Bananas in the Home and Garden: A Growing Guide

Welcome to the fascinating world of bananas! If you are a plant lover, you probably already know that the banana we commonly eat belongs to the Cavendish species, which replaced the 'Gros Michel' variety due to Panama disease.

The Cavendish is a tropical plant. If you have seen a banana growing in gardens in Northern climates, it is likely not a Cavendish, but a Musa Basjoo, known for its cold hardiness (but also for its small, tasteless fruit).

There are several cultivars of the Cavendish species, such as the Giant Cavendish, recognizable by its size, and the Dwarf Cavendish (or Musa acuminata), which is much more compact and features distinctive black spots on the trunk. Dwarf bananas are very popular in the Canary Islands and, according to some, are even tastier.

The Unique Botany of the Cavendish Banana

Botanically speaking, the Cavendish banana is a triploid, meaning it has three sets of genetic material instead of the two typical of most organisms. This characteristic makes the plant sterile, which is why you won't find seeds in the bananas we eat. This peculiarity also makes them impossible to grow from seed.

New edible banana plants are produced via tissue culture or through pups (suckers) that grow at the base of the mother plant (meaning they are all clones).

Growing Tips

If you live in a Mediterranean or mild climate, I recommend trying to grow a Cavendish banana. Be careful when buying, however: many nurseries sell plants generically labeled as "Musa." To get edible bananas, make sure you buy a true Musa acuminata Cavendish, Orinoco, Red Dacca, Topocho, or other fruiting varieties. Varieties like Musa velutina or Ensete ventricosum produce inedible fruit.

Banana Varieties and Cold Hardiness

Here is a quick guide to the main banana varieties and their cold resistance:

I hope this overview of bananas has been helpful. Remember, bananas are not trees, but giant herbaceous plants! Happy growing!