5 Banana Tree Seeds
One of the most important steps for growing bananas from seeds is preparing the seed before it goes into the ground. To help the seed sprout, soak them in warm water for 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes you will see the hard outer shell of the seed loosen, and some tendrils might poke through. This is normal.
Banana seeds vary in size but don’t be worried if you can only find small ones. Also avoid planting multiple seeds in one location, as this can result in overcrowding, and the herb might not grow at all.
Prepare a Warm Outdoor Area
While the seeds are sprouting in the water, create the ideal outdoor area for the banana plant. This should be a bed in a super sunny area, or a pot or planter that can be moved indoors and outdoors but always kept warm. Use potting soil mixed with 40% organic compost to create the ideal solution for banana growth.
If you choose to plant outdoors, be prepared to transplant the bananas if you live in a cool climate. This is not a hardy herb, and it will not survive the cold winter months common in temperate and colder climates. During the transplant, keep the soil damp and remember to give the bananas time to acclimate to the indoor environment.
Plant the Seeds
After soaking the seeds, bring them to the potting area and bury them ¼ in. deep in the soil. Then, cover the soil with more compost. The ground needs to then be watered so that the soil is damp, but not soaked. Bananas prefer acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 – 6.5, so consider using a test to determine the soil’s pH and invest in a good quality fertilizer to adjust levels accordingly.
Maintain the Right Conditions for Growth
Once the banana seeds are in the ground, keep the soil damp for at least two weeks. This facilitates the growth of the plant and helps ensure it will remain strong and healthy. Since bananas need an inordinate amount of potassium to grow healthy roots, consider making your own organic compost by combining household waste matter like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds. This should be spread evenly across the surface of the banana plant’s space in the garden or pot in the house.
Be Patient
Bananas take a long time to grow. Sometimes they will start to sprout through the soil in as little as two weeks or as long as two months. Try to keep the soil damp throughout this time and keep the temperature consistent around and over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep the plant indoors, consider using a heated propagator.
Additional Tips and Tricks
The banana plant can often test an individual’s patience because it takes a while for the fruit to blossom, especially for someone who lives in a colder climate. While there are several varieties of banana meant to be grown in cooler, hardy climates, these are typically not eaten and are meant to be ornamental. For a regular tropical variety, the following tips and tricks can help the plant remain healthy and strong.
Plant the banana early in the year to get enough time to grow
Soak the seeds in damp paper towels
Plant in pots to keep the herbs indoors during winter
Use your own compost to raise soil potassium levels
Don’t use meat, fish, or eggs in the compost
Plant multiple seeds in different locations to increase your chances of success