Fun Facts about the Musa Plant
One of the three genera in the Musaceae family is the Musa. Plant species referred to by this name include the plantains and bananas. There are actually more than 50 varieties of plants in the Musa genus. There is a theory that the name Musa may have originated from the Arabic or Turkish word for fruit which are mazlmauz and muz.
Some species of the Musa such as the M. Basjoo and M.Ornata are grown as ornamental plants and there are other species such as the M.textilis that are grown for the fiber. Banana fiber makes for strong and flexible ropes and for almost transparently thin material that is perfect for tea bags. The Musa plant is unusual in that it does not really have a woody stem or trunk even when it is mature and the trunk is more like a stalk of the leaves and the flowers. This technically makes the Musa plant an herb.
Today when somebody refers to a Musa plant they are more than likely to be talking about the plant that produces the edible banana or plantain. The botanical and everyday nomenclature of this genus is intriguing and there is much variation in what is referred to as the banana or the plantain in different parts of the world. In the US the yellow fruit sold for raw eating is referred to as the banana and the green vegetable sold for cooking or raw consumption is identified as the plantain.
The Musa plant is native to the tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world but it has been grown successfully by gardeners in other kinds of climates also. Musa plant is propagated by various methods from seeds and corms to suckers. Large scale banana plantations have invested time and money in researching ways to make for speedy and disease-free propagation. For domestic propagation planting a section of a healthy Musa plant may be the best method. You can also buy the plant at many nurseries.
The Musa plant needs well-drained loamy soil and does well in full sun exposure and in complete shade. While they may take a little longer to grow in the shade, it may be worthwhile as there is also less danger of the plant being burnt by the sun. It also needs plenty of water and should be placed in a deep hole or a large container. Once the plant is established water as needed and make sure the Musa plant is not standing in water as this can rot the roots.
The Musa plant tends to absorb a lot of nutrients and so aeration, tilling and soil amendments will be needed at frequent intervals to ensure good quality fertile soil for the growing plant. You should also watch out for weeds. Some gardeners mulch around the Musa plant to discourage the growth of weeds and oak leaves and bark makes for particularly good mulch as it adds to the acidity of the soil.
Place the plant in a sheltered location as it cannot handle strong winds. The fragile leaves of the Musa Plant will look ragged and torn if the wind shreds the leaves.
The fruiting cycle of the Musa plant depends on the cultivar used and on the local conditions but in general fall is the season you can expect to see the fruits of your labor. Some cultivars needs additional stem support during the fruiting season as the stem is not strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy bunch of fruits.
Musa plant is capable of handling mild winter and if you live in a region with severe or prolonged winter conditions you can try growing this plant in a container. The Musa plant does yield delicious bananas even as a container plant.