How many months to spend for banana from planting to harvest

How Long Do Bananas Take to Grow?

Bananas are unusual fruits in a number of ways. They don’t grow on actual trees, many don’t produce seeds and they have three different kinds of flowers on one stalk. Although the plants take months to flower, the bananas themselves develop within a few days after flowering. However, they then take several months to mature.

About Bananas

The so-called banana tree is actually a perennial herb related to ginger. Commercial grocery store bananas are vegetatively propagated, as they only produce seeds that will never mature. Other banana varieties – some of which are edible – do produce seeds. With the exception of its flowering period, the banana tends to take its time to develop and mature.

Edible Banana Varieties

Commercial bananas are only grown in the tropics, but other edible bananas can be grown in USDA Zones 7 to 11. Some should be grown in pots and moved indoors during winter. Here are some possibilities:

Growing from Seed

You can grow new plants from those bananas that do produce seeds. The seed should be soaked in warm water for 24 to 48 hours. Germinating banana seeds need a temperature of 60°F (15°C). However, they germinate better with temperature fluctuations, such as 19 hours of cool temperatures and 5 hours of warm temperatures. Sow in rich, moist soil. They should germinate within two weeks to two months.

Banana Plant Maturity

Whether you sow seeds or start your bananas from suckers, you’ll need patience. The plants themselves grow quickly, throwing up new leaves and shooting up in height. Within a few weeks, a banana plant may look mature. The “trunk” of the banana stem is called a pseudostem, and will reach maturity during that period of fast growth. At that point, the plant begins to develop its true stem.

The Banana Flower

The banana flower stalk – inflorescence – grows up the center of the pseudostem, arching down and producing a striking flower. Bananas don’t usually produce flowers until they are about six or seven months old. Banana fruits grow only from the female flowers, although the plant also produces male and neuter flowers. From flowering to fruit takes only a few days.

Fruit Maturity

Although the bananas develop quickly from the flowers, they will take months to fill out and develop flavor. Depending on the variety, the fruits will not be ready to harvest for two to three months. Bananas are ripened off the tree, so growers allow them to reach full size, but harvest them while they are still green or just yellowing in color. They take a week or more to ripen.

Growing Banana Trees: Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest

Bethany is a suburban homesteader who grows over 30 types of vegetables in her garden every year to provide the vegetables needed to feed her family of six for the entire year. She practices organic gardening without the use of any pesticide and chemical.

Does your family eat so many bananas that you want to try growing bananas in your garden? These fabulous fruits grow on trees anywhere that has the right environmental conditions.

If you live in a colder climate, you won’t see banana trees along your highway or in your neighbor’s backyard. Fruiting banana plants require warm weather and plenty of humidity to grow.

But if you live in a tropical climate, you can grow bananas, and those who don’t can try growing bananas in containers. Let’s take a look at what you need to know.

Bananas: The Largest Perennial Herb

When you see a banana tree, chances are you didn’t realize they’re not really a tree, despite being called (and looking like) one.

These plants are actually the world’s largest herb. In tropical regions, the plants are pruned to the ground after fruiting. If you feel the trunk, it’s not like a tree trunk; it has a main stem surrounded by leaves.

Despite being an herb, it is considered a tree by most because of its size.

The Two Types of Bananas

Did you know that bananas can be divided into two categories? The two types are dessert bananas and cooking bananas. Both are edible, so what’s the difference?

Dessert Bananas

Dessert bananas are the yellow ones you grab at the store and eat for breakfast or a snack. Most measure between 7-9 inches long, and the flesh is moist, soft, and sweet.

Cooking Bananas

Cooking bananas are edible as well, but they’re starchy and not used for fresh-eating. Instead, they’re exclusively used for cooking. An example of a cooking banana is plantains.

Cooking bananas look like a yellow banana, but they’re larger and have a thicker skin. Once cooked, expect a mild, sweet flavor similar to winter squash.

Planting Bananas: What You Should Know

Before you decide to add banana plants to your garden, you should know what they require. They need temperatures that average between 70-80°F with constant humidity around 50%.

They also prefer around 12 hours of sunlight.

That means people in temperate regions can’t plant banana trees in their backyards and expect them to grow. But if you meet the requirements, you can start growing your own bananas.

Select a location that’s sheltered from wind because the leaves are susceptible to damage. Some banana leaves can reach up to two feet wide and nine feet long! That means they need protection.

Banana plants prefer to grow in full sunlight, but some variegated varieties do better in partial shade because they burn easily.

Create the Ideal Soil

Ideally, the soil needs to be well-draining, deep and amended with plenty of rich, organic humus. It should be in the slightly acidic range between 5.5 and 6.5.

Before planting, amend the soil with several inches of compost. It’s important to ensure the potassium levels are high and stay consistent because bananas use a lot of potassium.

Planting Banana Plants Outside

It’s best to plant bananas in clumps of several plants together. This method is called block planting, and it helps shallow-rooted plants support each other while also increasing much-needed humidity.

Each plant should be spaced five feet apart. Bananas are grown from root divisions or cuttings. Using a root division with leafy growth is ideal.

Plant the division so that the roots are covered at the same depth as they were growing on their mother plant. If you plant a root division with no leaves, put it one to two inches below the ground.

Growing Bananas in Containers

It is possible to grow banana plants in containers, but you’ll need at least a 15-gallon pot. That’s the smallest size for one of these plants.

One of the benefits of growing bananas in containers is that it gives you the ultimate control over the plant’s environment and reduces the risk of cold weather killing it since you can move it indoors if needed.

The downsides are that these are hungry and thirsty plants, and water evaporates faster out of containers. You’ll need to water more often to keep up with the demands.

Every three years, divide and re-pot your container-grown banana plant. Always use a high-quality potting mix and fertilize regularly for optimal growth.

Growing Banana Plants Indoors

Banana plants grow well indoors so long as you fertilize and water often and give them enough sun. These plants grow extremely fast, filling up their growing location quickly.

The downside is that these plants won’t produce any fruit unless you have a large greenhouse. Year-round indoor growth gives the plants little time to flower and develop fruit.

Caring for Banana Plants

After planting, you switch focus on learning proper care of your growing bananas. Here’s what you need to know.

Watering Banana Plants

Banana trees originate in rain forests and tropical regions, so they require plenty of water and humidity. Ideally, you’ll have several banana trees together so they can be watered at the same time. Doing so creates more humidity and helps retain moisture.

Banana plants need between one to two inches of water weekly and frequent soil checks. The soil must stay evenly moist, so regular watering is required.

Avoid over-watering banana plants because it leads to root rot. The soil should be moist, not soggy, at all times.

Fertilize Monthly

Banana plants need to be fertilized regularly. Plan to use a balanced fertilizer once per month.

When applying fertilizer, spread it in a circle around the plant, but don’t let it touch the trunk. Create a monthly schedule to be consistent; these plants are heavy feeders.

When feeding outside banana plants, only use half of the rate, and follow the directions as indicated to avoid burning your plants.

Once the plant starts blossoming, switch from a balance fertilizer to one high in potassium.

Pruning Needs

After the tree produces fruit it won’t produce again. That means you want to have a mother plant and a second sucker from the same plant growing. That sucker will be where the fruit will grow next year.

Once the mother tree fruits, cut it back to the ground and chop the stem up to use a mulch. Then, let the second tree grow to produce fruit and keep another sucker waiting in the wings.

At all times, you’ll want one main tree and one sucker. Cut everything else to the ground.

Winterize Banana Plants

As mentioned, these plants prefer warm, humid locations. Even cold-tolerant varieties need a temperature range of 75-95°F.

So, if you live in a region that has temperatures below the accepted range, the growth will slow dramatically, and very cold temperatures can kill the plants.

The best options are either to grow the plant in a sheltered location or bring it inside during the winter if you have less-than-ideal conditions.

Common Pests & Diseases While Growing Bananas

Banana plants are vulnerable to several different pests and diseases. Here are some of the most common.

Nematodes

When you’re growing bananas, nematodes are a common banana pest that causes the rotting of the corms while also leaving the plants vulnerable to fungus.

Commercial banana farmers apply nematicides, which do protect crops. You can use this option, or you can try crop rotation. Leaving garden areas fallow for up to three years can kill off these pests.

Weevils

Weevils, sometimes called banana stalk borers, are one of the most destructive pests that bother banana plants. They attack the base of the plant and tunnel upward.

In most cases, gardeners use pesticides to control the infestation, but you also can use biological control methods as well. Utilizing a predator called Piaesius javanus is an effective treatment.

Thrips

Banana rust thrips stain the peels of the fruit, leaving it to split and expose the flesh. Over time, it causes the flesh to rot.

You can use insecticidal dust to control thrips. You can try insecticides as well when the infestations are too bad.

Sigatoka

This disease, sometimes called leaf spot, is caused by a fungus, and it’s mostly found in areas with poorly draining soil or heavy dew. It starts with small, pale spots that grow and become purple or black with grey centers.

A fungicide can be applied to control the disease from spreading. You also can grow cultivars that are resistant to Sigatoka.

Banana Wilt

Another fungal disease that can infect your plant is banana wilt. It starts in the soil and travels throughout the root system. The leaves start to yellow, starting with the oldest leaves and moving upwards.

Unfortunately, banana wilt is a lethal disease transmitted through winter, water, and other means. Destroy the tree.

Moko Disease

Bacteria causes moko disease, which is one of the main diseases of bananas in the western hemisphere. Insects, tools, soil, and other means transmit moko disease.

The only way to truly defend your plants against this disease is to plant resistant cultivars.

Harvesting Bananas

Banana plants flower typically six months after planting, with purple flowers appearing at the node of the stalks. Over time, the flower petals peel back to show a “hand” of bananas.

The process from planting to harvestable fruit is between 15-18 months. Once it’s time to harvest, cut off the fruiting stalks when the bananas are plump and green. The fruits grow plumper as they ripen.

Fruits ripened on the tree can be harvested one at a time, but don’t leave it there too long. Once harvested, hang your “hands” of bananas in a cool location.

Banana Plant Growth Stages

Bananas have many different growth stages from planting to fruiting and harvesting.

The production of bananas is a long process and banana plants grow in three different stages which are the vegetative stage, flowering stage and the fruiting stage.

In this article I’ll explain the many different stages of banana plant growth along with some tips to help you to grow an abundant crop of bananas in your backyard garden.

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Banana plants are best suited to tropical or subtropical climates and they need a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day with protection from the wind.

The ideal temperature range for growing bananas is between 65 F (18 C) and 80 F (26 C) for most of the year.

The growth cycle of the banana plant has three main stages: vegetative growth of the plant (6 months), flowering (3 months) and fruiting (3 months), which means the timeframe from planting to harvesting is at least 12 months or longer if the weather is cool.

Cavendish and lady finger are the two main types of bananas that can be grown in backyard gardens.

Cavendish are the most common type of bananas found in grocery stores.

Lady finger bananas are smaller and sweeter than cavendish bananas and they don’t turn brown as quickly when they’re cut.

Planting Stage

Banana plants are grown from plantlets that are taken from the mother plant.

Before planting, dig some compost or aged manure into the soil.

The plantlets are then planted in 4 inch (10 cm) holes and spaced out at least 2 metres apart.

After planting, the soil around the plants needs to be kept moist until they begin growing new roots, which can take up to 10 weeks.

Vegetative development

Banana plants aren’t trees, they’re perennial herbs that grow from a large underground rhizome.

Instead of a trunk, banana plants form pseudostems, which are tightly packed overlapping leaf sheaths that support the plant.

The leaves of banana plants are large and can grow up to 2 metres long.

The oldest leaves are found at the base of the plant and they become smaller as you move up the pseudostem.

New growth is tightly packed with overlapping leaf sheaths which gives it a cigar-like appearance.

During this stage of growth you’ll need to check the plants regularly for signs of bacterial leaf spot and mosaic virus.

Banana plants can also be affected by root nematodes, and borers.

You’ll also need to give the plants plenty of water during this stage, especially if there isn’t much rainfall.

Flower development

Banana plants begin to flower when the plant is about 9 to 10 months old but it can take up to 18 months for the plants to bloom if the weather is cool.

The flowers are covered by a large purple or green bract that it sheds as it matures.

The first flowers to appear are female and the fruit will begin growing without the need for pollination.

After the female flowers have bloomed the male flowers will begin forming.

Fruit production

After banana plants have bloomed they will begin to produce fruit.

It usually takes about three months for the fruit to fully develop.

Banana plants can produce 200 or more bananas each, depending on the size of the plant.

The fruit grows in large bunches with multiple rows of bananas called hands.

Each hand can contain up to 20 bananas.

Harvesting

Banana plants take about three months to produce fruit after blooming.

Bananas will attract birds, flying foxes, possums and other pests so it’s a good idea to place an open ended bag over each bunch of bananas to protect them.

Cut the bunches off the plant while they’re still green and leave them to ripen indoors.

Bananas are likely to split if you leave them on the tree until they’re fully ripe.

Storage

Green bananas usually take about a week to ripen, depending how warm the weather is.

Ripe bananas that have been stored at room temperature will last about a week and it’s best to eat them when the skin is yellow with a few brown spots.

Plant care after fruiting

After harvesting the bananas, the mother plant is cut down and you’ll have other suckers coming up to take its place.

Leave a couple of the suckers there to grow and replant the rest somewhere else in the garden or give them away.

RELATED ARTICLES

So there are the different stages of banana growth that you’ll see in your garden.

Watching the growth cycle of bananas is interesting and it’s satisfying to grow your own bananas.

It’s also a great educational experience for kids to see where their fruit comes from.

There are many different varieties of bananas that can be grown in your backyard garden, so pick a few varieties to plant and enjoy your own fresh organically grown bananas.

Have you tried growing bananas at home? Let me know in the comments below.

Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Fruit Gardens and Gardening Tips that you may find interesting. You can also find me on Facebook.

How to Plant, Grow, Prune, and Harvest Bananas Step by Step Guide

Bananas can grow and fruit where conditions are right. Fruiting banana plants require temperatures that average about 80°F (26°C) during the day and about 70°F (21°C) at night. Constant humidity of about 50 percent and daylight of around twelve hours each day are ideal. Bananas will fruit in less than ideal conditions but the quality of the fruit will suffer.

Table of Contents

Two Types of Bananas

There are two types of bananas: dessert bananas which are commonly eaten out-of-hand and in various desserts, and cooking bananas which are starchy and almost exclusively used for cooking. Cooking bananas include plantains.

Best Climate and Site for Growing Banana

Planting Bananas

Spacing Bananas

How Bananas Grow

Banana plants are perennial herbs, not trees. A banana plant has a trunk that consists of leaf stalks wrapped around each other in concentric circles. The trunk is leafy, not woody. New leaves grow up from the center of the trunk, pushing older leaves outward. At the base of a banana plant, under the ground, is a big rhizome or corm; this is the plant’s root system.

Banana fruit grows on flowering stalks that emerge from the center of the trunk. It takes about 9 months for a flowering stalk to produce fruit. Flowers turn into clusters of fruit; clusters of banana fruits are called “hands”; each individual fruit, each banana, is called a “finger”.

Banana fruits form in late summer. They reach mature size the following spring. When the fruit is green and plump it is nearly ripe; it is then cut off the stalk. The fruit finishes ripening after it is cut from the plant. Mature fingers commonly change color from green to yellow. Plantains, cooking bananas, turn yellow, then brown, then black as they ripen.

After a banana plant produces fruit, the leafy trunk dies back to the ground. New banana plants emerge from the plant’s rhizome root (also called a corm) which has many growing points. The baby plants are called “pups”; pups replace the mother plant; they also can be separated from the mother plant’s rhizome to start new plants elsewhere.

Banana plants grow up to 25 feet tall depending on the cultivar. There are cultivars that grow just 3 to 4 feet tall. Banana leaves can grow up to 2 feet wide and 9 feet long depending on the cultivar.

Banana Pollination

Container Growing Bananas

Banana Care, Nutrients, and Water

Pruning Bananas

Banana Problems and Control

Harvesting Bananas

Storing Bananas

Propagating Bananas

Banana Varieties to Grow

There are more than 1,000 banana cultivars. Here are several varieties that can grow in home gardens:

How to grow bananas and care for banana plants

Want to know how to grow a banana plant in your backyard?

Despite being a fairly straightforward process, there are some regulations around planting and transplanting banana trees that you need to keep in mind.

Banana plants are highly susceptible to serious disease and must be bought from certified, government approved source. But don’t let that discourage you – banana plants produce plenty of delicious fruit and their lush, large leaves will give your backyard an undeniable tropical oasis vibe.

How to grow bananas

First of all, did you know that bananas aren’t grown on trees? Yep, banana plants are actually perennial herbs grown from a large rhizome (a stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes ).

New leaves begin growing below the ground, pushing through the middle of the plant and emerging at the crown. New suckers grow from the rhizome, also called a corm. These can be can be removed and planted elsewhere or left to replace the mother plant after fruiting.

Banana plants can grow over five metres tall but home and garden varieties usually grow around two to four metres in height.

Varieties

There are two main varieties of bananas grown in Australia – Cavendish and ladyfinger. Cavendish bananas account for over 90 percent of Australian production and includes varieties such as Hybrids, Williams, Mons or Dwarf Cavendish. The lady finger banana is popular in certain regions such as Brisbane.

Look for dwarf banana varieties if you plan to grow the fruit in pots.

Cavendish bananas growing in tropical northern Queensland

Climate

Banana plants thrive in tropical or subtropical climates, however they can handle cooler temperature if cared for correctly. Growth will stop when temperatures drop below 15˚C but will begin again once it warms up.

Aspect

Choose a north-east to northerly aspect when growing a banana plant.

“When planting a banana plant, find a warm, frost free and wind protected space, that preferably receives at least six hours of sunshine per day,” Yates Horticulture Consultant Angie Thomas says.

If you’re growing a banana tree in a cooler climate, plant it in a sheltered location near a northerly facing wall.

Banana plants like rich, well-drained soil with reliable moisture. They can tolerate all but sandy soil.

Planting

The right time to plant is in spring and summer. Prepare your soil in advance by incorporating plenty of compost or manure and irrigate thoroughly a few days prior to planting. If you’re growing a few banana plants, place them around four metres apart. When planting, create a raised mound around the banana to improve drainage around the roots.

“It’s important to keep the soil consistently moist so it’s helpful to apply plenty of mulch,” Angie says.

Watering

Ensure soil is moist but not soaked. Check the topsoil before watering – if the top inch is dry, slowly and deeply water the plant. On average you can expect to do this every couple of days during the warmer months.

Fertiliser

Pruning

“Once a banana plant has fruited it will die, however there should be multiple suckers to take its place,” Angie says. “Remove all apart from two or three of the strongest suckers.”

If bananas are left to produce too many suckers it will reduce the yield of the plant as they can sap energy from the main stem. Excess suckers can be re-planted in pots or in your garden. It’s also important to remove any dead or damaged foliage to reduce risk of fungal infection. Use this foliage as compost.

Harvesting

A banana plant takes approximately nine months to mature and produce fruit however it is important to manage the process. Each cluster of bananas is called a «hand» and each individual banana is called a «finger». The entire stem containing several hands (and many fingers) is called a bunch.

“I recommend covering the entire fruiting stem of bananas with a large open ended bag once the fruit moves from being downward to upward facing,” Angie says. “This will help deter flying foxes, possums and birds from eating the bananas.”

You may have to prop your plant or bunch as the fruit grows heavier to prevent it falling over.

It’s also worth spreading out the harvest season so you aren’t left with bunches of ripe bananas at one time.

“You can harvest individual hands of bananas before they are ripe and allow them to ripen further indoors,” Angie says.

If you’re letting your bananas ripen on the tree, they will be ready to be picked when the little flowers on the end are dry and rub off easily.

Problems

There are a number of pest problems and diseases that can affect banana plants and biosecurity is a huge issue for the Australian banana industry. Nematodes, weevils, and thrips are the most common pests while anthracnose, rhizome soft rot, banana leaf rust, leaf speckle and crown rot are common diseases. Serious diseases like bunchy top and panama disease have been known to wipe our entire farms and are closely monitored by authorities.

Propagation

“If you already have a banana plant growing in your yard, as they mature they will start to develop suckers that can be gently dug up and removed from the parent plant when the stems are around five centimetres thick,” Angie says. “These small plants can then be planted in a different spot in the garden.”