Q&A for How to Grow Banana Plants

It is possible to grow banana trees from fruit seeds, but most people would find the fruit from the plant to be inedible and full of seeds. The bananas that are sold in the stores do not contain seeds and therefore are not capable of creating another plant.

It generally takes 9-12 months for a banana plant to begin to bear fruit.

While all banana trees grow fruits, be advised that not all trees grow edible fruit.

Plant your banana plant after all danger of frost has passed. In your area, that's generally by early spring.

Yes, bananas are commonly grown in sunny warm areas of the United States including Hawaii and Florida. Bananas can also be grown in such states as Texas, Arizona and California. Some banana varieties are more cold hardy than others (such as Lady Finger and Japanese Fiber Banana), so if you live somewhere that is a bit cold, you may be able to grow bananas, especially if you’re prepared to wrap the tree during the cooler months. Otherwise, there is always the option of growing bananas indoors: How to Grow Banana Trees in Containers .

In tropical regions, Panama disease (aka banana wilt or Fusarium wilt), a fungal infection, is the main disease concern for commercial and other banana growers. Fungal problems are less of an issue in sub-tropical or warm temperate climates. Root rot can occur if the plant is subjected to cold, wet weather.

This will depend mainly on the variety of banana plant that you’re growing but a general guide is to plant the trees around 6.5 feet to 13 feet (2 to 4 meters) apart. This will ensure each plant has sufficient space to grow and is getting enough light.

You can grow a banana tree indoors provided you choose a dwarf variety and ensure that it receives optimal conditions for growing. It will require a deep container filled with good quality, rich soil that drains well, moist compost, warmth and plentiful light. The plant will need regular feeding and it will need to be repotted when the new stems of the tree develop. You can find instructions for growing your banana tree indoors here: How to Grow Banana Trees in Containers .

It depends on the variety, some can grow 5 feet others to 18 feet. I have both growing.

Maybe. Cut back a few inches at a time to reveal the live greenish white heart of the plant. If it lives, it can grow a foot in 24 hours. I usually leave the leaves on until spring and use a sharp machete to slowly cut back sections of the plant. The new growth can't emerge until freed from the damaged uppper section.

Make sure the area is drained well and do not over-water it.

Anywhere from 10 to 25 feet depending on how well they're cared for.

The bananas that have small black seeds are SE Asia Jungle Bananas, they are often sold in markets as ordinary bananas because they look alike, but cost less. My banana tree came from a seed thrown onto the compost heap, so they are easy to reproduce.

Plant them in full or partial sun and, if possible, plant on the south side of your home, out of the cold winter winds and temps.

Bananas are tropical plants and consist mainly of water. Water at least once a week and every two to three days if the plant has bananas on it. Also, I haven't seen this posted anywhere else but bananas are heavy feeders and need to be fertilized about every 2-3 months are more regularly. I mix my own fertilizer and mix 1 part of urea to 3 parts of muriate of potash. This generally will give me a 20-0-60 formulation which is recommended for bananas.

Put it in the ground. It will establish better than sitting in water where it could rot.

Some banana plants take a full 18 months of growing in order to produce bananas. However, there are some varieties, like the Raja Puri, that will produce bananas in 12 months of growing. If you live in an area where, during the winter months the temperatures freeze regularly, you may never have bananas. In some cases where you have a mild winter, you could have bananas, but it could take several years. If your plant is more than five years old and has not produced any fruit, you may want to plant a new tree or accept that bananas aren't destined to grow for you.

The roots stay close to the plant but over time this becomes a large mass. A large root ball can push over block or concrete walls.

When the flower dries up, or if you are regular in your garden, you can wait until a few ripen.

Banana plants are not seasonal plants and so can be grown at any time. If it is not a heavy summer and rainy season, then the time will be perfect for the growing banana trees. Banana plants cannot be grown in snow or very cold environments and must be covered during temperate climate winters.

Your plant will probably die and you will have to replant the sprouts separately or singly to begin again.

Usually about 3-4 days.

Yes, you can just remove all the root bound dead area, leaving about two inches and replant.

Banana plants evaporate excess water through their leaves. Normally young plants get watered a lot from their owners and the evaporation can form droplets of water dripping from the tips of leaves where it collects to form droplets. Just make sure your drainage is good and everything should be fine.

My favorite place I found is seedman.com. They have a great selection of banana seeds, palm, and other really cool exotics. Their prices and shipping costs are affordable.

You should water your banana plant whenever the top inch of soil is dry, so usually every 2 to 3 days in the warmer months.

Your plants will start growing again when the soil temperature reaches 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Uncover them before the soil gets warm and after you know there will not be any more freezing temperatures.

Cut off the smaller plants, but remember to leave one to succeed the mother plant.

Use fertilizer that is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and magnesium. You can use manure, but apply it close to the plant, as a banana plant's root system isn't very big.

No, it will not grow because the plant cells in it will have died.