Overview
- Scientific Name: Musa spp.
- Type: Perennial tropical plant
- Uses: Fruit for fresh eating, cooking (saba), snacks, export; leaves used as wrapper, stems for fiber and compost
- Ideal Climate: Warm, humid, frost-free areas; 25–33°C average temperature
- Rainfall: 1000–2500 mm per year with good drainage
Best Varieties (Philippines)
| Variety | Type | Features | Disadvantages |
|---|
| Lakatan (Lacatan) | Dessert | Sweet, aromatic, orange flesh; high market value | Sensitive to strong wind; susceptible to Sigatoka |
| Latundan | Dessert | Small, roundish fruit; good backyard type; early bearing | Short shelf life; not for export |
| Cavendish (e.g. Grand Naine, Williams) | Export | Uniform, high yield, long fingers | Needs commercial care; sensitive to Panama disease |
| Saba (Cardaba) | Cooking/boiling | Very hardy, tolerant to stress; good yield; multiple uses | Larger space requirement; slower to mature |
| Bungulan | Dessert | Sweet flavor; can grow tall (good shade) | Susceptible to diseases; poor handling durability |
| Señorita / Suhaing / Monkey Banana | Dessert | Small, very sweet; quick fruiting | Small bunch size, short lifespan |
✅ Best choice for backyard:
- Latundan or Saba (easy care, hardy, multipurpose)
✅ For income/export:
- Cavendish (commercial, controlled culture)
✅ For local dessert:
- Lakatan (premium fruit, high demand)
Propagation
- By Suckers (Preferred): Use sword suckers or tissue-cultured plantlets.
- Types of Suckers:
- Sword sucker — young plant with narrow leaves; best for planting (healthy roots)
- Water sucker — broad leaves, weak stem; avoid for planting.
- How to Prepare:
- Trim roots and cut stem to 20–30 cm before planting.
- Dip in fungicide or wood ash before planting to prevent rot.
- Seed propagation: Not used for edible bananas.
Soil & Site Requirements
- Soil Type: Deep, fertile, well-draining loam or sandy loam
- pH Level: 5.5 – 7.0
- Why: Bananas hate waterlogging; roots need aeration and consistent moisture.
- Avoid: Clayey, poorly drained areas (root suffocation and disease)
Planting
- Land Prep: Loosen soil, add compost or animal manure (10–20 kg per hill)
- Hole Size: 30–45 cm deep and wide
- Spacing:
- Saba: 3 x 3 m or 3 x 4 m
- Latundan/Lakatan: 2.5 x 2.5 m
- Cavendish: 2 x 2 m (commercial)
- Planting Depth: Base of sucker level with ground; do not bury too deep.
- Best Time to Plant:
- Start of rainy season (May–July) for good establishment.
- Avoid planting during heavy storm months (August–October) in low areas.
Sunlight & Watering
- Exposure: Full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
- Watering:
- Regular but not excessive; maintain evenly moist soil.
- Avoid standing water around the base (causes corm rot).
Fertilizer Needs
- At Planting:
- 1–2 kg organic compost or animal manure per hill.
- Growing Stage (Every 2–3 months):
- Use 14-14-14 or 16-16-8 NPK (300–500 g per plant).
- Fruiting Stage:
- Apply 10-20-20 or potassium-rich fertilizer for fruit development.
- Organic Option: Compost + banana peel tea + vermicast.
Mulching & Weeding
- Use dried leaves, rice straw, or grass mulch to keep soil moist.
- Remove weeds regularly but avoid damaging shallow roots.
Pruning & Maintenance
- Keep only 1 main stem + 1 follower (sucker) for the next generation.
- Cut off dried leaves and excess suckers.
- Remove the flower (male bud) after the last hand appears to prevent disease.
- Support fruiting stems with bamboo props to avoid breakage.
Pests & Diseases to Monitor
| Pest/Disease | Symptoms | Prevention / Control |
|---|
| Banana Borer Weevil | Holes in corm and stem | Remove infested plants; clean planting material |
| Banana Aphids | Yellowing leaves; vector of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) | Control aphids with neem oil; use virus-free suckers |
| Sigatoka (Leaf Spot) | Brown spots, reduced yield | Regular pruning, good airflow, fungicide if severe |
| Panama Disease (Fusarium wilt) | Yellowing, wilting leaves | Crop rotation; resistant varieties; soil sanitation |
| Nematodes | Stunted growth, root galls | Rotate crops, apply organic matter and neem cake |
Flowering & Fruiting
- Days to Flower: 7–10 months after planting (depending on variety)
- Days to Harvest: 10–12 months after planting
(Saba: up to 14 months)
- Yield:
- Backyard: 10–25 kg per bunch (Latundan/Lakatan)
- Saba: 20–40 kg per bunch
Lifespan & Growth Habit
- Lifespan: Perennial (new suckers continue the cycle for years)
- Root Condition: Keep roots moist but never soaked.
- Soil Condition: Slightly sandy, loose, and fertile.
- Regeneration: Through suckers; each plant fruits once and is replaced by the follower.
Best & Worst Months to Plant (Philippine Conditions)
| Season | Months | Remarks |
|---|
| 🌧️ Rainy Season (Ideal for planting) | May – July | Best for root establishment |
| 🌦️ Wet months (caution) | August – October | Flooding risk; use raised mounds |
| 🌤️ Dry months (maintenance) | November – April | Good for fruiting and harvest |
Additional Tips
- Intercrop young bananas with peanuts, munggo, or corn for weed control and soil fertility.
- Avoid planting in the same area continuously without resting or rotating.
- When fruiting is finished, cut old pseudostem and chop into mulch for the base.
- For organic care: Use fermented plant juice (FPJ) and banana peel fertilizer tea monthly.