Red Banana Farming, Cultivation, Planting Methods

Introduction to Red banana farming

The red banana is a very important fruit crop in India. Red bananas are a different group of varieties of banana with reddish-purple skin. Some plant varieties are smaller and plumper than the common Cavendish banana, others much larger. When ripe, raw red banana fruits have a flesh that is cream to light pink. They are softer and sweeter than the yellow Cavendish varieties, some with a slight raspberry flavor and others with an earthy one. 

A step by step guide to Red banana farming

Red bananas should have a deep red or maroon rind when ripe, and best eaten when unbruised and slightly soft. This variety of banana contains more beta carotene and vitamin C than yellow bananas. It contains potassium and iron. The redder the banana fruit, the more carotene and the higher the vitamin C level. As with yellow bananas, red bananas will ripen in a few days at room temperature levels and are best stored outside from refrigeration.

Red banana fruits are eaten in the same way as yellow bananas, by peeling the fruit before eating. They are frequently eaten raw, whole or chopped, and then added to desserts and fruit salads, but can also be baked, fried, and toasted. Red bananas are commonly sold dried in stores. The red banana fruit has more beta carotene and vitamin C than yellow banana varieties. All bananas have natural sources of three sugars. They are sucrose, fructose, and glucose. The plant is tall and robust stature. The color of the banana fruit, pseudostem, petiole, and midrib is purplish red. The bunch weight is about 20-25 kg with 6-7 hands and 80 fruits/bunch. The length of the fruit is about 16-18 cm.

The Red banana tree is an ornamental tree with exotic foliage, reddish-purple skin, and scarlet-colored stems. Though they do not produce edible fruit, red banana trees produce an attractive, standout enhancement to any house, yard, or landscape. These trees usually have left off about 6 to 10 feet high and blooms might show up on mature plants.

There are several sorts of Red Banana fruit trees, including the Zebrina Banana, the Siam Ruby Banana, and the Bordelon Banana. Ornamental Red Banana trees can include tall, medium-size and dwarf size fruit trees. All types are fast-growing, and taking care of banana trees isn’t challenging at all. This tree only calls for periodic maintenance and little pruning.

Red banana fruit is the most relished and highly prized variety of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Its commercial cultivation is prominent in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu. It is also popular in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and to some extent in Western and Central India. It is a robust plant with bunches weighing about 20-30 kg under good management practices. Banana fruits are sweet, orange-yellow colored, and with a pleasant aroma. It is mainly susceptible to bunchy top, fusarium wilt, and nematodes.

Different varieties of Red banana

The Red banana plant is an ornamental plant with tropical foliage, reddish-purple skin, and bold, scarlet-colored stems. Though they do not produce edible fruit, red banana plants make for an attractive, standout addition to any home garden or landscape. These plants typically have left off about 6 to 10 feet tall and blooms may appear on mature plants.

There are several types of Red banana plants, mainly including the Zebrina Banana, the Siam Ruby Banana, and the Bordelon Banana. Though, ornamental Red banana trees can include tall, medium-size, and dwarf. All types are fast-growing, and caring for Red banana plants isn’t difficult. This plant requires occasional upkeep and maintenance and very little pruning.

Soil and climate requirement for Red banana farming

When planting Red banana tree, it’s important to choose a location that gets plenty of direct sunlight because bananas love heat and sun. Red banana trees need a long, sunny growing period of around nine to 15 months. The earliest that you should plant a new banana is 3 to 4 weeks after your last average frost date and new plants should not be exposed to temperatures below 13°C, as this could hinder their growth.

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Red bananas need a warm subtropical climate, adequate moisture, and protection from wind. Most varieties of Red bananas grow best with 12 hours of bright light and high humidity of 50% or higher. The ideal temperature level is around 26-30°C. Growth begins at 18ºC, reaches optimal growth at 27ºC, and stop entirely when the temperature level reaches 38ºC. Although Red bananas grow best in bright sunlight, high temperatures will scorch leaves and fruit.

For best appearance and also higher photosynthetic rate, wind protection is advisable. The high-velocity wind which exceeds 80km per hour damages the leaf. Red bananas are also vulnerable to being blown over due to the weight of the stem of the fruit. Thus, Propping must be done during the last few months of its life cycle before harvest.

Red bananas need rich, moisture, and well-drained soil with 40% clay, 75% silt, 85% loam soil. Bananas prefer more acidic soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5. Low pH soil makes Red banana more susceptible to Panama disease and avoids soil that is sandy, salty, nutritionally deficient, and ill-drained soil. Light sandy soil can be improved by placing mulch around the Banana plants and this will improve water retention and prevent nutrients from percolating quickly into the soil. Nutritionally deficient soil can be improved by incorporating organic matter to the soil before you plant bananas and then mulch them thickly. This process should be repeated as often as possible. Red bananas do not tolerate waterlogging because its roots will rot. This can be resolved by planting the bananas in raised beds.

Red banana planting

Red banana care is simple once you’ve learned what the plant needs. First, the soil must always be moist, so be sure to keep the plant well-watered and do not let the soil go dry. At the same time, be careful not to saturate the ground, as this can lead to root rot. You could need to irrigate during times of prolonged drought, but bananas do tend to be resilient. Red banana trees do best in well-drained and mildly acidic soil. Fertilize your banana plant regularly as well.

Red banana trees are hearty, big eaters, and need plenty of nutrients, particularly for flower and fruit production. Potassium-rich fertilizer is great, and you could even consider adding compost and manure to help boost the banana plant’s nutrient intake. It’s recommended that can use a pound of fertilizer for a younger plant and up to 2 pounds for a mature plant.

Planting time of Red banana

Tissue culture Red bananas can be planted throughout the year. Red bananas need nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium with a ratio of 3:1:6, and other micronutrients to ensure the plants grow vigorously.

Planting material of Red banana

The best method is to start with tissue culture plantlets. Tissue culture plantlets are recommended for planting because suckers, in general, are infected with soil-borne pathogen and nematodes. Tissue culture plantlets are very healthy, pest and disease-free, uniform, and shorter harvesting periods. Suckers, on the contrary, are not uniform and have a rather longer-harvesting period therefore the management of the plantation can be somewhat wearisome.

Fertilizer requirement for Red banana farming

A complete fertilizer with a ratio of 3:1:6 of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium is generally suitable for most Banana plantation. The first application of fertilizer at the rate of about 100 grams per plant can be made as soon as the plant begins to grow. Subsequent application of fertilizer must be applied as frequently as possible i.e. once every week if possible. The best method is to apply a smaller quantity of fertilizer but more frequently. For better taste and quality, try applying organic fertilizers. It is advisable to water and fertilizes at the same time to help Red bananas grow.

The best mulch used Red banana farming

Mulch is mainly used to modify the effects of the local climate. A wide variety of natural and synthetic materials are used and the most easily available and cheaper material would sawdust. It is best applied when the plants are still young to encourage faster plant growth. The main benefit of using mulch is that it conserves soil moisture (blocking evaporation of water from the soil) and keeps soil cool as they block direct sunlight exposure. It slows down the growth of weeds as it blocks the weeds from receiving sunlight thus minimizing labour work.

The mulch must be kept at least 50 cm from the base of the plant as it generates heat when decomposing. Then, this practice is known to reduce fungal diseases while improving soil texture and adding nutrients to the soil. Generally, mulch is required to be applied once as mature plantation is self-mulching i.e. dead Banana leaves and trunks are removed and left behind as natural mulch.

Plant care in Red banana farming

Red banana grows best in relatively dry climates. It cannot tolerate frost and dislikes high humidity. However, some gardeners have successfully grown it even in humid areas. Red banana plant care mainly involves proper site selection, watering, and fertilization. These trees need rich soil with plenty of organic matter and partial or full sun. Be sure the soil at the planting site is well-drained. Water the plant weekly, more often during the hottest part of the summer season. This is important in the first season after planting. Well-established plants can survive drought, but they won’t look their best without adequate water. Fertilize in the early spring with compost or a balanced fertilizer.

Red banana tree care is rather simple once you’ve learned what the tree requires. First, the soil needs to constantly be moist, so be sure to keep the tree well-watered and do not allow the soil to go dry. At the very same time, be careful not to puddle ground, as this might result in root rot. You might need to irrigate during times of prolonged drought, however, bananas do often tend to be resilient. In terms of the soil itself, keep in mind that Red Banana trees do best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

Red banana trees are hearty, big eaters, and also require lots of nutrients, specifically for blossoming and fruit production. Potassium-rich fertilizer is terrific, and you could also include garden compost and manure to assist in boosting the tree’s nutrient intake. It’s advised that you use 1 extra pound of fertilizer for a more youthful plant and as much as 2 pounds for a fully grown tree.

Pest and disease control in Red banana farming

Red bananas are not subject to significant disease pests outside the tropics. Root rot will occur in cold, wet soil, and by far the greatest disease threat to them. Symptoms of overwatering are plant leaves dying at the edges and turning brown. If the leaves turn yellow, they require more nutrients. Some insects that might attack your Red banana plant include the banana aphid, banana weevil, and coconut scale; and are all easily repelled with a mild organic insecticide or Neem oil.

Generally, Red banana trees are pest-free and disease-free in temperate gardens. You can simply uproot any pests you see and trim off dead plant leaves when you see them about to sprout. Keep in mind that plants can suffer from winter rot if kept too wet during their dormant period, so take care not to overwater Red banana plant.

When and how to harvest Red banana

Red banana is harvested when the fruit is slightly or fully mature depending on the market preferences. For long-distance transportation, harvesting is done at 75 to 80 % maturity. The banana fruit is climacteric and can reach the consumption stage after ripening operation. The average yield of the Red banana is 45 tonnes/hectare.

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