How to Grow Banana Plants
Bananas are technically giant herbs, not trees. Learn how to grow, feed, and harvest tropical bananas.
Quick Takeaway
For a quick answer, check the main steps below. Always ensure proper sanitation and optimal temperatures for the best yield.
The Giant Herb
Bananas are not trees; they lack woody tissue. They are the world's largest herbaceous flowering plant. Because they grow so massively and so quickly, they require immense amounts of water and nutrients.
Sun and Wind
Bananas require full sun. However, their massive leaves act like sails and are easily shredded by high winds. Plant them in a sunny, wind-protected area of your yard.
Feeding the Beast
Bananas are incredibly heavy feeders, requiring high amounts of Nitrogen and Potassium. Apply a balanced fertilizer (like a 10-10-10 or an 8-2-12) frequently during the growing season. Use the Fertilizer Calculator to ensure you aren't underfeeding.
The "Pup" System
A banana plant (the pseudostem) only fruits once. After you harvest the bananas, that stem will die. However, the underground rhizome (the corm) will push up new baby plants called "pups". To maintain a continuous harvest, allow one main stem to fruit, keep one half-grown pup as a successor, and keep one small baby pup. Cut away any others to prevent competition for nutrients.