Veranda Banana Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on November 10, 2022

Planting instructions

If you live in hardiness zone nine or warmer, you can grow your Veranda Banana Tree outdoors year-round with no issue. However, if you live in a cooler region, you will need to plant your Verana Banana Tree in a container so that you can overwinter it when the temperature drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. If you choose that route, be sure to use a large container to give your plant’s roots a chance to spread. Your Veranda Banana Tree should grow where there is full sunlight and should live in soil that has great drainage.

Watering and nutrients

Typically, you will need to water your Veranda Banana Tree about once per week during most of the growing season. In summer, you may need to increase that rate to about two to three times per week. During late fall and winter, you can reduce your watering schedule drastically to about once per month. The best way to tell if your Veranda Banana Tree needs water during the growing season is to feel if the first two inches of soil have dried out. If so, provide enough water to moisten the soil once again.

Pollination

The fruit production process for banana plants, including the Veranda Banana, is unlike that of nearly any other fruiting plant. Amazingly, banana trees do not require pollination as their unique flowers develop fruits on their own. In fact, pollination should be discouraged for this plant as pollinated bananas are often less fleshy with larger seeds, making them far less desirable to eat. As long as your Veranda Banana Tree is healthy, it will produce a large harvest in the complete absence of pollination.

Pruning

Another interesting fact about banana plants is that each of these plant’s stalks will produce a harvest only once. As such, it is best to cut the stalk back to the ground following a successful harvest. Cutting the stalk to the ground will prompt your Veranda Banana Tree to produce a new stalk that is capable of developing another set of fruits. Beyond that, pruning needs for the Veranda Banana Tree are quite low. All you should do is look for leaves that are clearly dead and cut them off at their base.

Pests, diseases and animals

There are a few pest and disease issues that can be relatively common for banana plants. Root rot, powdery mildew and similar infections are some of the most common and often arise when this plant lives in poorly drained soils or a location that lacks sunlight. Fortunately, the Veranda Banana Tree has excellent resistance to both pests and diseases. Since many people grow this plant indoors for at least part of the year, where pests are usually less prevalent, the risk of infestation will be even lower.

Harvesting

Each individual stalk of your Veranda Banana Tree will produce a single bunch of bananas. There are a few signs that indicate when this bunch will be ready to pick. One of the most trustworthy signs that harvest is near is if the small flowers at the end of each banana have dried out entirely and have become very easy for you to rub off with your fingers. When harvest time arrives, you should not remove individual bananas. Instead, you should cut off the entire banana bunch at one time.

Achieving maximum results

Since most gardeners in the United States will need to grow their Veranda Banana trees indoors for at least part of the year, it is crucial to understand how to set the ideal indoor growing conditions for this plant. Most importantly, you must position your plant in an indoor area that receives as much bright light per day as possible. However, you should also be wary of leaf scorch if your plant is too close to a window. Ensuring the air in your home is not too dry will also benefit your Veranda Banana Tree greatly.

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