Bananas
The world’s most produced fruit, and a daily staple for around 400 million people.
About Bananas
Bananas rank first among fruits by production volume and are among the five most consumed fruits in the world. About 43 million tonnes of dessert bananas and 45 million tonnes of cooking bananas are grown each year, mostly for local markets.
The banana plant is not a tree but a giant herb, bearing clusters of 50–150 fruit in hands of 10–25. Plantations International plants disease-free tissue-culture stock in high-density layouts with drip fertigation, which delivers uniform growth and up to three crops in under three years.
Ideal growing conditions
The site, soil and climate parameters our agronomists work to when developing a banana plantation.
Range 14–38 °C; chilling injury below 12 °C
About 25 mm a week; drip recommended
Warm, humid tropical lowlands
Moist, well-drained loam
Stronger winds topple plants
Avoid waterlogged, saline or sandy sites
What bananas are used for
Dessert bananas
Fresh fruit for export and domestic retail.
Cooking bananas
Plantains and cooking types, a staple food.
Chips & flour
Dried chips and gluten-free banana flour.
Purée
Baby food, smoothies and bakery.
Fibre
Pseudostem fibre for textiles and paper.
Leaves
Natural food wrapping and packaging.
The world’s top banana producers
India and China lead global production, with Uganda, the Philippines and Ecuador close behind. Most bananas are eaten where they are grown; Ecuador and the Philippines are the major exporters into international trade.
Trade began in the late 14th century, and railways and refrigerated shipping later made the banana the most important traded fruit in the world.
- India
- China
- Uganda
- Philippines
- Ecuador
- Brazil
- Indonesia
- Colombia
- Cameroon
- Tanzania
Ranked by production volume.
From nursery to harvest
- 1Weeks 0–8
Hardening
Tissue-culture plantlets acclimatised in the nursery.
- 2Month 0
Planting
Set 2 cm below ground in 45 cm pits with drip lines.
- 3Months 1–7
Vegetative growth
Fertigation at N:P:K 3:1:6 plus micronutrients.
- 4Months 11–12
First harvest
Bunches cut at maturity and de-handed.
- 5+8–10 months
Ratoon crops
Two follow-on crops from the same mat.
How we manage bananas
Fertigation
Nutrients fed through drip lines at a 3:1:6 N:P:K ratio.
Bunch care
Male bud removal and blue bunch covers improve weight and finish.
Propping
Bamboo props stop heavy bunches from lodging.
Disease control
Clean stock and correct pH reduce Panama disease and Sigatoka.
Bananas in the field
Bananas: common questions
How long do bananas take to grow?
The first harvest comes 11–12 months after planting, followed by ratoon crops 8–10 months apart.
Why use tissue-culture plants?
They are free of soil-borne disease and nematodes, grow uniformly, can be planted year-round and give higher yields.
What yield can a banana plantation reach?
Up to 100 tonnes per hectare with drip irrigation, fertigation and tissue-culture planting material.
Can bananas be intercropped?
Generally no. Banana roots are easily damaged, so only short green-manure crops are used in the first year.
Related crops
Develop a banana plantation with us
Request a free initial consultation with our plantation development and management team.