In My Garden: Bananas!

A staple item in our house, as far as fruit is concerned, is the banana. We eat them because we love the taste but also because they are high in potassium and calcium. So growing them in my yard seemed like a good idea.

On the coast the lack of high temperature makes them a little more challenging to grow, but lack of frost is a positive. Finding the right varieties that have a good taste and are not sensitive to weather was important. 

When choosing where to plant bananas pick a south facing area. The south side of your house can be a good area because of the reflected heat. The soil needs to have good drainage, and bananas don't like too much wind because their leaves tear easily.

Bananas can grow from a small pup (young plant) to mature bananas in as little as 18 months but usually take longer in the cooler temperatures we have here on the coast. The banana plant produces bananas in one group per plant (three to many hands) and at the same time new pups are forming at the base. Allow one or two pups to grow. Remove the other pups and give to family or friends to start their own banana garden, or add to your own garden. 

Once some bananas on the group start turning yellow, cut the group off from the main plant and hang the bananas in a cool shaded place. The cut surface produces a white milky substance that drips and can stain surfaces so cover your surface from the drips or hang in a place that doesn't matter if it gets stained.

Then cut the trunk off right at the ground. It won't produce any more bananas and will take energy from the pup that is growing at the base. Compost heavily around the plants. They have shallow roots and need regular water and organic matter. Like all home-grown fruit, you will be amazed at the taste of the fruit you grow compared to store bought.