How to Grow Cavendish Bananas In New Zealand

New Zealand's North Island is best suited for banana growth.

The Cavendish variety of banana accounts for 90 percent of the bananas grown in Australia and the Oceania region. In addition to pests and disease, bananas are also susceptible to weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy bursts of rainfall and winter chill. It is possible to grow bananas in New Zealand providing that you select an appropriate site. The ideal temperature for banana growth is 27 to 30 degrees Centigrade. Because of New Zealand's location in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. Therefore, you will be most likely to succeed in growing bananas on the North Island.

Instructions

1. Select and prepare a site for your Cavendish banana plants. You need to select a site with well-draining, fertile soil with a lot of organic matter that is free from panama disease, a soil fungus deadly to banana plants. You can have a soil sample tested for evidence of spores and to find out the specific composition of your soil. For example, Hill Laboratories has soil and testing facilities on both the North Island and South Island. If you are introducing soil to the site, select a soil preparation that is best suited to cacti and palms.

   Your site should also get plenty of sunlight and be protected from strong winds -- a north- or northeast-facing slope is best. You could also consider growing the plants in a greenhouse if you want to control the climatic conditions.

2. Find a supplier for tissue-cultured Cavendish plants. Using tissue-cultured plants minimizes the risk of introducing pests and disease to the site. Many tissue-cultured plants are produced in India, and you should contact a wholesaler to negotiate the best rates, if you plan on growing multiple plants. If you only want a few plants, a tropical plant specialist nursery such as Texture Plants in Christchurch should be able to supply you. Try to obtain plants with at least 10 leaves that have been hardened off and are ready for direct planting into your site.

3. Plan your planting site. Cavendish plants require 7 square meters of space each. If you plant them at closer intervals they will produce less fruit. They will also lack sufficient air circulation, rendering them more prone to disease.

4. Water your plants regularly to maintain a moist soil composition. In the summer months of December, January and February, do not let the soil dry out.

5. Take soil tests. Banana plants thrive best in soils with a pH balance over 5.0, phosphorous of more than 80 ppm, potassium of more than 0.5 meq/kg, calcium between 4 and 10 meq/kg and magnesium between 1 and 3 meq/kg.

6. Fertilize the soil around the plant every six to eight weeks. Apply fertilizer no closer than 15 cm from the plant and avoid getting it on the leaves. Cavendish banana plants thrive best in soils with a pH balance over 5.0, phosphorous of more than 80 ppm, potassium of more than 0.5 meq/kg, calcium between 4 and 10 meq/kg and magnesium between 1 and 3 meq/kg. Use a fertilizer that promotes this soil composition.

   Well-cared-for plants will produce fruit after approximately 12 months.

References

• Department of Primary Industries: New South Wales: Banana Growing Guide
• New Zealand Tourism Guide: Temperature and Climate
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Bananas
• Hill Laboratories: Contact Us

Resources

• Texture Plants