Fertilizing Your Banana Plants

Because we are making a sincere effort to grow organically, we recommend using only organic fertilizers. You can find them at most of your local gardening centers these days. There are also many products like fish emulsion, bat guano, chicken manure, bone meal and liquid seaweed that also work well. And try saving your old coffee grounds as they are an excellent source of slow-release nitrogen. Sprinkle used grounds around your plants every two months before rain or watering and your banana plants will be happy!

Since banana plants are heavy feeders, you should be fertilizing regularly throughout the growing season. Once a month is typical for frequent light feeding. But don’t be too concerned with over-fertilization as it is difficult to harm the plant with fertilizers. Good rule of thumb is if you get less than one leaf of new growth per week, you need to fertilize more.

Stop fertilizing when cold weather days reach temperatures below 60°. The banana will quit growing during the colder climate so its requirements are less demanding. And if your goal is to produce fruit, cut out fertilization when the first flower appears otherwise it will cause the fruit to spoil.

"Fertility of the soil is the future of civilization."
— Sir Albert Howard