How to Grow Bananas That Are Nutritious and Tasty

Bananas are one of the most vulgar fruit in the world . They ’re loved and enjoyed by a raft of people .

If the condition are ripe , you’re able to grow this amazing plant in your own garden . And savour some sort you ’ll never find in a market store .

What Are Bananas?

Bananas are the yield that are harvested from high-pitched repeated herbaceous plant bushes in theMusagenus . Bananas begin as rhizomes . Rhizomes are horizontal tooth root arrangement .

These systems formulate above - ground protuberance called corm . As they turn , banana tree corms become the foundation for predominate stalks and clusters of great unripe leaves .

The above - ground component of most banana plants are many feet high . Some variety are over 20 feet marvelous and resemble trees . Many people think that banana grow on medal Tree .

While banana leaves do resemble palm leaf , they are impound to a enceinte shank rather than a tree proboscis . Technically , they are keen flowering herbs .

There are also many dwarf varieties of banana tree plants . For good example , Dwarf Cavendish Banana works are only between 5 and 9 feet marvellous . The small banana variety is called the sincerely Tiny .

The name is very fitting , as these plants only grow to be 2 to 3 feet marvellous . Due to their small stature , they are often planted in containers .

Bananas bunches arise from big violet blossom . cluster of bananas are called hands . Banana hands contain anywhere from 10 to 20 banana tree .

It takes about nine calendar month for a banana plant to produce handwriting . After the script ripen , the banana flora dies .

Which Varieties Should You Plant?

There are over 1,000 varieties of bananas . Cavendish banana are the honeyed , mawkish one that are find in most grocery memory . Plantains are the starchy , virulent plants that are sometimes referred to as cookery bananas .

Choose a banana plant that will thrive in your acquire space . While you ’re at it , ensure that your pick gibe with your gustatory modality bud .

Dwarf Bananas

These plant are excellent alternative for farmers with circumscribed space . Many people savor the orchard apple tree - like flavor of Manzano banana tree .

Another usual gnome mixed bag is Cuban loss . These bananas have rusty ruby-red Robert Peel and a fresh , tangy flavor . Both Malus pumila and Cuban red bananas are take afters variety . They ’re both hearty varieties that flourish in diminished spaces .

Another small but tasty afters banana change is the Lady Finger . These bananas are only a few inches long . Their feeling is very similar to that of mainstream Cavendish bananas .

Full-Size Bananas

There is also a long list of full - sized banana plants for you to reckon . Blue Java is a satisfying variety that taste standardized to vanilla ice emollient .

Check outblue bananasin this newsworthiness clip . This unparalleled variety is deduct from Central America .

According toresearchers , Cavendish bananas make up 47 % of the globose banana market . Agricultural expert have developed several Cavendish banana hybrids . Many of the hybrid bananas are resistant to pest and disease .

Plantains

Plantains are buckram banana tree that are almost always fix before they are eaten .

They are used in many ethnic foods , admit one that originate from South America and the West Indies . Plantains are often call cookery banana tree .

When to Plant Bananas?

According to theUSDA , you must be in Gardening Zone 9 to successfully civilise banana . geographical zone 9 contains 15 U.S. states , include Hawaii , California , and Florida . zona 9 volunteer twelvemonth - round maturate conditions .

Since banana tree grow year - round , there ’s no idealistic planting season for banana tree plant life . However , cultivators should keep track of the temperature during and after planting .

Banana flora will not grow when temperatures dip below 57 degrees or rise above 100 degree . Since bananas also involve a great deal of water , it ’s not wise to imbed them during a teetotal spell .

Before you determine your ideal planting window , you will have to decide what type of planting material you will be using . You may utilise banana tree all-day sucker , rootstock , or tissue paper cultures .

all-day sucker and rootstalk can be harvested from mature banana plants . You may be able to source them from a friend ’s garden or a local baby’s room .

Banana tissue cultures are typically give rise in scientific science lab . you’re able to watch over banana cultures being madehere . These disease - repellent banana tree starters are usually only used by big plantain .

Banana soft touch are belittled plants that spud up alongside the groundwork of mature banana corm . you may utilize a piercing digging tool to remove big soft touch from the earth . A goodish sucker should have a small root system and a deep angry walk .

aim sucker that are at least 3 foot foresighted . Large suckers are referred to as sword sucker . It may take anywhere from 15 to 24 months for a soft touch to reach maturity .

There may also be water suckers alongside the mother plant life . you’re able to severalise water supply suckers by their broad folio . Water suckers should be discarded , as they pluck water from corms . Check out thisvideoto see the difference between brand and piss suckers .

you could also plant a while of a ripe banana rhizome . As we mentioned before , rhizomes are the horizontal radical scheme of banana tree plants . A rootstalk with buds can be bust into several small pieces .

Each of these objet d’art has the potentiality to grow into a mature banana plant . It is crucial to note that rhizomes maturate much slower than sword suckers .

How to Choose a Planting Site for Banana Plants?

Banana plant should be planted in grouping . place an area that can accommodate several mature banana plants . Depending on the assortment of bananas you are planting , your holes should be post 10 to 12 feet apart .

It is important to put your banana plant in a well - protect area . Fences , walls , and other structure will protect your banana tree plants for the elements . You still need to control that nearby structure do not bedim your plants ’ accession to sun and water .

How to Plant Bananas in the Garden?

If you are planting banana fool , you will need to dig several tumid holes . Depending on the size of the all-day sucker , you will ask to savvy a hollow that is between 2 and 3 feet cryptic . If you are using rhizomes to cultivate your banana tree plant , make certain your hole is big enough to accommodate your planting material .

lend 2 to 3 inch of organic compost or Gallus gallus manure . Combine a tumid heap of 8 - 10 - 8 NPK fertilizer . lay your chump or rhizome in the hole . Then , pack the hole with fresh grease . Banana plants have remarkably profligate increment rates . In most cases , they will seep up every loony toons of flora food that you offer them .

If you are planting a patsy , only the source system should be covered with soil . If you are plant a rhizome , place at the same depth that it was when you remove it from its female parent .

How to Take Care of the Banana Plant

Banana plant do n’t require never-ending attention . However , there are a few thing you could do to improve their opportunity of mature .

Light

banana tree need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight . Too much sunlight has the voltage to burn the fruit and foliage of these red-blooded plant .

When temperature soar above 100 degrees , banana tree plants discontinue to originate all together . It is essential to keep mature leaves on banana plants , as these natural elements attend to protect developing bloom and fruits .

Water

Bananas require a generous amount of piss . In most cases , tropic rainfall is an adequate author of water .

During periods of decreased rainfall , you may wish to water your banana tree patch . You may use a garden hosiery or sprinkler to spray the bases of your banana plants .

It ’s almost inconceivable to over - water a banana plant . water supply requirements vary depending on the variety and size of it of the industrial plant . Most banana tree variety require 2 to 4 inches of water every calendar month .

Banana plants also demand adequate drainage . If you find that your banana works aresitting in H2O , you should rectify your soil . Perlite and other common grease additive will facilitate to loosen up dense soil .

Thirsty banana tree plants will even booze up gray wastewater . As such , you may opt to plant your banana tree patch near an outside rain shower , Gallic waste pipe , or sewer . You are help the environment when you reuse effluent .

Soil

harmonize to theCalifornia Rare Fruit Growers , banana plants opt soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5 .

They also urge incorporating a magnanimous amount of constitutional compost into your soil before adding young banana tree plants .

Fertilizer

Experts recommend using an 8 - 10 - 8 NPK fertilizer . NPK fertiliser with an 8 - 10 - 8 ration contains eight parts nitrogen , 10 part morning star , and eight parts potassium .

You should apply a generous amount of fertiliser during planting . Reapply fertilizer each month , using ¼ to ½ pound of fertilizer .

Banana plants also respond well to crybaby manure . This is good news for gardeners with backyard hens .

wimp manureis also deal at most farming supplying stores . Gallus gallus manure contain several beneficialnutrients , including N , daystar , potassium , and atomic number 20 .

Maintenance

Remove blade sucker from the base of operations of the mother plants . you may replant these “ pups ” in another area of your yard or endue them to your fellow nurseryman .

you’re able to also place plant - ground food fighting and beast manures around your banana corms . As these amendment break down , they will release essential nutrient into the soil .

Make an effort to remove dead leaves from your banana plants . Place them at the base of your banana tree patches . In doing so , you will help protect shallow roots and growing suckers .

Take the metre to regularly scrutinize your banana tree plants . You may need to deal with pests or diseases . When chaos breaks out , well - time preventive measures may be the only way to store your banana tree plant life .

Never allow your banana to decay on your flora . Fermenting yield can spark the interestingness of nearby animals and insect .

How to Harvest and Store Bananas?

It takes over 75 days for most banana tree variety show to reach maturity . maintain the condition of your banana to determine when it is clip to harvest them .

Mature banana are round than developing bananas . The peak , which are locate at the bottom of the banana tree hands , can be easily plucked from amply matured banana tree hand .

you could use a sharp knife or matchet to remove mature banana tree hands from stalks . Do not seek to break in apart the clusters .

aim the hands in a cool water bath . The bath will off dirt and other contamination . Then , allow the manus to dry thoroughly .

If you want your bananas to mature slowly , set your banana tree hands in a cool , dry surface area .

If you wish to speed up the ripen time of your bananas , place individual clusters in seal composition bags . Keep in mind that your banana will impair a few day after they ripen .

If you have more banana than you’re able to eat , freeze the remnant . It ’s honest to remove the skins from bananas before rate them in the freezer . Frozen bananas can be used in adust commodity , smoothies , fruit puree , and other formula .

you could also dehydrate your surplus bananas . Banana chips are a healthy and delicious snack . Dehydrated banana tree have a much longer ledge life than fresh ones .

What are Pests and Diseases that Affect Bananas?

Like most plants , bananas have their fair parcel of predators . These attacker let in animals , worm , computer virus , and fungus kingdom .

Pests

Burrowing Nematodes , or Radopholus similis , are some of the most vernacular predators of banana plants . These earth - dwelling insect are known to spread out infection through the roots of banana tree plants . Without their wanted internet of shoots , banana plants have no chance of survival .

During the other stages of a nematode plague , plant damage can only be seen below the soil line . However , wilt , unyielding , or malnourished banana plants may tender clues about ongoing hugger-mugger ravaging .

If you mistrust that your soil is overrun with nematodes , take upkeep to quarantine and sanitize contaminated patches . If you care to rid your garden of nematodes , you may need to substitute your banana plant with a pest - resistant craw .

you could also use a tarpaulin to solarize your garden soil . regrettably , there is no immediate way to free a outer space of nematodes .

The Banana Weevil , or Cosmopolites sordidus , is another case of louse that infiltrates the roots of growing banana plants . These pesky bugs prefer sweet diverseness of banana .

Always source your banana tree plants from a weevil - freegrower . Like nematodes , these insects are incredibly hard to eradicate . If you see weevils in your banana eyepatch , neglect it for several months .

Banana Skipper , or eriponta thrax , is a white caterpillar that build fast work of banana leaves . It easy to identify a skipper plague , as these bugs make unique whorl out of once - hefty banana leaves .

You may use organic or chemical methods to remove skippers . These hemipterous insect can even be handpicked from small banana tree patches . Neem and derris are two popular plant - based insecticides that are used to eradicate skippers .

rust fungus thripsenjoy crunch on bananas . Thrips are wing insects . They leave brown patches on bananas . These mar are often confused with steady bruises .

There are several footprint you could take to free your dimension of rustthrips . You may wish to resist off these worm by releasing one of their lifelike predators , such as lacewings or ladybird beetle beetles .

Banana aphid are fly germ that spread disease to banana plants . These teasing bugs are eff to spread a disease call banana clustering top virus . The virus create small dots on the veins of banana leaf . In doing so , it stunts the growth of banana tree flora .

One path to battle banana aphids is to withdraw the young suckers from the bottom of your banana plants . These new sprouts are typically the main aim of these tiny insect .

Coconut weighing machine is a microscopic dirt ball that prey on banana leaves . The coconut scale of measurement is typically observed on the bottom side of the banana leaves . If left alone , this louse can kill banana leaves .

It is best to combat this cuss with its natural predators . Banana farms typically free coccinellid beetles and white Anglo-Saxon Protestant parasitoids to resist off this tiny pestilence .

Diseases

Banana wilt disease is a bacterial disease that cause the premature decay of bananas and the untimely death of banana plants . Infectedleaves will turn from immature to yellow . Meanwhile , infected fruits ooze a creamy bacterial substance .

you could avoid banana tree wilt by removing the male bud of your banana tree plants after your banana hands produce . Since wilt can be spread out through infected tools and plants , you must sterilize all your gardening equipment and source your planting material from a reputable source .

Black Leaf Streakis a disease that , you guessed it , causes banana tree bequeath to develop disgraceful streak . It is induce by a fungus .

While Black Leaf Streak does not bolt down banana industrial plant , it can reduce banana hand yields . Most cultivators remove as many infected leafage as potential . You may also apply a fungicide to help preserve the quality of your banana harvest .

Anthracnoseis a fungal disease that damages the leaves , stalks , fruits , and flowers of banana plants . Anthracnose causes ugly blemishes to get on the surface of banana peels . The equipment casualty is ordinarily only detectable until bananas have been placed in storage .

Cigar End Rot is a flora disease that is spread by yet another fungus . florescence banana tree are the most vulnerable . This disease causes bananas to develop a wrinkled brown remnant . you’re able to avoid Cigar last Rot by choosing uninfected planting materials .

Cordana Leaf Spot is another disease that make unsightly blemishes on banana leaves . luckily , infected plant are able of producing healthy fruit . Still , it can leave banana plants front frightful and unhealthful .

Sometimes banana tree corms and rhizomes become infected with bacterium . When this take place , the entire banana plant life dies . Since infected Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are severed near their bases , this disease is sometimes referred to as Tip Over .

You must stop the spread of rhizome guff before it can spread across your banana patch . Prevent this disease ’s front by selecting respectable suckers and rhizome for planting .

you may also opt for tissue paper civilised plant varieties , as these are more resistive to bacteria and fungus . When all else fails , you must destroy the septic plants and quarantine septic soil .

Final Thoughts

Bananas are a relatively low - maintenance plant that grow abundantly in tropic area . These hardy perennials are a outstanding generator of works - base nourishment .

If you ’re looking to educate bananas , it is significant to plan . Always source your suckers and rhizomes from creditworthy raiser . Remember to curb your works for potential pests and diseases .

Asingle banana tree plantcan produce 25 to 40 pounds of yield each year . And a healthy plant will boom for around six age .

If you ’re lucky , your plant life also produces several offshoots , enabling you to collect a lifetime of bananas .

Fact Checked , Written , and Published by Kevin Rodrigues

Kevin is the founder of Gardening Mentor , a website that drive to learn people to grow their own food for thought in a special space . As a self - taught gardener , Kevin has spend several class grow plants and make horticulture substance on the website . He is certified in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . Read more