Banana Bonanza

A big treat indeed, banana plants can grow to towering heights of 20 feet or to dwarf-sized versions. With such diverse varieties to choose from, bananas are fast becoming backyard staples. And did you know that banana plants aren't really trees? They're actually herbaceous perennials that flourish in mild California temperatures.

"Typically, you want to put the banana in a wind-sheltered location where it gets as much sun and heat as possible," says Richardson. "They accept some limited light, but it slows down the growth and the bunch size."

What if you're not fortunate enough to live in a mild climate like California? For areas where the threat of freeze is imminent, the answer is simple--just move the plant. With amazingly shallow roots, the core of the stem base holds enough stored nutrition to feed the plant for an entire winter. Just dig up the plant carefully, remove excess dirt and roots and store it in a cool dry place — like a basement — where it can survive for months on end. Then, once the weather warms up, move the plant back outdoors to re-establish itself; in about 30 days, new growth will initiate.

Keep in mind, depending on your climate, that even using the dig-out-and-store method won't guarantee that your plant will bear fruit. "But even if it doesn't, bananas produce foliage that produce a cool element in your garden," says master gardener Paul James. Another cool thing about banana plants is the development of new varieties hardy to zone 5.

If all this digging up and replanting sounds like too much work, or if you don’t have enough storage space, Richardson offers another option--plant your banana plant in a pot. "One of the best ways to grow bananas in marginal climates is in containers," says Richardson. Not only can you grow them indoors, but you can also grow them outdoors on a patio. And if a freeze is imminent, you can move the container in the house, the garage or basement for protection.

When growing bananas in containers, use the best soil you can because not only do bananas grow rapidly, but they are also heavy feeders. One of the advantages to container gardening is that it allows you to feed them often. Nutritionally, bananas are potassium rich, so Richardson suggests adding green sand, kelp meal and sulfate of potash magnesium, all of which are high in potassium.

After filling and tamping down a generous layer of soil in the base of the container, set the banana plant (still in its original pot) in the container to make sure the plant is at the ideal level. Remove the plant from its pot and place it in the center of the container. Fill the container with soil, tamping it down as you go. Leave about three to four inches between the soil and the top edge of the container for mulch and water. Richardson recommends mixing even more organic fertilizer and rock dust into the top layer of soil.

Don't expect your bananas to look or taste like the ones you get at the market, warns James. Homegrown bananas run the gamut of tones, tastes, tangs, and textures. One reason why homegrown bananas are so flavorful is because they have a chance to ripen naturally on the plant, which is something commercial growers don't have the luxury of doing. It can take 10 to 15 months to produce a huge flower stalk and up to two years for a plant to bear fruit to maturity.

"The very best thing a homeowner can do for harvesting is to wait until the top hand bananas actually start to turn yellow," says Richardson. And there are several ways bananas can be harvested: by the stalk, by the hand (which is a spiral clump), or finger-by-finger, which is one banana at a time. To reach the fruit on standard-sized plants, notch the tree at eye level with a sharp knife so that you can bend the plant down towards you, making it easier to reach and cut the stem.

Once all the fruit has been harvested, chop the plant stalk down to about three feet. Reducing the plant size saves energy for the production of new plants. After a few weeks, the stalk can be leveled and chopped up into potassium-rich mulch.

Whether tall or small, potted or simply put away for the winter, it's safe to say that these delicious fruits might be one plant group worth going bananas over.