How to Cut Banana Flowers

Cut banana flowers from the banana plant to foster fruit growth.

Gardeners who live in climates where the soil stays above 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round have the option of growing bananas in the home landscape. As a banana plant grows, it will eventually produce a flower stalk. The warmer the soil temperature, the faster a flower stalk will appear on the banana plant. After the banana plant grows the flower stalk, a banana flower and bananas will begin to develop on the plant. Cut the banana flower from the stalk to enable the banana plant to direct its full energy into the developing bananas.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Watch the banana plant carefully when you notice a flower stalk appear. In very warm regions, this process may take nine months. In slightly cooler regions, the process may take longer.

2. Find the banana flower growing beneath a bunch of tiny bananas. The banana flower is large and brown, and it hangs from the bottom of the bunch of bananas.

3. Cut the banana flower from the stalk with the sharp knife when the bananas are approximately half their mature size. Remove the flower immediately beneath the bananas by slicing through the stem with the knife.

Tips & Warnings

• If the bananas are the cooking variety, you may enjoy eating the banana flowers by adding them to savory meat dishes. If the bananas are the eating variety, they will taste bitter and unpalatable.

References

• FAO Corporate Document Repository: Banana
• Fruit Gardener Magazine: Going Bananas