G(r)o(w)ing Bananas
Everything you always 'wanted to know about the
care and cultivation of these exciting plants. You too can produce
your own Bananas.
John Woodhead, 2 Ganton Close, Whitby, North Yorks, Y021 1LD, U.K.
Chamaerops No. 11, published online 23-09-2002
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Above: Musa ‘Dwarf Cavendish ‘in full
fruit. Rower bud with bananas turning upward to ripen
Below: From Assam, India, Musa velutina, easily grown from seed
but the fruit is inedible
The Dwarf or Chinese Banana (Musa cavendishii) originated
in China and was grown in the foothills of the Himalayas where the
climate is essentially sub-tropical. It was introduced to West Africa
and the Canary Islands during the 15th century although it was thought
of as no more than a botanical curiosity. However, it found its
way to the New World and was re-introduced to the Canary Islands
in the latter part of the 18th century proving itself a successful
food source, and eliminating famine in many areas.
The plant was introduced to Britain by a Mr. Barclay,
and Joseph Paxton successfully cultivated it at Chatsworth when
it was given the epithet 'cavendishii' after the 6th Duke of Devonshire.
It is now grown in many countries, particularly
in the Canaries where, in the Orotava Valley on Tenerife more than
130,000 tonnes of bananas are produced annually.
The plant is quite hardy and is less prone to wind damage due to
its compact size with
stocky leaves on short petioles. The flavour is
vastly superior to the larger tropical types but transportation
can be a problem because of its thin skin, which bruises easily.
In September 1990 my family and I spent a week's
holiday in the picturesque village of Teignmouth outside Torquay
(quite a hike from Whitby!). We visited several gardens in the Devon
area during the week and in particular I enjoyed a show garden called
'Plant World' near the Torbay 'Palm' Farm just outside Newton Abbott.
I recall that there was a small nursery attached, selling all types
of plants and in one of the polytunnels were half-a-dozen small
banana plants labelled 'the fruiting ones'.
I decided to take up the challenge and purchased
two plants at, if memory serves, £2 each, and on return from
holiday the plants, which were about 12" tall and in 5"
pots (micro-propagated, I presume) were potted up into 10"
pots in John Innes no. 2 and grown on in the office on a south-facing
windowsill until the following spring.
They made surprisingly good growth during the winter,
probably due to the central heating and 'Tomorite' feed given with
every second watering. Next the plants were transferred to big tubs
with a diameter of 500mm and a depth of 600mm (20" X 24")
using John Innes no. 3 compost. One plant remained in the office
and the other was transferred (with some effort) to my south-facing
conservatory. Both plants continued to make good growth with leaves
measuring over 900mm (36") long, and 400mm (16") wide,
on short petioles, although the conservatory plant grew more quickly,
looked healthier and was bigger.
During the summer months the conservatory plant
required water and feed twice a day when the temperatures averaged
28¾C and nighttime temperatures never dropped below 16¾C. Humidity
was averaging 75% although this did drop to 50% on the hotter days.
Towards the end of autumn, watering was drastically reduced to once
a week and although it proved expensive, the temperature was not
allowed to drop below 13¾C at any time. Even at this temperature,
growth of this plant was virtually non-existent, although it appeared
happy and showed no signs of cold damage. As the days lengthened
during February and March and temperatures began to rise once more,
the feeding/watering regime was continued using 'Tomorite' at normal
strength on every occasion. Towards the end of May the plant was
producing one leaf virtually every week and I was beginning to wonder
if a flower would ever show, as the two suckers I had left attached
were also growing at an alarming rate.
But then, at last, on Midsummers Day, June 21st,
the developing leaf had taken on a completely different appearance
and it was clear that a flower was about to emerge. The bud quickly
developed (probably due to a good, warm, sunny period) and pushed
out into its typical pendulous habit with the bracts unfurling and
the small bananas turning back on themselves. At the time of writing
(July '93) the overall size of the plant is about 2.4m (8ft.) with
a similar spread, providing welcome summer shade to the many other
plants in the conservatory. I intend to keep feeding the plant at
the same rate, removing the exhausted bud towards the end of the
month and hopefully eating up to 100 fresh, albeit small bananas
by Guy Fawke's Night or, more likely, Christmas Day. The plant in
the office meanwhile, which receives less light, humidity and feed
has grown well but is probably a third smaller and has not thus
far shown any indication of a flower.
For anyone interested in trying their hand at this
particular species I would recommend visiting a good plant centre
which is aware of the correct naming as there is another type, Musa
'Dwarf Chyla' which looks similar and remains dwarf but is unlikely
to flower and fruit. Other seed-grown types are easy, in particular,
Musa ensete, Musa velutina and Musa coccinea, the last two producing
flowers and fruits (inedible) quite readily.
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