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DIY: Grow Your Own Container Bananas

Topsoil

Growing bananas is easy. There are tons of different varieties to choose from, producing everything from finger sized- bananas to plantains, with colors such as blue, red, pink, red and rose. Each variety has a distinct taste, which is nothing like the supermarket variety.

Of course, there’s the Cavendish, the yellow banana every one knows and is used to.

Grown directly in the soil or in a container, the leaves make a wonderful addition to any garden, and most bananas are cold hardy to an extent.

It won’t get too hot for a banana plant. I am in South Texas; we’ve days of 100+ degree heat and my bananas are fine. The country of Ecuador produces tons of bananas in 100-120 degree of daily heat.

Imagine the fun of taking multi- colored bananas to work to share!

You will need:

* Banana plants

• 12″ container to start

• 18 gallon container for the second year (this will last several years)

• Topsoil

• Compost

• Perlite

• Peat

Get your soil mix started. Mix 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost and the rest should be 1/2 perlite and 1/2 peat. This will provide everything your banana plant needs.

Take your banana plant out of the container it arrived in and inspect the roots. If they are twisted around the bottom of the root ball (called the corm), cut them so they don’t strangle the plant later. Cut only the twisted roots; never cut into the corm itself unless removing a pup. Plant your bananas no deeper than the plant was in the pot. Water in thoroughly.

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Water an inch a day when temperatures are over 90 degrees. Mulching with hardwood mulch also helps to keep the soil moist. You can’t overwater bananas unless you stick them in a bog, so make sure the container you use has drainage. In the spring, separate off the “pups,” the side shoots that grow from the main root, the corm. Give them to friends so they can grow their own ‘nanas.” A cheap knife, purchased at the dollar store, works fine in my garden for this.

Some additional points to consider:

• If there is a freeze, bring the plant inside if it’s not too heavy. If it is, cover with blankets or move it to a greenhouse. Don’t cover it with plastic-that will kill it. The cold transmits directly through the plastic to the plant.

• Find out how many recipes for your bananas. Even the leaves from the plant can be used in cooking.

• Always move a heavy container with caution. I have a hand truck and a hand winch to move my heavy plants. It takes a while, but the plants get to where they need to go.

• On a fun note- don’t tell everyone you know you grow bananas. They might show up on your doorstep asking for a handout, banana bread, etc. However, reading “Huckleberry Finn” might come in handy- get your lawn mowed, gutters cleaned, etc.

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