Close Menu
  • Home
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • THINGS TO DO
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • Contact
Facebook
Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Niceville.com
Niceville.com
Home»HOME & GARDEN»How to grow bananas in North Florida
HOME & GARDEN

How to grow bananas in North Florida

Niceville.comJanuary 19, 20223 Mins Read
niceville larry williams
Larry Williams,UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Okaloosa County.

NORTH FLORIDA — You may not be thinking about growing bananas during the colder months of winter, but we can have some success with this tropical fruit in North Florida.

Banana plants are tropical and, as such, they add a tropical look to the landscape. They usually require 12-18 months to produce a flower stalk. And, the fruit takes four to eight months to mature, depending on the temperature during the growing season.

When winters are mild in North Florida or when the plants are protected, the stalk may survive the winter and produce fruit in the second year.

When winters are cold, the tops are usually killed by freezing temperatures, so no fruit is produced.

Advertisement
Smiling couple holding Eglin Federal Credit Union Mastercard with promotional rate

Some gardeners grow banana plants by potting them in large containers and carrying the plants into a protected area such as a greenhouse or garage during the winter.

Others may build an insulating wrap of pine straw around the trunk, enabling the plant to survive outdoors during the winter.

The key is protecting the trunk and roots during freezing temperatures. If the stalk freezes, there usually will be no fruit production the following year.

Advertisement
Deer Moss Creek® advertisement by Ruckel Properties, Inc. promoting available homes and lots.

Producing good fruit requires plenty of water and fertilizer.

Adjust soil pH to 5.5 to 6.5 before planting. Mulching is very helpful in conserving water, reducing weeds as well as protecting the rhizomes (underground stems) from winter freezes.

Water regularly and deeply during the summer if rainfall is poor. If the soil is extremely wet, root rot may develop.

Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.

In low fertility, sandy soils, fertilize 4 to 6 times during the growing season (late spring through summer) with a 3:1:6 ratio fertilizer such as 6-1-12 fertilizer or similar analysis.

Bananas should be pruned. In the beginning, let only one main stalk develop from each rhizome. After six months, allow a replacement sucker to grow because the main stalk is removed after fruiting.

You can use unneeded suckers to establish new plants. The rhizomes may be dug up and divided to propagate more plants.

Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida

Cavendish is probably the banana variety best adapted to North Florida. The plant grows about seven feet tall, produces good quality fruit, and is slightly more cold-hardy than most other types.

Be aware that there are ornamental types of banana plants that are grown just as landscape plants. These types produce small fruit that are full of hard, large seeds and usually are not edible.

More information on growing bananas is available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/MG/MG04000.pdf or through the UF/IFAS Extension Office in your County.

Larry Williams is the Extension horticulture agent with the Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida. Contact Larry at 689-5850 or email lwilliams@myokaloosa.com.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleHelp the OCSO name its new bloodhound puppy
Next Article Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office issues scam alert

Related Posts

close-up of a woman’s shoulder showing a curved line of red, irritated bed bug bites.

UF warns travelers: Watch for bed bugs in Florida lodgings

June 24, 2025
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation logo on blue background

Wind mitigation tools released for hurricane season 

June 12, 2025
Larry Williams, Residential Horticulture Agent with the Okaloosa County Extension, University of Florida/IFAS

UF turf expert to teach proper watering for lawns at Crestview seminar

April 8, 2025
Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
  • EGLIN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
  • EYEWEAR UNLIMITED
  • HAIR EXPRESS
  • MIDBAY VETERINARY HOSPITAL
  • NICEVILLE FARMERS MARKET
  • NICEVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY
  • RUCKEL PROPERTIES, INC.
  • THE WHARF 850
Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.
Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida

ABOUT NICEVILLE.COM

PRIVACY POLICY

TERMS OF SERVICE

© 2025 Niceville.com. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.