How to Get a Banana Tree to Fruit

Banana trees flower after 10 to 15 months.

Bananas don’t actually grow on trees — they grow from an herbaceous plant native to Indo-Malaysia. As with many tropical plants, bananas need warm weather in which to grow well. Temperatures between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit are best for leaf growth, and temperatures between 84 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit are best for fruit growth, according to the University of Florida. In order for a banana plant to bear fruit, it must have at least 26 to 32 leaves fully grown. Good cultural practices will help the banana set flower and fruit.

Things You'll Need

• Mulch
• 8-10-8 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant the banana in a protected area of your garden. Make sure the banana gets full sun and that the soil is well-drained. The area where you plant the banana should be protected from cold weather and wind.

2. Water the banana every day for 10 minutes if there is no natural rainfall.

3. Mulch around the base of the banana plant with a layer of mulch that's 2 to 3 inches thick. This keeps the moisture in the soil around the banana’s roots and prevents them from drying out.

4. Apply ½ pound of 8-10-8 fertilizer to the soil around the base of the banana plant. Sprinkle the fertilizer around the base of the plant and water the banana well for about 10 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the banana produces flowers, you will have to wait 80 to 180 days for the fruit to mature.

References

• Purdue University; Banana; Julia F. Morton; 1987
• University of Florida; Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape; Jonathan H. Crane, et al.