There’s nothing quite like enjoying homegrown fruits. The taste, quality, and reassurance of knowing precisely how your food grows speaks for itself.
The banana, also known as the “apple of paradise,” has been around since the beginning of recorded human existence. Most people enjoy an excellent ripe banana, whether it be raw, baked into a recipe, added to a fruit salad, or in a banana split sundae.
Did you know it’s impossible to grow bananas from seeds? First, stick around to find out why this is so. Then, discover how to successfully grow your own banana trees and explore a complete guide to banana tree care. Finally, learn where to further your research on these well-loved tropical berries. Ready? Let’s go!
The Complete Banana Tree Care Guide
So you’re looking to try your hand at growing your very own banana tree? Do you need to know how to get started and then how to keep your banana trees happy all season long? Well, you’ve come to the right place! This complete banana tree care guide will help you soon enjoy bunches of these popular, low-maintenance fruits both indoors and out!
The Inside Scoop on Banana Plants
What is a Banana Plant?
First, before discussing banana tree care, let’s talk about what this plant actually is. The banana is realistically classified as a berry due to its seed location. Banana seeds are located inside the flesh of this fruit rather than the outside.
These tropical plants with large green leaves, from the genus Musa, are fast-growing and reasonably easy to care for. When fully ripe, this yellow fruit will exhibit flavor notes of melon, pineapple, candy, and clove. When a banana has developed its classic yellow coloring, its sugar concentrate has officially reached its highest peak.
Digging Deeper Into Banana Plants
Let’s discuss these berries a little deeper, shall we? A banana plant is very unique, as they’re impossible to grow from seeds. This means you’re likely enjoying a banana from a section of your great-great-great grandfather’s banana tree.
How Can This Be?
Well, bananas are actually grown from trimmings off other banana plants. Bananas grown commercially are the product of separated offshoots called suckers or pups. These shoots are pruned and then planted to create even more banana trees; rinse and repeat!
How Best To Grow Banana Trees
Banana Tree Care: Getting Started
First off, when it comes to getting started, a banana tree begins its life from clippings derived from bulbs. These bulbs grow into suckers, also known as “pups,” connected to the plant’s main stem. Banana pups, when pruned correctly, will then amazingly develop their own roots. These pups are then separated, prepped, and rooted to produce more banana trees.
If you’re looking to grow bananas from seeds, save yourself the trouble. Seeds aren’t available to purchase for these types of fruits. To grow banana plants, you must use pruned pups, or you can visit your local nursery or garden center and buy a young tree to speed up the process.
Planting Banana Trees
Once your pups are prepped and established in rich, well-drained soil, you’re one step closer to owning your own mini banana plantation.
Here’s a brief run down on the banana tree care basics you’ll need to keep your banana tree happy for years to come.
Plenty of Sunlight
This one’s tricky when it comes to proper sunlight for banana tree care. Your banana tree will thrive in at least six hours of direct sunlight per day; however, you’ll have to make sure to keep your eye on high temperatures.
Excessive sunlight exposure leads to burnt banana foilage. My best advice is to move your banana plants around or allow a bit of shade throughout the week.
Soil
Your banana tree will crave a rich composted wet soil packed with organic matter and nutrients. Excellent banana tree care also includes providing excellent drainage.
A banana tree’s roots should never sit in standing water. Excessive watering will lead to root rot, so be careful to keep the soil moist but never over-saturated.
Water
Your banana plant is a thirsty one! It’s going to crave a daily dose of water, especially in the summer.
Banana plants will also do very well in humid environments. Deep watering and maintaining moist soil are vital steps in keeping up healthy banana trees. So make sure to give it plenty of water during the warmer months!
Temperatures
Banana plants are their happiest at seventy-eight to eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit. But, unfortunately, banana trees are not a fan of cold weather! If your temperatures drop below fifty-seven degrees, your tender banana plant will experience stunted growth or even death.
Greenhouses or bed sheets placed over your tree during inclement weather will help protect your banana plant from danger. Outdoor banana trees will do best if they are able to be brought indoors or in warmer spaces in the winter.
Humidity
Your banana tree will absolutely love humid conditions! This is why we see many banana trees growing in tropical areas, especially near the ocean.
In drier areas, you can try and create artificial humidity with a spray bottle sprayed along the banana leaves.
Fertilizer
Proper banana tree care means giving your banana tree abundant monthly feedings and adequate nutrients.
You can accomplish this by using a high-phosphorous fertilizer. Remember to never put your liquid fertilizer directly on the trunk of the plant.
To know which fertilizer to feed your tree, check out our article on the Best Fertilizers for Banana Trees.
Want To Learn Even More About Growing Banana Trees?
These are just the very basics, but I invite you to dig deeper and visit this article I wrote which breaks down a complete how-to on “How To Grow A Banana Tree” from start to finish.
Here I go more in-depth into banana characteristics, the different types of banana trees, banana pups, harvesting, and finally, proper ways to store bananas! You’ll be an expert in no time. Moreover, you’ll find that it’s a fun and tasty hobby to grow these popular tropical fruits!
How Long Does It Take To Grow Banana Trees?
Have you ever wondered how long your banana plant will take to produce mature fruits after it’s been properly planted? From clippings to fruits, it really varies depending on selections.
How Can You Grow Bananas Quicker?
Say you want a fast-producing banana plant? If this is the case, a Dwarf Cavendish banana tree is the right one for you. However, sometimes it’s fun to step outside of the box and try exotic varieties. I encourage you to try growing a Red Cuban or Blue Havana if time isn’t of the essence.
While exploring “How Long Does It Take To Grow A Banana Tree?” I will talk about the time span of growing mature banana trees even further. In this post, I break down the speeds of a handful of common types of banana trees along with a few exotic varieties. I’ll also let you in on some tips and tricks to grow and enjoy your bunches faster!
How Best To Winterize Banana Trees
If cared for correctly, you’ll find a good investment in a banana tree with the proper banana tree care. These trees are perennials and can be enjoyed year after year.
Enjoy your bananas during the warm spring, summer, and fall, and learn to winterize your banana trees during the winter season. Whether you need to winterize your banana tree outdoors, in-ground, or in a container garden, I’ve got you covered!
Come and check out my post about “How To Winterize Banana Trees.” This article will give you a complete how-to on the best way to winterize your banana trees and expand on the importance of banana tree care through the seasons! Now you can keep your banana tree for years to come!
Health Benefits of Bananas
Not only are bananas tasty and a very versatile tropical fruit, but they also offer many unexpected health benefits. Eating a banana a day really does keep the doctor away!
Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Management
Did you know bananas help regulate blood pressure and balance your blood sugars? This is because these edible fruits contain natural sugar. This sugar is a perfect solution to raise your blood sugar when ripe and yellow and help maintain blood sugar management if enjoyed when green.
Heart Health, Digestion, and Healing Stomach Bugs
Bananas additionally help promote a healthy heart and aid in proper digestive and gut health! In digestion, bananas contain carbohydrates that are easily broken down and help relieve stomach ailments such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Natural Weight Loss Solutions
These berries are also great personal weight loss assistants. These low-calorie snacks are perfect for on the go. In addition, they are packed with vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Copper, and Manganese.
To find out even more significant health benefits of growing bananas, I invite you to visit my article titled “The Amazing Health Benefits of Bananas.” I’ll dig even deeper into more amazing healthy qualities in this specific article.
Wrapping Up The Complete Banana Tree Care Guide
It’s clear you need to grow these fabulous banana plants indoors or outdoors this season. This Complete Banana Tree Care Guide will be the perfect tool for all your banana tree care needs!
Whether searching for the best banana tree care or wondering how long it takes to grow and enjoy these fruits, head over to our Banana Trees page to find what you’re looking for. We have articles on how to best care for banana trees seasonally, their many health benefits, plus profile of banana varieties you may never have heard of before. All that’s left to do is plant!
Excited for more banana content? Then check out my banana tree page for info guides, growing tips, recipes, and more!