Once, bananas used to be considered a delicacy of the exotic variety, something rare in the UK. Still, now they are one of the most, if not the most, popular fruit domestically and worldwide. They are grown all around the world and consumed by billions of households. The nation consumes around 5 billion bananas yearly, and small wonder, as they are loved for their texture, delicious flavour, health benefits and more.

So here comes the important question, can you grow bananas in the more temperate parts of the world, such as the UK? Indeed you can, but it requires extra care and knowledge to make it happen. Even though they are referred to as trees, bananas aren’t precisely trees but are classified as a perennial herb. They are a member of the ginger family, taking them nine months to produce edible fruit, and they need very consistent conditions during that time to make fruit.

Here are Some Tips on How to Grow a Banana Tree at Home

Growing Conditions for a Banana Tree

Humidity and temperature need to be consistent when you’re growing banana trees. To have your banana plant produce fruit, keep the temperature between 15-30 degrees Celsius. Though the plants can handle the heat, they usually stop growing if temperatures drop below 14 degrees. The foliage is vulnerable to cold, though the underground rhizome can survive cold winters and produce new growth when spring arrives. 

Regarding humidity, you should look for 50% as the ideal level. You will need a sunny spot that doesn’t see a lot of wind to grow your bananas. They do best in full sunlight, but strong winds can damage the leaves. Growing several plants in a block will help imitate the natural jungle environment and give the plants a chance to support each other. This will also provide a windbreak for the parts of the garden they are located in.

How to Grow a Banana Tree From Seed

Commercially grown bananas lack seeds, so they can’t be grown from seed. Even if you find some tiny seeds in the bananas you’re eating, they won’t grow if you try to plant them. That being said, wild bananas can be grown from seed. Their fruits are sweet but contain many hard seeds and a hard-to-chew texture that makes them less pleasant to eat.

If you choose to grow these, you must start by soaking the seeds in water for about two days, helping break their dormancy cycle. Then you need to fill a seed tray with a 50/50 mix of sand and organic compost, then sow the seeds inside about 6mm. Water the soil to moisten it, then ensure it stays that way; bananas do best in damp conditions.

You will need to keep the seed tray at a consistent temperature of at least 15 degrees Celsius. Warmer is better, so look for a heated propagator if you can buy one. Some varieties prefer fluctuations in temperature, warmer in the daytime and cooler at night, so make sure you know what your banana variety needs before you start.

Variety will also determine the germination speed; some may take a couple of weeks to germinate, while others take months. Keep in mind you will need to wait a couple of years at the least to get some harvest in. This is the reason why a lot of people prefer to buy a mature plant for their garden.

© Fast Landscape Gardening