Growing Bananas
Bananas are a crop many people on Aotea should be able to grow. They pretty much take care of themselves, given they are planted in the right situation.
There are at least two or three varieties growing well on Aotea, including Misi Luki and Gold Finger. (Many more varieties are in New Zealand and finding the right varieties for your situation may be a matter of trial and error.)
Plant banana suckers (off shoots from parent plants) in October/November - when the soil has warmed to above 15 degrees
It takes 15-24 months for a sucker to grow big enough to produce a bunch of bananas – depending on growing conditions
One banana plant sets one bunch of bananas only - once it has fruited, the stem can be cut down and used for mulch
However bananas plants do set new “pups” - your plants can be divided once they are well established- usually after 3-4 years
From flowering to fruit takes about three months, with a lot of fruit ready in early winter
A healthy banana plant can produce up to 30 kg bunch of succulent mini bananas
Nutritious fruit are high in dietary fibre, divine eaten fresh, and are fantastic dried in a solar drier
Flowers are very attractive to tui and bell birds, and Misi Luki flowers are edible
Leaves make awesome dishes and food parcels and wrappers for hangi
Best Growing Conditions
Frost free site (they can take a few light frosts but several one after another can set them back badly or kill them)
Need damp soil in summer, ideally irrigated, but not waterlogged in winter!!
Heavy applications of mulch very useful for conserving moisture and for their fibrous fleshy roots to grow into
In heavy soils drainage is essential – created by mounding as much organic matter as you can and planting into that, or planting on a slope
Pests include pukeko which peck at the base of the trees and can topple them; rats and kaka will have a chew on the fruit so it is best to harvest while still pale yellowish green but the bananas are fully rounded.
Leaving fruit to fully ripen to fully yellow on the tree risks them being devoured before you get a chance!
Fruit bunches can be bagged to protect from birds and hasten ripening
