FOTD: Banana Plant

Bananas are grown throughout Louisiana as an ornamental to give a tropical affect to the landscape. … Cold weather normally kills the leaves and trunk of most banana plants during the winter. During mild winters and in protected areas, the trunk sometimes survives.

Cold weather normally kills the leaves and trunk of most banana plants during winter. During mild winters and in protected areas, the trunk sometimes survives. If the trunk survives the winter with only the outer layers of the trunk being frozen, flowers are often produced.

Flower stalks produced before the plant grows new leaves in the spring will die. Flower stalks produced after leaves have developed will often produce fruit. Plants that flower in May will sometimes develop mature fruit before the cool weather starts in the fall.

Since last winter was mild, banana trunks survived, and the plants produced flower stalks, which now bear fruit. Home gardeners are asking when their bananas are ready to pick.

ttps://www.lsuagcenter.com /bananas generally take three to six months for fruit to reach maturity after flowering, depending on temperature, variety, moisture and culture practices. There is normally a slight yellow tint to the fruit when it reaches maturity. The color change may be so slight that it is hard to see. The fruit will generally look smoother or plump as it changes from square or angular (as seen in a cross section) to more rounded

Picture from my backyard…. Maybe bananas this year? Lisa