Origin and growth
Banana plants grow in tropical conditions and are harvested year-round in Central and South America. Since they are not subject to climatic fluctuations here, they produce fruit in every season. Harvested green, the tropical fruits are exported with slight cooling. They then ripen, turning the starch they contain into sugar. Bananas are in season all year round in the supermarket. the Banana plant in the garden however, follows a different rhythm.
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Making a banana plant bloom
Despite its tropical origins, you can have one in your garden Planting a banana. The strongly consuming plant needs a good supply of nutrients. Potassium-based fertilizers encourage flower formation when the time comes. Soil and light conditions are also important for the perennial to bloom.
These varieties are suitable:
- Musa Basjoo: 'Nana' and 'Saporro' are frost hardy to -12 ° C
- Musa sikkimensis: 'Red Tiger' is hardy to -10 ° C
- Musa x paradisica: 'Dwarf Cavendish' is a non-hardy banana for the bucket
Flowering season
It takes a few years for a banana tree to bloom. This happens under optimal conditions from the fifth year and for some species for the first time in the third year. The strikingly large flowers are surrounded by purple bracts and give off a sweet honey scent. If the Banana tree blossoms developed, it means death for the mother plant. However, it has formed numerous offshoots in the root area, which continue to grow after they have died.
Do the perennials produce fruit?
In principle it is possible that one cultivated oneself Banana plant fruits to develop. Birds are responsible for pollinating the hermaphrodite flowers in the tropics. However, these berries, seen from a botanical point of view, require optimal conditions in order to ripen.
development
After flowering, it can take up to 180 and with good care between 80 and 100 days for the first mini bananas to appear. It takes another three to four months for the fruits to be harvested. In most cases, the bananas will rot on the perennial. The warm period of the Central European summer is not enough for the fruit to ripen completely, so that cultivation in the greenhouse seems more sensible.
Tips
When you see the first set of fruit, remove any remaining inflorescences. In this way, the perennial can invest all of its energy in the development of the existing fruits.
Use flowers
The flowers are a typical ingredient for Asian dishes, salads or provide a vegan fish alternative. Similar to artichokes, the heart is stripped of the petals so that only the inside is used.
