Page 7 - may2021

growing - Bananas

Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana,
and hybrid Musa x paradisiaca are
the names of the most cultivated
banana species, and are native to
tropical Indomalaya and Australia.
They are likely to have been first
domesticated in Papua New Guinea.

WHY - For their bananas, the tropical BENEFITS - Bananas are a staple starch for
lushness they bring to a garden, their many tropical populations. The fruit can
leaves which are used to steam and vary in taste from starchy to sweet depending
pack food. Their flowers and trunk on the cultivar. Banana hearts are used as a
which are also edible. Banana fibre vegetable in South Asian and Southeast Asian
has been used to make textiles and cuisine, eaten either raw or steamed. Banana
paper for centuries. leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof and
have many uses, even as ecologically friendly
HOW TO PLANT - Bananas like disposable food containers. There are many
partial to full sun and good drainage, varieties of Banana, some of which are valued
but they are prone to frost, so plant for their ornamental beauty in the garden.
in a sheltered position. Prepare the PROPAGATE - By division of suckers that
plant hole, and make sure water arise from the base of a banana’s main stem.
drains away quickly once filled. WHERE - Banana plants can be bought
Bananas like moist compost-rich, from many nurseries around the country,
loamy soil and give them enough and are quite often seen for sale along the
space as they increase by suckers. road at the moment. S.C (photos pixabay)

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