Banana advice please!

Hi

I have just bought a small banana plant - Musa Basjoo which i believe is the hardier one of the species.

Having looked on the net i see conflicting advice on compost and where to site it. Some say in full sun, others in shade.

Can anyone give me some expert advice on caring for it?

Thanks!

 

Yes its the hardiest one Wilroda but even with some protection I think my clump had been killed back to the roots yet again this year.
I'd always go for a sunny aspect, and if possible find it a micro climate in your garden, somewhere where its just a little warmer on a frosty night.

I'm assuming you will be planting it out come spring/summer so until then any multipurpose compost will do.
They grow best in a rich soil with lots of water if it gets dry.

 

Thanks pete.

At the moment I have potted it on into a 3 litre pot and its in the greenhouse which has a little heat.
I expect I will need a larger pot though!! What compost mix would you use once it has got bigger and is in its final pot?

You say a sunny aspect, would the leaves be ok in full sun?.....we have a south facing patio...

 

So you intend growing it in a pot this year?

If its just been potted and its cold in the greenhouse be very careful with the watering until things warm up.

I'd use a JI no3 with about 50% multipurpose with osmacote fertilizer added.
Even if you go to a 12 or 15 in pot it will fill this with roots by the end of the season.

Yes the leaves will love full sun as long as the plant gets watered every day from June onwards, its natural for the older leaves to die as new ones are formed, so dont worry too much if the older leaves start to look a bit dried around the edges.

 

THanks.
So the size of the plant will be limited by the size of the pot. I think I will keep it in a large pot this year and review it for next - maybe putting it in the ground then.

I actually ran out to the greenhouse last night and retrieved it after reading your post! - thanks!

 

Yes you can limit them, up to a point, by pot size, but this is a naturally suckering plant that really needs a lot of room to look at its best.
One thing to remember, if we get a winter next year like the one we have just had it will need protection. The chances of it surviving in a pot through a winter like that, are not good, at least in the ground the root is likely to survive.

I think you will be surprised how big your plant will be by autumn.

 

Hi Wilroda - just noticed your location is 'Christchurch'........in New Zealand? It's really helpful to let people know where you are located, especially with plants like this, as then people can advise on what to do for your climate. Given that you are just coming into Autumn and winter, it might make a difference in advice given a we are (hopefully) coming into Spring/Summer here in the UK.

My brother successfully grew a banana tree in his front garden in Perth - but think you're a bit colder than them aren't you?

 

It just says Christchurch, now I'm perhaps wrongly assuming this is the original one down on the south coast.

New Zealand??

 

Hi All.

No i dont live in New Zealand!!

Christchurch on the south coast, close to the New Forest, thats me! ...... i dont think they use greenhouses in New Zealand in March.......to keep the frost off.........