Lady Finger Banana Tree

Lady Finger Banana (Musa acuminata “Lady Finger”)

Also known as the Sugar Banana, Pisang Raja, Niño banana, Dedo de Dama, Date banana, and Fig banana. It has a slender, elongated shape and a delightfully sweet flavour. The creamy texture and unique sweetness of Lady Finger Bananas make them perfect for eating fresh as a snack, blending into smoothies, or baking into desserts.

These bananas are bright yellow and thin-skinned, smooth to the touch, and develop dark flecks as they fully ripen. This fragrance is both floral and fruity, with delightful notes of honey and vanilla. The fruit is no longer than 10cm and about 3cm in diameter, with a cigar-like shape and tapered ends. The flesh of a Lady Finger banana is light yellow with brighter yellow seeds at the centre. The texture is creamy and soft. A notable trait of the Lady Finger banana is its resistance to browning when cut.

While often cultivated in a dwarf form for easier harvesting, these trees can reach over 7 meters in height when planted in soil and properly fertilised.

Lady Finger Bananas are Ideal for home gardens and can even be grown in large containers in cooler regions. With proper care, these banana trees can produce fruit within 9 to 12 months.

Lady Finger bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. These bananas also provide significant amounts of fibre and potassium. The natural sugars in Lady Finger bananas offer a quick, natural source of energy. When not overripe, they have a low glycaemic index. To maintain freshness, store at room temperature in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or heat sources. They will keep on the counter for up to a week.

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SKU: BAN001-LF-1 Categories: All Tropicals, Banana Trees, Fruit Trees & Medicinal Plants

Description
Additional information

Position

Bananas prefer full sun or partial afternoon shade.

Size

A mature Lady Finger Banana tree will grow to about 7m.

Soil

Well-drained soil with a pH range of between 6.5 and 8.

Use potting soil if growing your tree in a container. You could use your garden soil or a compost-potting soil mix to grow in the ground.

Improve soil quality by adding a bag of Volcanic Rock Dust (R25 per bag), which replaces minerals and trace elements that our soils have lost, add a bag of Superfrass (R25 per bag) at planting to boost nutrients (NPK and micronutrients) and support strong, healthy growth while also helping protect against pests.

Watering

Keep the soil around your banana tree moist to prevent the roots from drying out.

Mulching

Add a thick layer of pine bark mulch, keeping it about 20 to 30 centimetres away from the tree trunk (any closer may cause excess moisture and damage the trunk). This will retain soil moisture and prevent weeds from taking over.

Fertilising

Apply 1 teaspoon of our slow-release nitrogen-rich All Plant Fertiliser every 4-5 months.

Pruning

Remove damaged or worn leaves to keep your tree in tip-top shape. Pruning stimulates the growth of new leaves.

Pests and Diseases

Spraying regularly with Agricultural Neem Oil or Effective Microorganisms (EM Control )

Banana plants can be susceptible to insect pests, particularly in warm or humid conditions. Watch for aphids, thrips, scale insects, red spider mites, and banana weevils. Regularly inspect the leaves, stems, and base of the plant for signs of pests or damage. Keeping the plant healthy, well-watered, and free from dead or damaged leaves will help reduce pest problems. Neem Oil or Effective Microorganisms (EM Control) can help manage some common pests when applied according to the product instructions.

Harvesting

From the time the flowers appear to the time the fruit is mature, it is usually 75 to 80 days. They are ready to pick when the fruit on the upper section changes from green to light green/yellow. The fruit will also have begun to plump up. Remember that bananas can be used at various stages, even green ones.

Weight	3 kg
Dimensions	20 × 20 × 50 cm
Weight	3
Length	15
Width	15
Height	50
Packaging Type	xlarge_parcel
Maximum	6
Packaging Type 1	large_parcel
Maximum 1	6
Packaging Type 2	medium_parcel
Maximum 2	3
Packaging Type 3	flyer_size
Maximum 3	1