Bananas are grown across Bangladesh because they give regular income and suit many soils. A good plantation, however, is built long before the plant is in the ground.

1. Land and planting

Choose land that does not flood and drains well. Plough deeply, mix in organic matter and mark pits at even spacing so every plant gets light and air. Use healthy, disease-free suckers or tissue-culture plantlets.

2. Nutrition and water

Banana is a heavy feeder. Apply manure at planting and split fertiliser into several doses as the plant grows. Water regularly, especially in dry months, but avoid waterlogging.

3. Care in the field

• Keep only one or two healthy followers per clump.
• Remove dry leaves and weeds.
• Support heavy bunches so the plant does not fall.
• Inspect often for pests and leaf diseases.

4. Harvest

Harvest when the fingers are full and the angles have rounded, not when they turn yellow on the plant. Handle bunches gently to avoid bruising.

Banana is a running project at our Gazipur farm and our Natore site. Read more on the projects page.