Growing bananas is very interesting and can be fun for the family. It also helps children to know and understand where their natural fruit comes from. These plants create a beautiful look in the garden. For anyone who lives in colder climates, they should place banana plants on a windowsill or in a greenhouse.
Banana Tree at a Glance
- Common Names: Banana tree, plantain tree
- Plant Type: Herbaceous, perennial
- Family: Musaceae
- Mature Size: 1–15 ft. wide, 2–30 ft. tall
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Soil pH: Acidic
- Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Flower Color: White, orange, purple
- Hardiness Zones: 9–11 (USDA)
- Native Area: Africa, Australia, Asia
Banana Tree Care
It is vital to take some extra banana tree care during the occurrence of flowers. When the flowers are in bloom, cutting the stems of the flowering is necessary. Cut off the place where the flowers are not coming. For the next following four to six weeks, the 'hands' of the banana should be cut.
Soil
One of the main things you should think about banana plant care is that such plants require well-draining soil. The banana tree has slim roots that need loose soil to spread around appropriately. If the soil is too wet, the cycle does not work as well, and the plant will not grow as it should be.
Many peoples will utilize less thick soil or even plant in pots or raised beds to improve water drainage for best outcomes. Acidic soils support growing banana plants. Use of yard soil should be kept away from as it is weighty. You need to make sure that you have sufficient soil for covering more than half of the rhizome.
Sunlight
The banana plant requires adequate sunlight and a high measure of soil drainage. There could be no other point more significant than this while planting bananas. A banana plant can die within an hour if its roots are allowable to absorb water for a long time. Air is also vital. However, abundant wind can hamper the foliage.
Make sure that your banana plants are getting a lot of sunlight. These need around 12 hours of good sunlight every day. And if you cannot get this much, the tree will not nurture as it should be.
Fertilizers and Water
When the soil dries up to half of an inch after the very first water do not repeat the process. Bananas will not grow well by being watered consistently. Add it only after the soil has dried to the ideal level.
Climatic Conditions
The best climate to grow bananas is in the warm winters. This plant requires exposure to the sun for 12 hours every day. The ideal temperature should be close to around 80, and in the evening time, it should not cross the 70F imprint.
Types of Banana Trees
There are more than 70 types of banana trees. Some include:
Musa acuminata: These are well-known banana types available in many stores. This type of banana accounts for 50% of bananas growth and is traded all over the world.
Musa ornata: Musa ornate is also called flowering banana. It is local to India. It is a little fruited, suckering, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial that is essentially grown for its elegant appearance.
Musa basjoo: Musa basjoo, referred to differently as Japanese banana, hardy banana, or Japanese fiber banana, is a type of flowering plant having a place with the banana family Musaceae.
Pruning and Propagating Banana Trees
As banana grows, we need only one tail on each plant growing to produce bananas, and only one branch remaining in the wings to create the next year's harvest. Any remaining branches should be cut down as they show up.
The process of propagation known as mini-setting is used with a few harvests that grow from underground tubers, like the taro, sweet potato, cassava, banana, and yam. Minisetts are viewed as a fast technique used to effectively recreate plant material to ensure a continuous supply of these staple food crops.
Potting and Repotting Banana Trees
Growing banana trees requires good draining soil that is rich in natural matter and compost. Purchase a quality potting mix for your banana tree. If you are making it at home, make sure to mix perlite, sand, and fertilizer. The soil pH should be 6 – 7.
In the process of repotting, place the root ball in the center of the new holder and occupy the space around it with crisp fertilized soil. Fix the soil around the plant, and water the plant completely. Cover the outer layer of soil with a layer of mulch to help save with watering and make the pot look clean.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Nematodes: Nematodes are a typical banana plant pest. They cause decaying of the corms and go about as a vector to the parasite Fusarium oxysporum. You can find various types of nematode that like bananas. To avoid these pests: the dirt must be cleared, furrowed, and then exposed to the sun and left decrepit for as long as three years.
Scarring beetle: The banana fruit scarring coquito, or beetle attacks the bunches when the fruit is young. The banana scab moth pervades the inflorescence and is controlled with the utilization of an injection or tidying of pesticide.
Banana plant diseases are transmitted using beetle pests. Banana bacterial shrivel might be transferred by insects. The principal indication of contamination is that the leaves turn yellow-brown and then die later. And if that disease happens late in fruit creation, the buds darken and dry. Fruit ripens early, and contaminated fruit is rusty brown. It is a must to sanitize garden equipment to prevent spread and eliminate excessive male buds.
FAQs
1. Is it best to give banana plants direct sunlight?
Banana plants require a lot of light. A south-facing window requires 4-6 hours of full sunlight per day.
2. How tall can a dwarf banana tree grow?
It can grow larger. So, try the dwarf banana that can grow 8 to 10 feet tall.
3. Can banana plants grow in shade?
Many banana trees require much sunlight. However, some varieties having variegated leaves require a little shade to avoid leaf scorch.
