Banana is a commonly known fruit that is tasty and filled with different types of nutritious elements. For its taste and nutritional value, it is a highly demanding fruit among all people. In today’s article, we will discuss the production of bananas.
Can you grow a banana tree from a banana?
Generally, the seed of a banana remains inside the banana’s edible part. But unfortunately, you cannot grow a banana tree from a commercially cultivated banana because they do not have any seed inside them. Moreover, most of the bananas are grown from the offsets of the mother plant.
As mentioned earlier the seeds of the banana remain inside the edible part of the banana. So, there are some procedures to follow when taking out the seeds from the edible part of the banana and using them to grow plants out of them.
Moreover, most of the bananas that are commercially produced do not have seeds inside them. In most cases, the ability of that banana to set seed has been bred out of them.
The reason why the commercially produced banana seeds have been taken out of the banana is that it will help them to become tastier. Below is a discussion on whether banana peel or banana stem can be able to produce banana tree:
Banana peel:
There is no way you can use banana peel to grow a banana plant. Instead, the banana peels are mostly used as a fertilizer for some plants.
The banana peels contain a high amount of nutrition that is required for the plants to grow. But it does not have any seed or mechanism inside the banana peel that will help it to grow as a banana tree again.
Banana stem/seed:
It is possible to grow a banana tree using a banana stem. In most cases, the banana trees are grown by cutting offset from an existing banana tree.
That is why the banana stem is considered a great element that can be used to grow another banana tree. On the other hand, you can also use the banana seed by processing them in the right way to grow banana plants.
3 reasons why you cannot grow a banana tree from a banana
There are plenty of reasons why you cannot grow a banana tree from a banana. First of all, it is not possible to grow a banana tree from a banana because the banana tree is generally grown by cutting the offset from an existing banana tree.
Although we know that the seed remains inside the banana that helps to grow the banana tree, commercially produced banana seeds are taken out to make them tastier. As a result, you cannot make a banana tree from a banana peel or a seed.
Below is a discussion on the reasons why it is not possible to grow a man a tree from a banana:
Not all bananas contain seeds:
Commercially produced bananas do not contain seeds in them. The reason why the seeds are taken out or the mechanism of having seeds inside the banana is changed because it makes the banana tastier.
Bananas can be made from parts of an existing tree:
A banana tree can be only grown by using an existing part of another banana tree. Besides, a banana does not have any elements present in it that will help to produce a banana tree out of it.
Those who have seeds are not fertile enough:
In the case of having seeds in some bananas, they are not considered fertile enough to grow a tree out of it. That is why it is possible to grow a banana tree out of a banana even if it has a banana seed in it.
Where is the seed in a banana?
Generally, the seed of a banana is the flesh of the fruit, the part which we used to eat. The seeds are smaller in size and colored black. The seeds are mostly found in the bottom part of the banana.
The seeds of commercially produced bananas are taken out by using a mechanism so that the bananas get tastier.
Although naturally produced bananas have seeds in them, the seeds cannot grow another banana tree out of it, since they are not fertile enough. That is why having seeds inside a banana will be of no use at all.
Moreover, if you think about growing a banana tree out of a banana, you should remember that the tree is only grown by cutting an offset from an existing banana tree. You cannot use the peel or the seed of the banana to grow another tree out of it.
How do you extract the seeds from a banana?
Naturally produced bananas have seeds inside of them. The seeds are very small in size and covered as black.
By following some proper rules, you can extract the seeds out of a banana’s flesh or the edible part and use it to grow a banana tree by fertilizing it well. Bananas that are suitable for extracting seeds out of them are known as wild bananas.
You will find the wild bananas as natural bananas as well in any specialized fruit shops. Once the bananas are ripe and yellow, you can start to extract the seeds out of the bananas.
Simply follow these steps to extract the seeds carefully and process them properly:
Peel off the skin and mash the pulp:
Once you are ready, place the banana inside a bowl and use a spoon to carefully mash the pulp of the banana. The seeds are very firm, so when you mash the pulp, be careful and don’t damage the seeds.
Use your finger to remove the remaining pulp:
When you have already removed the seeds from the banana, the rest of the pulp may be stuck in it. Use your fingers and nails carefully to remove existing pulps from sticking to the seeds.
Use water to clean them up:
Once you’re done removing all the seeds from the edible part of the banana, now you’re ready to clean them. Clean water and gently clean the banana seeds. And there you go. Your seeds are ready for processing.
How do you grow a banana tree?
If you’re tired of trying to grow a banana tree using the banana seeds or the peel, maybe you are missing some tips to grow a banana tree. Some good solutions are waiting for you to follow to grow a banana tree.
As you already know how to extract the banana seeds out of a banana, now it’s time to process them properly and use them to grow a banana tree out of it. Simply follow these steps to grow a banana tree out of a banana:
Soak the seed:
Once you’re done extracting the seeds out of a banana, now it’s time to soak the seeds so then they can get the nutritious elements to grow as a tree.
For that, simply soak the banana seed for 24 to 48 hours. This will help the seed to germinate and reach the internal embryo.
Plant the seeds:
Once your seeds are ready, you need to and then in permeable soil. Make sure to have proper drainage of water otherwise, the seed will rot. Blunt them one-inch depth from the surface.
Maintain the soil:
You need to maintain the soil by keeping the temperature for a couple of days. Soil temperature at 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for a banana tree to grow.
Keep on watering the soil to keep it moist and be patient. It takes around three weeks to six months to grow a banana tree.
Can banana trees grow in pots?
Yes, you can grow a banana tree at home inside a pot. It is a very easy solution to grow banana trees for the people who live in tropical areas. Moreover, the banana tree is a fast-growing plant. You can grow dwarf banana trees.
You can grow dwarf banana trees that can be two to four meters high and you don’t need larger areas to plant the trees. You can simply plant them inside a wooden, plastic, or ceramic pot.
You can simply shift it to another pot. When growing banana plants in a pot, make sure to keep the soil moist and maintain the temperature. Watering the plant regularly is important.
And finally, if you’re patient enough, you will be able to see the fruits growing within a couple of months.
Final Thoughts
You cannot grow a banana tree out of a banana tree that can only be grown by using the offset or from the cutting of an existing banana tree. But in case you are trying to extract the banana seeds from the wild bananas, it needs to go through some fertilization process to grow a tree out of it.