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Musa paradisiaca
Musa paradisiaca
Musa paradisiaca
Musa paradisiaca

Musa paradisiaca

TAXONOMY

FamilyMusaceae
GenusMusa
Zone10

ABOUT

Musa paradisiaca, commonly known as the plantain, is a herbaceous tree in the family Musaceae. Native to tropical regions, it thrives in wet, humid climates. The plant is known for its large, broad leaves and produces fruit that is a staple food in many tropical countries.

ALSO KNOWN AS

Banana
French Plantain
Plantain
Karkandela ×malabarica
Musa ×acutibracteata
Musa ×aphurica
Musa ×bacoba
Musa balbisiana var. vittata
Musa ×berteroi
Musa ×bidigitalis
Musa ×champa
Musa ×chapara
Musa ×chiliocarpa
Musa ×corbieri
Musa ×corniculata
Musa ×dacca
Musa ×decrescens
Musa ×decrescens var. pembuki
Musa ×decrescens var. rubromaculata
Musa ×decrescens var. viridis
Musa ×discolor
Musa ×emasculata
Musa ×emasculata var. kiala
Musa ×emasculata var. kimbende
Musa ×emasculata var. lomba
Musa ×emasculata var. zengani
Musa ×maculata
Musa ×nigra
Musa ×odorata
Musa ×paradisiaca f. dongila
Musa ×paradisiaca f. funu-nua
Musa ×paradisiaca f. kilola
Musa ×paradisiaca f. seluka
Musa ×paradisiaca f. tuba
Musa ×paradisiaca subsp. normalis
Musa ×paradisiaca subsp. sapientum
Musa ×paradisiaca var. acicularis
Musa ×paradisiaca var. bende
Musa ×paradisiaca var. bilul
Musa ×paradisiaca var. champa
Musa ×paradisiaca var. cinerea
Musa ×paradisiaca var. coarctata
Musa ×paradisiaca var. compressa
Musa ×paradisiaca var. coriacea
Musa ×paradisiaca var. corniculata
Musa ×paradisiaca var. dacca
Musa ×paradisiaca var. exsicca
Musa ×paradisiaca var. fatua
Musa ×paradisiaca var. glaberrima
Musa ×paradisiaca var. glauca
Musa ×paradisiaca var. kitebbe
Musa ×paradisiaca var. lacatan
Musa ×paradisiaca var. longa
Musa ×paradisiaca var. lunaris
Musa ×paradisiaca var. magna
Musa ×paradisiaca var. martabarica
Musa ×paradisiaca var. maxima
Musa ×paradisiaca var. mensaria
Musa ×paradisiaca var. odorata
Musa ×paradisiaca var. oleracea
Musa ×paradisiaca var. papillosa
Musa ×paradisiaca var. punctata
Musa ×paradisiaca var. purpurascens
Musa ×paradisiaca var. regia
Musa ×paradisiaca var. rubra
Musa ×paradisiaca var. sanguinea
Musa ×paradisiaca var. suaveolens
Musa ×paradisiaca var. subrubea
Musa ×paradisiaca var. ternatensis
Musa ×paradisiaca var. tetragona
Musa ×paradisiaca var. tombak
Musa ×paradisiaca var. ulnaris
Musa ×paradisiaca var. viridis
Musa ×paradisiaca var. vittata
Musa ×protractorachis
Musa ×purpureotomentosa
Musa ×sapientum
Musa ×sapientum f. dubia
Musa ×sapientum var. americana
Musa ×sapientum var. angao
Musa ×sapientum var. baca
Musa ×sapientum var. binutig
Musa ×sapientum var. canara
Musa ×sapientum var. canaya
Musa ×sapientum var. champa
Musa ×sapientum var. cinerea
Musa ×sapientum var. compressa
Musa ×sapientum var. cubensis
Musa ×sapientum var. dacca
Musa ×sapientum var. daryao
Musa ×sapientum var. dinalaga
Musa ×sapientum var. dool
Musa ×sapientum var. dubia
Musa ×sapientum var. eda
Musa ×sapientum var. fieleto
Musa ×sapientum var. flabellata
Musa ×sapientum var. galatayan
Musa ×sapientum var. garangao
Musa ×sapientum var. glaberrima
Musa ×sapientum var. glauca
Musa ×sapientum var. grandis
Musa ×sapientum var. humilis
Musa ×sapientum var. inarnibal
Musa ×sapientum var. kinamay
Musa ×sapientum var. lacatan
Musa ×sapientum var. longa
Musa ×sapientum var. martabarica
Musa ×sapientum var. mensaria
Musa ×sapientum var. odorata
Musa ×sapientum var. oleracea
Musa ×sapientum var. padilat
Musa ×sapientum var. pamotion
Musa ×sapientum var. pelipia
Musa ×sapientum var. principe
Musa ×sapientum var. putian
Musa ×sapientum var. raines
Musa ×sapientum var. regia
Musa ×sapientum var. rubra
Musa ×sapientum var. sanguinea
Musa ×sapientum var. sarocsoc
Musa ×sapientum var. satama
Musa ×sapientum var. sision
Musa ×sapientum var. suaveolens
Musa ×sapientum var. ternatensis
Musa ×sapientum var. tombak
Musa ×sapientum var. tudlong
Musa ×sapientum var. tuldoc
Musa ×sapientum var. vittata
Musa ×vittata

OVERVIEW

WaterVery Wet
SoilLoamy
LightDirect Bright (8 Hours)
Temperature27° C
Humidity80%
GDD5,475
pH6
Pressure1,013 mbar

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DETAILS

Care Instructions
Plantains require bright, direct sunlight and thrive in warm, humid conditions. They need consistent moisture and should be watered regularly to keep the soil wet. They prefer moderate to high temperatures and high humidity levels.
Harvest
Musa paradisiaca, commonly known as plantain, should be harvested when the fruit is mature but still green. This typically occurs about 3 to 4 months after the plant flowers. To harvest, cut the entire bunch from the plant using a sharp knife or machete, ensuring to leave a portion of the stalk attached to the bunch. Handle the fruit carefully to avoid bruising. After harvesting, the plantain can be ripened further if desired, or used immediately in its green state for cooking. Ensure the plant is grown in a wet tropical climate for optimal growth and fruit production.
Soil
Plantains grow best in well-draining loamy soil that retains moisture. The soil should be rich in organic matter to support the plant's nutrient needs. Good drainage is essential to prevent waterlogging.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 8-10-8. Fertilize regularly during the growing season to support the plant's rapid growth and fruit production.
Repotting
Repot young plantains when they outgrow their containers. Choose a larger pot with good drainage and fresh, nutrient-rich soil. Repotting is best done in the early growing season.
Propagation
Plantains can be propagated through suckers or offshoots that grow from the base of the plant. Remove and plant these suckers in a new location with similar growing conditions.
Pruning
Prune dead or damaged leaves regularly to maintain the plant's health and appearance. Remove any suckers that are not needed for propagation to direct energy to the main plant.
Toxicity
Musa paradisiaca is not toxic to pets or humans. The fruit is edible and widely consumed, while the leaves are sometimes used for wrapping food.
Additional
Plantains are heavy feeders and benefit from regular applications of compost or organic matter. Mulching around the base of the plant can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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