Q: Where can I buy banana plants? What types are recommended for Brisbane and what conditions do they need? I'd like to grow some in my backyard but can't find them at nurseries. Michele - Wooloowin
A: The cultivation of bananas is very strictly controlled in Queensland, whether it is grown on a commercial basis or as a few plants in the home garden. This is purely because of the fear of spreading a very serious disease called Bunchy Top Disease. This is a viral disease and is spread from infected plants to healthy plants by a particular species of aphid. The disease, if it gets out of hand, can cause havoc to the banana industry.
Legally, you MUST have a Department of Primary Industries inspector’s approval before you plant bananas … whether it be on a commercial scale or even as a home gardener.
You must have an Inspector’s approval, even if you find your own planting material … from a neighbour’s yard for example.
General plant nurseries are prohibited from stocking banana plants for sale, and you can only obtain plants from nurseries accredited for the purpose by the Department. You may phone 13 25 23 in Queensland to obtain an Inspector’s approval and also to obtain the names of nurseries from where you may purchase your plants.
The plants from these nurseries are raised from tissue culture and are guaranteed to be free from Bunchy Top Disease.
A home gardener is permitted to grow up to 10 plants in the yard.
I know of two species which may be grown legally … Lady Finger and the Cooking Banana (Bluggoe). I believe a few other varieties too may be grown, and you could check this out with the Department of Primary Industries when you phone 13 25 23. They will probably send you out a brochure or leaflet, giving you all necessary information.
Bananas must be grown in full sun, and in a soil rich in organic matter to perform at their best. Whilst they require plenty of water, and a soil that retains moisture, they hate ‘wet feet’. The site needs to be well drained. A soil that does not drain well and holds too much water will cause the bases to rot.
Once a plant has produced its bunch of bananas it needs to be cut back, right down at the base, for it will not bare fruit again. In the meantime it will produce several new suckers around its base, which will form your new plants. These need to be thinned out by cutting them out with a spade, roots and all, leaving just one or two suckers for your next crop of fruit.
Two applications per year of a general purpose fertiliser around the base of your plants will give you excellent results. An additional application of dolomite once a year will make things even better for the plant. This is not critical, but fertiliser applications could be in September and January, with the dolomite being applied in December.
