So how does a banana tree reproduce? Commercial bananas are grown as herbs, not trees, which involves propagating the fruit using rhizomes. Rhizomes are stems that grow underground which then shoot out of the ground to produce what are known as “banana pups.” Those little pups are taken off the mother plant and transplanted to create new plants, no seeds involved. However, some non-commercial banana varieties are grown with seeds inside. While they are rarely used for commercial production, it is possible to grow a banana plant from seed. Want to find out how to grow a banana plant in your backyard? Read on to learn how to grow banana trees from seed in this comprehensive guide. Navigate any regulations that your area might have around growing bananas, as they must be bought from a certified, government-approved place that offers disease-free seeds or rhizomes, and welcome large, lush leaves to your landscape. Who knows—you might even get some fruit if you live in the right climate!
Do Bananas Have Seeds?
If presented with the opportunity to venture out into the wilderness and open a naturally grown banana, you would probably find seeds inside. Some varieties have seeds that are so big, they make up a lot of the fruit and make the flesh difficult to chew.
Can You Grow Bananas from Seeds?
Yes, you can grow some bananas from seeds. Among the many wild banana cultivars that have seeds, Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana are two of the species worth trying to germinate. They are parents of certain cultivated types. Travelers with the experience of tasting these fruits fresh and gardeners who have grown them in their backyards tend to prefer the flavor of wild bananas to those found in grocery stores.
How to Grow Bananas from Seeds
Here are six simple steps to follow when growing bananas at home from seed:
How Bananas Produce
The flowering stalk of a banana is called the “banana inflorescence.” Emerging from the middle of the “pseudostem” 10 to 15 months after the seed has been sown, it will likely be surrounded by 26 to 32 leaves by then. The banana flowering, or “shooting,” process is characterized by flowers appearing in spirals on the axis of the stalk in groups of 10 to 20. Fleshy bracts, purplish-to-greenish in color, eventually shed and give way to the first flowers that are functionally female. Edible cultivars like the ones listed above have fast-growing ovaries that develop without pollination into clusters of fruits, some of which can produce seeds. The last flowers, functionally male, come next. When you plant rhizomes, the time from shooting to fruiting is typically 180 days depending on the cultivar, temperature, and the moisture of the soil. When grown from seeds, expect to wait 14 months or more.
