Banana Plant Care

If you go bananas about bananas, then you should plant one banana plant right in your garden. This way, you will have an unlimited supply of home grown bananas! However, before dreaming about starting your banana farm, you must learn and understand banana plant care! Before going into, how to take care of banana plants, let us know something about the banana plant.

Banana Plant Facts

Although, it looks like one, banana plant is not a tree. It is actually a perennial herb! They are native plants of the tropical region of Southeast Asia. If you go into the history of bananas, they are known to have been domesticated for the first time in Papua New Guinea and now they are cultivated throughout the tropics. Their main stem is not actually a trunk but a pseudo stem! The maximum height these banana plants reach is close to 8 m with leaf length reaching 3.5 m. Bananas grow in bunches, weighing up to 50kgs!

The most common and popular variety of these plants is the 'dessert' type banana which is soft, sweet and seedless. They are grown in 107 countries all over the world. If you explore banana nutrition facts, you will know that they are rich sources of Vitamin B₆, Vitamin C and Potassium. Bananas are a recommended part of diet for athletes and sportsmen, as sources of instant energy, as there is a good amount of calories in a banana. Bananas are the cheapest and the most nutritious of all fruits, that you would ever eat. People have created various useful products out of banana plant fiber. The bountiful banana is the most potent fruit and has numerous health benefits. There are many delicious banana recipes, that you can enjoy cooking and eating. There are many more such interesting facts about bananas. I don't know, why any gardening aficionado wouldn't want to have a banana plant in his or her garden!

Banana Plant Care Tips

To care for banana plant, you need to put in a lot of gardening work in its early years. Here are some banana pant care tips for your perusal.

Choose the Warmest Spot
Choose the warmest spot for your banana plant, in your garden, as they need lots of bright sunlight to grow well. Cold climate is not good for these trees.

Give it Air
Fresh circulating air with maximum temperatures in and around 80 F and minimum of 67 F, will be good for your banana plant .

Light, Well Draining Soil
Remember, these plants grow well in light and well drained soil! See that the thin roots of the plant can easily spread through the soil.

Water and Fertilizers are a Must
Water the plant regularly and especially when the soil is dry. Check the soil texture regularly for dryness. Ensure that the moistness is maintained.

Keep them Weed Free
Keep the surrounding area weed free, as they compete with the plant for nutrients. Weeding out your garden regularly is important!

In Winter, Wrap Them Up!
In winter, cut the plant down and cover it with insulation. This is necessary if you want the plant to survive the winter. They are not naturally adapted to cold climates.

Try Cold Tolerant Varieties
If you want to grow bananas throughout the year, go for certain cold tolerant varieties, that are available in the market. Some of these varieties are Musa Basjoo, Saja, and Ice Cream !

Hope these banana plant care tips, will help you out in raising your very own banana plant. The fruit of all this labor is definitely worth it, trust me! May you enjoy many days of delicious contentment, eating bananas and going bananas!