How to grow Banana in Australia
Plant banana in full sun in rich, moisture-retentive soil with shelter from wind that shreds the leaves. It is hungry and thirsty, so water often and feed heavily with a potassium-rich fertiliser.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 25 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 300 cm
- Time to harvest: 450 days (about 1 year)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to March | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | Marginal. Best in warm, sheltered coastal and inner suburban gardens. Western Sydney frosts damage the leaves and cool winters slow fruiting, so plant suckers in spring. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Unlikely to fruit in Melbourne; fruit never matures before winter frost. Possible only in warm microclimate with windbreak. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Not viable in Adelaide. Winters are too cool for fruit. Ornamental clumps survive only in warm sheltered courtyards. |
| Perth & WA | September and October | Mediterranean: viable in warm Perth coastal microclimates only. Sow Sept to Oct. Unsuitable for Adelaide Hills and inland Perth. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tropical. Fruit can never mature in the Tasmanian climate. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Banana unsuitable for Canberra: tropical, frost-intolerant. Consider fig, cherry, or other cold-hardy fruiting plants. |
| North Queensland | September to March | Spring/wet season. Banana is most valuable horticultural crop in Far North QLD. Produces year-round. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to March | Spring/wet season. Banana is most valuable horticultural crop in Far North QLD. Produces year-round. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Cut the whole bunch when the fingers are plump, rounded and the angles have filled out, even while still green. They finish ripening off the plant.
Storage
Bench until ripe. Freeze peeled bananas for baking and smoothies.