“ We got mangoes and bananas you could pick right off a tree … ” The verse from the classicSouth Pacificsong seems to indicate that raise bananas is no big deal . If you hold up in Hawaii or other tropical areas , that might be so . In otherclimates , mature banana hire the right conditions and some extra attention .
Where Bananas Grow
Most banana are tropical plants . If you survive in tropical field or USDA Zones 9 through 11 , you have a serious shot atgrowingthem outside . A few varieties are brave to Zone 4 . Those are not the distinctive grocery store banana – which is commonly a Cavendish – but variety known as plantain . plantain are cooked rather than corrode novel and many are reddish rather than yellow .
Choosing Banana Varieties
genus Musa acuminataandMusa balbisianaare the wild varieties from which nearly all uncommitted hybrids are derived . Most are develop as ornamentals . You may observe these varieties :
Soil for Bananas
The banana tree is a overweight tributary . Its lush , large leaves and individual flower shank need plenty of the basic nutrients like atomic number 7 , K and phosphorus . The soil in which you grow bananas should be productive , with lashings of humus from aged leaf mold , organic compost and well - rotted manure . However , it must also drain well , so fine crushed rock , crushed lava rock candy or perlite is also take .
Watering Bananas
The mathematical product of tropic rain forest , banana tree thrive with regular watering and gamey humidity . However , stand water and soggy soil will rapidly induce root word rot . Depending on your mood , the weather and the plant life ’s location , you will belike need to irrigate every two or three day during the turn period . Soil should be evenly moist . In winter , much less water is needed .
Fertilizer for Bananas
banana have high nitrogen and potassium requirements , but need much less phosphorus , as well as much modest amounts of micro - nutrients like calcium , magnesium and zinc . commercial-grade raiser typically usefertilizerwith an NPK proportion of 13 - 10 - 30 . However , these growers also hold phosphorus in the summertime and decrease nitrogen in crepuscule . Weekly dilute feeding are usually recommend .
Locating Bananas
banana are an understory plant . While they do need spate of light , it should be indirect bright light rather than full sun , specially in the hot part of the day . Dappled shade in the previous good afternoon is good for bananas grown outdoors . Inside , a bright sunny window with translucent blinds or shades to protect from direct sun is the best choice .
