Growing bananas

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by Flatland, Apr 10, 2016.

  1. Flatland

    Flatland Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Gender:
    Female
    Been thinking about trying my hand at bananas. We are well out of the tropics but not really cold. I have googled bananas and am confused. Some sites say they need to be in full sun others say shade. I know they have to be protected from wind and the area that is most protected is behind a shed and in between two tanks. This area doesn't get a lot of sun. A nearby nursery is selling Gold finger plants. Any comments appreciated. Because the shed is about 4 metres high I am thinking if this spot is a goer I would need a plant less than this height
    Cheers
     
  2. Bryant RedHawk

    Bryant RedHawk Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    Messages:
    607
    Likes Received:
    83
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Arkansas Senior Appraiser
    Location:
    Vilonia, Arkansas, deep in the woods
    Climate:
    USDA zone 7b,8a.
    I have seen Bananas grow and fruit up in the Ozark Mountains, my friend there grows them in what I would describe as clumps (10 to 15 "trees" in a group). He does have to dig them up and over winter these plants in a cellar he dug just for this purpose.

    Bananas do best when they have full sun but with some wind shelter (if your winds are in the 20 mph upper limit they will do just fine with out much wind shelter).
    If they don't get enough sun they will not produce fruit, if the winds are higher than 20 mph for sustained periods ( one hour or longer at a time) they might suffer wind burn or even be blown down (not a very deep root system). I'd try a few different places with varying exposures to both sun and wind to identify the place (s) they like best for growing in your area. Bananas fruit best when they are in multiples, they can be the same variety (unlike apples and pears or peaches which produce best when there are other varieties available for pollination).

    We have been thinking of planting 5-6 banana plants in a space we have that gets 8 hours of summer sun and has a surround of hickory and oak trees for blocking our sustained 5-15 mph winds. I am hoping to get these in the ground next year. Good luck to you on growing your own bananas, it is something I am looking forward to doing as well.

    You might want to do a little soil prep for best success, bananas like a good amount of humus in the soil and a pH of around 6.5, manganese in addition to P and K are more important than N in soil for growing bananas, other trace elements will improve the taste as well.
     
  3. mischief

    mischief Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2009
    Messages:
    1,665
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    s/e
    Location:
    South Waikato New ZeLeand
    Climate:
    Cool mountain
    It is possible to get seed and maybe plants for bananas that grow in a cooler temperate climate. They are more of the lady finger type.
    I have seed for this but didnt sow it this year-waiting to get my glasshouse finished so I can start them off in that to make sure they take.
     
  4. Chilliprepper

    Chilliprepper New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2016
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Western Australia
    Home Page:
    Climate:
    Mediterranean coastal
    We grow bananas in all sorts of places on our property and find them to work well in lots of different areas :)

    We have bananas on a windy west facing wall, getting afternoon Australian sun (think hot), and they have boomed.
    We have bananas in a cool shady spot, sheltered from winds and rain, that only gets morning easterly sun, and they have a bunch of bananas on them right now too. Bananas are very versatile.

    Give them a go. You never know. We have even grown bananas as pot plants, simply for the tropical look, and have still got little mini bananas from them - even though the plants were quite dwarfed for their natural size. Good luck!
     
    Erich Sysak and Bryant RedHawk like this.
  5. Flatland

    Flatland Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Gender:
    Female
    Thanks Chillipreppe that makes me think it is worth giving bananas a go
     
  6. Nicolai Barca

    Nicolai Barca New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Feral Pig Control
    Location:
    Kauai
    Climate:
    Hawaii- Tropical Pacific Island
    They are quite hardy and I wouldn't worry about wind. It's plenty windy here and the worse that happens is that the large leaves shred but they can still photosynthesize fine. Bananas love sun and moisture and grey water, particularly from a laundry machine. No harm planting one and trying it out. So long as your climate allows, that one will in a couple years turn to a big clump. They spread only about a foot per year and can be dug up and supply numerous suckers which can be cut off and transplanted elsewhere. Plant where it is moist.
     

Share This Page

-->