Banana Facts and Information

This article is a brief study on Bananas, the history ofcolonists who started banana plantations in the Atlantic
the Banana Plant and tips on growing Banana Plant.Islands, Brazil and western Africa. Unfortunately for the
Banana FactsEuropeans, Bananas were not heard of in Europe until
Banana "Trees" are not actually trees but arethe Victorian Era and even then, only through
herbaceous plants in the genus Musa and of the familymerchant trade.
Musaceae. Due to their size, shape and structure theyThese days, Bananas can be found in practically
are often mistaken for trees. Bananas are largelyevery market in the world without much trouble at all
cultivated for their fruit. But the plant is also used asand hurrah for everyone!
ornamental plants in gardens.Tip and Techniques-Growing Bananas
Typically, there are two types of Bananas that areGrowing Banana Plants are easy enough if the right
cultivated, mainly in tropical regions. Firstly, there is thecombination of factors is present. A Banana Plant
sweet dessert fruit that is eaten raw or used intakes about nine months to become mature and it
dessert recipes. There are a wide variety of deliciousneeds a lot of tender loving care for it to grow to its
dessert recipes using Bananas in almost every foodfullest potential.
culture in the world.Generally, a Banana Plant lives up to approximately 25
Secondly, plantains are from a group of cultivars withyears. Bananas grow from stems that grow from the
firmer fruit and used generally in cookingground up called rhizomes and it produces suckers
vegetable-based dishes like curries. Plantains arethat grow from the main stem of the Banana Plant.
especially popular in South-East Asia, India andRhizomes have a lifespan of 15 years or more.
Jamaica.The upright plant is called a pseudostem and when it
History of Bananasmatures, will reach an average height of 2 - 8 metres
Banana plants were first cultivated for domestic use inand the leaves grow up to 3.5 metres in length.
Southeast Asia. There is evidence found in PapuaInterestingly, each pseudostem produces only a single
New Guinea that shows banana cultivation there datesbunch of bananas. It then dies and is replaced by a
back to, possibly, 8000 BC. This would mean thenew pseudostem.
Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea wasGrowing Banana Plants require a lot of sunlight and
probably the first place were Bananas were cultivated.high level of humidity. That is one of the reasons it's
A whole lot of wild Bananas still grow in Papua Newfound in abundance in the tropics and hot climate
Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.countries. While it is growing, it requires watering every
The first time Bananas were talked about in writtenday and a balanced fertilizer to ensure it grows well.
history was in Buddhist texts around 600 BC. Then, theThe right temperature for growing Banana Plant should
famous explorer, Alexander the Great found the fruit inbe in approximately 80 degree Fahrenheit during the
India in 327 BC. The very first plantations was said today.
exist in China way back in 200 AD.The soil has to be nutrient-rich and slightly acidic. It
The History of Bananas continued with Islamicshould also be able to retain moisture but not much, as
Conquerors bringing the fruit to the Middle East androots that are filled with water will die very fast. When
later on, Arab Merchants exposed most of Africa toall the right ingredients are present, the Banana Plant
Bananas. Interestingly, the word Banana is actually ofgrows very quickly and it is a pleasure watching it
West African origin.grow. Not only does it bear fruits, it is beautiful
After that, banana cultivation exploded in most of theornamental plant and really stands out in any garden.
rest of the world thanks largely to Portuguese