soil is essentially glacial moraine (Sand & gravel mix) so little natural humus/topsoil PLUS drains water thru quickly. I've also bought - twice - GB in pots that had been forced for early spring 'point-of-sale' appeal. (I try to breed for EE/E + RE bloom)
This past season ('21) the potted GB plant performed like it has been described by others as a 'Blooming Machine' . Despite enriching my basic soil with my own composted poultry manure + leaf/garden compost + bagged sheep &/or cow manures ... I have been unable to get those earlier purchases in the ground to really perform as expected .... . This potted '21 plant was kept watered continuously (Catch tray nearly always wet) And it was seldom w/o bloom until well into autumn.
CONCLUSION (No surprise!) constant available moisture was key for this potted version. WILL see what I am able to do with the earlier cultivars that are in the ground with MUCH more water this coming '22 season. (I thought I was watering them adequately....)
