Starting a banana farm

Philippines
June 2, 2008 7:00pm CST
I will be starting a banana farm soon, something small; one hectare perhaps and I am very excited about it. The area should be plowed and prepared in a couple of weeks time. Bananas need a clean place to be planted in and deep plowing is needed to ensure there are no weeds that shelter pests. At a distance of 215 cm from each plant I should be able to plant 2116 banana seedlings. Wow! I love bananas and I believe I am closer to my ape ancestors than most people in this regard. Cheers!!
4 people like this
9 responses
@Jemina (5770)
5 Jun 08
What type of banana are you going to plant? Great! I would love to visit your banana farm someday soon. What a great idea you've got. I do love bananas especially Tondan. We used to have banana plantation at that back of our house when I was a child. I remember never having a day without a banana in our table. People come and ask for the banana blossom. We also use the leaves for wrappping rice cakes. And occassionaly when lightning strikes a mushroom comes out from the fallen banana trees.
@Jemina (5770)
6 Jun 08
Yea, Lakatan is good for exporting as Tondan has got a very sensitive skin and they easily ripened. Banana preserve? I haven't seen nor heard of it but it would be nice to try one. You know what? In the Asian shop near where I live there is a banana tree but I'm not sure what type it is. The shop managers are Filipinos and I'm gonna ask them. I really miss bananas. Here I always buy a bunch a week and they are the ones I would never even consider buying back in the Philippines.
2 people like this
• Philippines
15 Jul 08
Bananas are getting expensive here in the Philippines and I used to joke that only foreigners now can afford to eat bananas.
• Philippines
5 Jun 08
We will be planting lakatan which is quite a delicacy among bananas. There is a good local market for it and it might even be good for exporting if things work out. I am also looking at banana preserves for the European market, if there is a market for that.
2 people like this
@putotot (79)
• Philippines
3 Jun 08
Wow, those are accurate numbers you've got there. :) i guess you've got it all planned out already. I'm from the Philippines and bananas are one of the fruits that we produce here. I'm guessing that you are living in a tropical country where bananas mostly grow on. May I know where you are from and where you are planning to plant the trees? :)
• Philippines
3 Jun 08
I have been reading the Mylot do's and don't's and one of the things mentioned there is not to use the public discussion areas for personal messages or information. You could message me if you add me as your friend. The Philippines has a number of famous bananas like the Lakatan and the Senorita which is very sweet.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
3 Jun 08
oh sorry, i didn't know that.. I'll keep that in mind, thank you. :)
2 people like this
• Philippines
15 Jul 08
That is quite all right and there is a way around that rule which is to invite someone to be your friend and send private messages. This is also another rule. He he he.
@smallT (376)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Wow! I've learned so much about bananas. I didn't know there were so many different kinds. Much success to you.
2 people like this
• Philippines
8 Jun 08
Thanks. Bananas are my passion, eating passioni I mean but now I have the chance to plant them too so it's doubly cool.
• India
3 Jun 08
I wish you all the best for your upcomming projects.I am complete an urban Man and unaware of cultivation ,and thank you for contributing the knowledge of how to start Banana Plantation.
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
I always liked cultivating plants and even in the city I have a small garden where I grow green tea and some grape vines, cattleya flowers and some orchids. I used to have big plans and once I planted 50 mangos but my original plan was to plant 1000 mango trees but there were objections in my family and I did not have the money to go through with it. I do what I can.
1 person likes this
@naseeha (1382)
• India
3 Jun 08
All the best to your banana firm. I am also a banana lover and i hope everything goes well for you.
2 people like this
• Philippines
3 Jun 08
Thank you for the kind thoughts. It is good to know another banana lover. Bananas are not just delicious, they are also good for the heart and has enough energy to provide one for some strenuous activities.
1 person likes this
@naseeha (1382)
• India
3 Jun 08
sorry i meant farm and not firm
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jul 08
i never heard of anyone just starting out to grow bananas. it sounds interesting though i couldn't do it. i heard that bananas weren't always available year round. that you used to only be able to buy them in season. that's hard to imagine now days. well more power to you. i used to like to slice bananas with a spoon when i was a kid. i always thot it was fun to do that. it was so easy and sliced them so well. i sometimes did it just to watch the slices fall into my cereal bowl. wish you a green thumb.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Jul 08
Thanks for your comment. Bananas are good for the heart and has enough energy to keep you going for quite a while. It's delicious too and easy to eat. My meal would not be complete without bananas. Cheers!!
• Philippines
15 Jul 08
Bananas have a lot of potassium which is good for the heart.
• United States
12 Jul 08
i didn't know bananas were good for the heart. hmm.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
11 Jul 08
Good morning, dear friend. I do not have land of my own to plant any plants, but it is nice to know that you have made up your mind to start your own business by planting bananas. I wish you good luck and your business smooth. Thank you for your discussion, dear friend.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Jul 08
Thank you for your response. I too, do not have land of my own but my brother has asked me to help him set up a banana farm and he will take care of the expenses. We will split in the profits.
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
7 Jun 08
Wow, thats a lot of banana plants. Are you planning on selling them at a local market? Well, whatever your plans, I hope that you are very successful at it.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Jun 08
It's a lot of bananas and there is a big demand for it in the capital city which is cool. The way things are going we might just double the project and plant more.
1 person likes this
@jer31558 (3683)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Best of luck with your banana farm.
@richiem (3644)
• Philippines
10 Jun 08
This is great! Good luck to your farm! I would also really like to have a farm of my own someday. The problem is I don't have a land where I can plant on. But maybe someday, when I have lots of money I will buy a land to plant on. Maybe also banana, and I will ask tips from you to help me there. Good Luck!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
10 Jun 08
Well, let's hope you get your land someday. It's not my land I'm planting on. I am lucky because my brother who owns the land is also going to take care of the expenses and we split the profits once expenses are taken out of the way.