Azimina three-bladed [Banana tree] - delicious exotic

The banana tree is often called the azimina, a perennial fruiting plant from the Annon family. The homeland of this exotic is the territory of North America with a subtropical climate.... Several species are common in the southern states of the United States. It is cultivated in Spain, Italy, Greece, the countries of Southeast Asia: Thailand, India and southern China. Grows well in the Black Sea region.

Banana is one of the oldest cultivated plants

Banana, like fast-growing bamboo, belongs to the genus of the largest perennial herbaceous plants and grows up to ten meters or more.

According to the research of the world famous breeder N. Vavilov, the native land of the banana plant is the southeast of Asia. Already from there, about four thousand years ago, it migrated to India. It was in the ancient manuscripts of the Rig Veda, Mahabharatha and Ramayana, which tell about the gods of the Hindu pantheon, that the first written mentions of bananas were found.

Interestingly, the first attempt at growing bananas in Europe was made by Alexander the Great at the beginning of the fourth centurybecause I was amazed at their taste. However, with his death, the undertaking also died.

Three centuries later, thanks to the nomadic tribes of the Arabs, banana palms flooded the east of the African continent. Interestingly, their fruits owe their name to the Arabic word "finger", although the nomads themselves used the name "muses".

And only at the beginning of the fifteenth century, Europeans began to take an interest in this useful agricultural crop. So bananas came to the territory of South America together with the Spanish-Portuguese colonialists, who had already managed to bring the herbaceous plant to the Canary Islands and Haiti.

Bananas have long been unpopular in Europe and North America due to transportation difficulties. Since fruits can be transported at a temperature of no higher than 14 degrees Celsius. Everything changed only at the end of the nineteenth century after the invention of the first cooling mechanisms.

Wintering

The cultivated azimina is highly frost-resistant, capable of surviving rather cold winters. When growing a tree in the north, it is advisable to prepare for the winter. To do this, after harvesting, you need to mulch the area of ​​the trunk circle up to 7 cm thick.

Tie the trunk itself tightly with newspapers or non-woven material, and then cover it with spruce branches or agrofiber. The shelter can be removed immediately after the snow melts; to reduce the risk of death against the background of frost, it is recommended to water the plant abundantly with warm water.

How banana grass grows and bears fruit

Despite all the efforts of the breeders, it was possible to withdraw just a few varieties, which can bear fruit at temperatures below 10 degrees. All other varieties, and there are more than two hundred of them, simply fall asleep at temperatures below 16-10 degrees, almost completely stopping their vital activity.

The fruits of banana plants grow in one large bunch on a stem that sprouts between the leaves of the false trunk, and not at the very top, like coconuts. One such bunch can contain from several tens to several hundred fruits, depending on their size and type.

The opinion that a banana is a fruit is fundamentally wrong, because only the fruits of trees are considered as such.But berries are already growing on the bushes and grass. Therefore, bananas are typical berries, along with raspberries, currants or strawberries.

Basics of cultivation agrotechnology

• Illumination. Pawpaw saplings are shaded to protect the leaves from burning out, the plants die. In the first year of growing pawpaw, the degree of shading is up to 70%. Trees 3-4 years old withstand the heat, grow without shading.

Banana tree fruit

• Soils. Slightly acidic, light, fertile. When growing pawpaw on dense soils, drainage is needed.
• Temperature conditions. For the beginning of the growing season - from +10 ° C, for fruiting the so-called. SAT (sum of active temperatures) over 26 ° C. The cultivation of azimines is possible in the North Caucasus and the Kuban, in the Lower Volga region and the Central Black Earth region.
• Watering. Regular, no moisture stagnation. With the beginning of September - moderate.
• Fertilizer. Top dressing is applied from 2 years old. From April - NPK complex, manure, compost, ash. In autumn, phosphate-potassium dressings are important - they are applied at the root, sprayed on the preserved leaves.
• Pollination. An insect-pollinated (cross-pollinated) culture in temperate latitudes needs additional pollination. Gardeners transfer pollen from one tree to another with a brush.
• Frost resistance. Without shelter, it does not last long to -20 ... -25 ° C, but it needs high-quality insulation, without which it perishes. The trunks are wrapped in agrotechnical cloth, wrapped in spruce branches.

Interesting about bananas

And a few more interesting and little-known facts about banana grass and its fruits:

• wild bananas have virtually no pulp, since most of it is occupied by large seeds;
• not all varieties are edible, some are considered technical and are used to make ship gear and fabrics;
• clothes made of banana leaf fibers were sacred in the Hindu epic;
• in the old days, Buddhist monks made banana drinks, including alcoholic ones.

In the twenty-first century, the demand for bananas continues to grow, and in some countries its consumption is up to eighty kilograms per year per person. The export volume of these fruits is second only to grain, corn and sugar.

We all, well, or many of us, love bananas and eat them with pleasure. But at the same time, no one knows what it is. Some people think that a banana is a berry, others that a banana is a fruit. And not everyone can answer the question whether a banana is a grass or a tree! What we see in cartoons and films, where a monkey climbs a palm tree and eats bananas, plays a cruel joke with us. And so we think that they grow on palms, which means a banana is a tree. No matter how it is!

In fact, our beloved banana is a herb, that is, the fruit of a herbaceous plant.

despite the fact that it is called a "banana tree" it has nothing to do with trees. In fact, it is a large pile of leaves, on top of which is something that looks like a palm tree. The flower bud grows in a stem that sits right in the middle of these leaves. Another thing is that this grass can grow to a fairly large size, and therefore many confuse a bush with a palm tree. It is probably the largest plant in the world.

Now let's figure it out: a banana is a berry or a fruit. It turns out that a banana is a berry. It originated in Southeast Asia and arrived in India thousands of years ago. It is, in fact, one of the oldest known fruits for mankind. Wild banana varieties, found in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, contain large and hard seeds combined with very little pulp. This berry is eaten not only raw, but also boiled, fried, boiled, and even wine is made from it. By the way, the word "banana" itself is of African origin and is most likely associated with the Arabic word "banana", which means "finger" or "fingers".

korki.lol

A banana plant can be more than 7 m in height, but scientists consider this perennial plant not a tree, but a grass. And that's why. What appears to us to be the trunk of a banana is called a false stem by botanists - it is an empty tube formed by the bases of huge leaves tightly adjacent to each other. The real stem of a banana, for the time being very short, is hidden inside this "stem". When it is time to bloom, the stem inside the leaf tube is pulled out and its tip with a large inflorescence at the end is shown above the leaves. After pollination, the flowers turn into fruits. Now a huge bunch of 50 to 200 fruits hangs from the top of the stem. Such a bunch consists of several bunches of 10-20 bananas each. After the fruits ripen, the stem is cut off, and a new short shoot with huge leaves soon grows from its powerful underground rhizome. The life of the plant continues.

Bananas only grow in humid tropics. There are huge plantations where bananas are grown in South Asia, Africa, Central and South America, on the islands of the Caribbean. But the homeland of the banana is Asia.

Everyone is probably well aware of how quickly bananas go bad. From fruits with a golden skin and aromatic white pulp, they turn into a black-brown gruel. Therefore, the harvest of bananas is harvested while the fruits are firm to the touch and their peel is bright green. A long journey awaits them ahead - thousands of kilometers from their native plantation to store shelves in other parts of the world. Bananas are transported across the seas on special banana carriers equipped with powerful refrigeration units that slow down their ripening and, thus, prevent spoilage.

Bananas are eaten fresh and dried, they are used to prepare fruit salads, canned food and marmalade, and sometimes they are added to bread, pies and cookies. But not all bananas taste sweet. Plantains are the fruits of one of the banana varieties with a mealy, unsweetened pulp. They are eaten only fried or boiled - like vegetables.

Choosing a landing site

The banana tree should only be grown in a well-lit and wind-protected area. It is advisable to choose a site on a small hill away from surface groundwater and water bodies.

In the first year of life, the plant needs to be shaded up to 70% of the entire time, since when exposed to direct sunlight there is a risk of foliage burning out. A plant from 3-4 years of age can withstand both heat and shade.

The soil

The soil for planting should be light, loose and fertile. The best option is slightly acidic chernozems or loams with good drainage and aeration.

When growing azimines in lowlands, it is advisable to equip a water outflow system, since the root system is sensitive to moisture.

Characteristic

Bananas are not trees and belong to the genus of large perennial herbaceous plants, which has about forty species and more than three hundred varieties. Plants have very large leaves arranged in a spiral, which overlap each other, forming a false trunk about ten meters high, making the plant look like a banana tree.

There are four types of bananas:

• Ornamental - bloom very beautifully, but have inedible fruits;
• Technical - from the stems of plants they build rafts, make cushions for seats, in Africa they are often used to make nets for fishing;
• Fodder or plantains - require heat treatment: the pulp is unsweetened, tough with a high starch content, and therefore flour is made from them. In addition, bananas of this group are often used for animal feed.
• Fruit or dessert - do not need heat treatment, have a juicy and sweet pulp, and therefore they can be eaten raw, dried or dried.

origin of name

The plant is called a banana tree for its external resemblance to a real banana palm. The fruits of the pawpaw, although larger, resemble the fruits known to the whole world. The pulp of the North American tree is juicier, has a delicate strawberry aroma, a rich taste similar to mango and papaya, contains more vitamins and other useful substances.

The official name of the culture has Native American roots. The American aborigines called the tree assimin. Another plant name is American papaya - papaw.

Spread

Bananas are native to the tropical latitudes of Asia and Africa, as well as the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The most northern point where bananas grow is the Japanese island of Ryukyu.

Although these plants are inhabitants of tropical latitudes, they do not grow in areas where drought lasts more than three months, and in order for them to produce a good harvest, the monthly rainfall must exceed 100 mm.

Bananas are preferred in sour, mineral-rich soil. The presence of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen in the soil is especially important: this allows you to annually collect about 400 centners of fruits per hectare. Optimum temperature indicators for plant growth during the day range from 25 to 36 ° C, at night - from 21 to 27 ° C. If the temperature of the air where bananas grow is low and is 16 ° C, the growth rate slows down, and at 10 ° C it stops. True, some types of bananas, such as Rajapuri, can withstand temperatures around freezing.

Plants in the mountains feel good. They can usually be seen about 900 meters above the ocean surface. In some latitudes, they are found even higher: the maximum height where bananas grow was recorded in New Guinea and is about 2 thousand km above sea level. m.

Planting a pawpaw in open ground

How to plant an azimine in open ground

When to plant

The transplant process is very stressful for the pawpaw, she is "sick" and in this state she will not survive the coming winter in 1-2 months. Even in the southern regions, it is recommended to plant it exclusively in the spring after the threat of return frosts has passed.

Where to plant the azimine

A place for growing pawpaws, as for any tree in principle, must be chosen once and for all. Azimina loves light and warmth, so plant it in areas heated by the sun without drafts and strong gusts of wind (remember the fragility of the crown).

Ideal if there is a fence or wall in the distance from the north side. The root system does not tolerate dampness and waterlogging of the soil. Lowlands, flooded areas and places where groundwater flows at a depth of less than 2 m will not work categorically. The first two years after planting, trees can suffer from the rays of the scorching sun. It is recommended to spread a canopy over them from a couple of layers of gauze or other covering material in white.

Landing features

There are no special requirements for the quality of the soil: it should be light, loose, slightly acidic (pH 5.0–7.0). In heavy loamy soil, azimine is also capable of growing, but the pace of development is slow, and you should not expect abundant fruiting. We prepare the landing pit in advance, about 3-3.5 weeks before the transplant.

We dig it 50 by 50 cm in size.Mix the upper most fertile part of the removed soil with compost or humus (add 1 bucket of 10 liters), add wood ash (1 liter jar), which can be replaced with 40-50 g of superphosphate and 20-30 g potassium sulfate.

If the soil is loamy, heavy, we add 2 more buckets of coarse river sand, a layer of expanded clay or pebbles can be laid on the bottom of the planting pit. We fill the prepared soil mixture into the hole and wait for the earth to settle, settle down.

1 hour before planting, the seedling in the container is watered abundantly to facilitate the extraction of the earthen clod (if the pot is peat, you can plant it with it). We pass with the maximum preservation of the earthen coma.The seedling can be positioned at an angle of 40-45 ° C to stimulate the emergence of basal processes.

When planting in loose soil, the root collar is buried by 10-12 cm, in heavy loam - by 5-8 cm. You cannot ram the earth at the surface, just press it slightly around the stem with your palms. Water abundantly with 2-3 ten-liter buckets of water. After absorbing the liquid, we mulch the trunk circle with humus or peat chips.

Azimina is not a self-pollinating plant, so it is advisable to plant at least two trees on the site. So, keep the distance between them 3 meters, in the aisles - 4-4.5 m. You can pollinate manually by transferring pollen with a brush from one flower to another. The flowers give off a smell reminiscent of rotting meat, so they can attract flies to help pollinate.

Description

The plant has numerous powerful roots extending down to one and a half meters, to the sides - up to five. A short stem, not protruding above the ground, emanates from the roots, to which from six to twenty leaves are attached. Parts of the leaves adjacent to the stem are superimposed on the bases and form a kind of trunk from two to twelve meters high, together with bamboos being the tallest grasses on the planet.

Since bananas are grass, their stem never lignifies, and the part above the earth's surface dies off after the fruit ripens. Speaking of a banana as a grass, one can observe an unusual effect: after the main stem dies off, its place is immediately taken by the largest of the numerous shoots located on the root.

Banana leaves are very large, soft, can be either oblong or oval, arranged in a spiral so that their bases roll up into a dense multilayer tube, forming a false stem. Once a week, one young leaf appears and grows inside the bunch, at the same time the old, outer one begins to die off, after which it falls off.

Bloom

The plant begins to bloom eight to ten months after its appearance on the surface. Before the banana plant blooms, a peduncle appears on the main stem, which penetrates into the false stem, passes up through it, and comes out.

The inflorescence resembles an elongated rounded bud of green or purple color, at the base of which there are large female flowers, along the edges - small male ones, and between them there are medium-sized bisexual sterile flowers with three petals. When the male flowers open, they fall off almost immediately, with the result that the upper part of the inflorescence is exposed.

Flowers are collected in clusters in an amount of 12 to 20 pieces, and one above the other are arranged in layers, each of which is covered on top with thick waxy leaves. The flowers of fruit varieties are white, while the leaves that cover them are dark red on the inside and purple on the outside.

Wild bananas are pollinated by small animals or birds (if the variety blooms in the morning), or bats (if at night), while cultivated plants reproduce vegetatively.

Common varieties

The most popular varieties of the pawpaw plant are:

• "Martin" - has a high frost resistance;
• "Davis" - is a representative of a tree with high quality fruits, sweet, with yellowish pulp;
• "Overlease" - similar in characteristics to the "Davis" variety.

There are also varieties bred in Russia - Michurinka and Sochinskaya.

If you have a choice, it is better to purchase early maturing trees.

Azimina triloba, more commonly known as the banana tree, can be bought at specialty stores or ordered online.

Fruit

Fruits are formed only in female flowers. As each layer grows, it begins to look more and more like a hand with a huge number of fingers, which is a berry covered with a thick skin (fruits do not grow on herbs).

Depending on the variety of bananas, the berries can be very different from each other. Basically, they are characterized by a straight or curved oblong shape. The length of the berries ranges from three to forty centimeters, the diameter is from two to eight. The peel of a banana is usually yellow, but it is often found in green, red, silver colors.

The flesh of the berries is white, yellow, creamy or orange. At the initial stage, it is a sticky and hard mass, which eventually turns into a juicy and soft mass. In fruit varieties, seeds are almost always absent in the berry, so they multiply through the roots. If people were not engaged in their breeding, they would hardly have been able to exist for a long time and populate the surroundings.

But in plants that grow in the wild, the pulp is filled with a huge number of seeds (in some varieties, their number can reach two hundred). Their length ranges from 3 to 16 mm, so there is very little pulp inside such a fruit, which is one of the reasons why a wild banana is inedible.

Thus, on one layer there can be about three hundred berries, the total weight of which is about sixty kilograms. As soon as the fruits are tied, all of them grow downward, but then several layers unfold and begin to grow vertically upward.

The berries usually take from 10 to 15 months to ripen, while fruit bananas give a rich harvest for five to six years, while wild plants actively bear fruit for more than twenty-five.

Since ripe berries are very easily damaged and quickly deteriorate, they are usually cut green when they are only three-quarters ripe (this makes them easier to transport). The berries ripen on the way or upon arrival at the place, often at the buyers' homes.

After the berries ripen, the main stem and leaves of the plant die off, and a new shoot located nearby comes to replace them, which turns into a stem and releases leaves.

Berry properties

The benefits of bananas have been noticed for a long time. They are a low-fat, but highly nutritious food, as they are characterized by an increased amount of carbohydrates. So, one hundred grams of pulp contains:

• 23 grams of carbohydrates;
• 1.1 g - proteins;
• 89 calories.

For this reason, berries are advised to be consumed after increased physical or mental stress: being high-energy berries, they significantly increase blood sugar levels.

The benefit of bananas is that they contain a lot of micro- and macroelements, first of all, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron. A lot of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins in banana also play an important role (first of all, these are vitamins A, B, C, E, PP).

Doctors often advise introducing these berries into their diet for people with liver and kidney problems, as well as in the presence of hypertension, anemia, heartburn, and constipation. Berries have antiseptic and astringent properties, so they are advised for stomach and intestinal ulcers (though not during exacerbations).

Doctors advise to refrain from berries with increased blood clotting, ischemic disease, thrombophlebitis: the berry helps to remove fluid from the body, which leads to thickening of the blood, as a result of which blood vessels can clog and a blood clot can form. Also, bananas are not recommended for people who have recently had a heart attack or stroke.

Planting methods

Azimina can be planted and propagated in three ways. The choice of method depends on horticultural skills, experience and the availability of planting material. Regardless of the choice of planting method, it is important to follow the technology, the plant does not take root well and often dies in the first year of growth.

Seeds

Plants do not take root well, there is a possibility of death within the first week from the moment of planting. The optimal time for planting seeds in the ground is the second half of May, when there is no threat of night frosts or temperature drops. Step-by-step growing algorithm:

1. Sort the seeds, removing all seedlings with signs of disease and damage.3-4 months before planting, they need to be stratified by removing them to a room with a temperature of 0 to 4 ° C.
2. Dig up the area thoroughly, remove all plant debris and stones. During digging, add a mixture of mineral fertilizers (15 g of superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate) or organic matter at the rate of 5 kg of mullein per meter.
3. Dig individual holes up to 5 cm deep. The interval between plants is 2-2.5 m.
4. Cover the seeds to a depth of 3 cm, sprinkle on top with a layer of fertile soil. Water the planting abundantly and cover with non-woven fabric.

The first shoots appear in 5-7 weeks. During this time, it is important to ventilate the planting, to monitor the moderate moisture content of the soil. Azimina has a weak root system, transplantation is not carried out.

Root processes

For planting in this way, you need to take root shoots, which can be obtained from an adult tree from 3 years old. To do this, you need to break off a small piece of the root at the surface up to 5 cm long. Then straighten all the adventitious roots and plant in a prepared hole, on the bottom of which a layer of compost and humus is placed.

Root shoots are buried in loam or black soil to a depth of 5-8 cm, if the soil is light and well aerated, the embedding depth can be up to 10 cm. Planting should be abundantly moistened with warm water, mulch the surface. The first shoots appear in 30-50 days.

Graft

Propagation of azimines by grafting is carried out in the second half of spring before the onset of swelling of the buds. To carry out the work, 2 trees are required. A lignified stalk up to 7 cm long is suitable as a mother material. Technology of carrying out:

1. Cut off the stock, split it lengthwise.
2. Sharpen the tip of the scion a little, carefully insert it into the split stock. It is desirable that all layers of the cambium are completely matched.
3. Fix the vaccination with foil or paper tape. Put on the protective plastic cap.

The site of inoculation takes root within 14 days, after which buds are formed on the rootstock. It is advisable to wait until they are fully opened, and then transplant the cutting to a permanent place.

Banana plant at home

Since the banana plant is native to tropical latitudes, it is extremely difficult to breed it at home. The main reasons why a banana is difficult to grow is the need for an optimal combination of temperature, humidity, light and a soil rich in soil minerals necessary for plant growth.

At home, a banana plant can be grown by yourself by planting a seed, or you can buy an already germinated specimen. It should be borne in mind that a variety will grow from the seeds, the fruits of which are inedible (seeds of fruit crops are not sold, since these plants almost do not have them, so they reproduce vegetatively). The process of seed germination at home is a rather long process and you will have to wait for germination, at best, for two months. But immediately after it appears above the surface, active growth begins.

If there is a desire to grow bananas of a fruit variety at home, then it is better to buy an already sprouted plant. For their cultivation at home, breeders have bred banana varieties that are less demanding on growing conditions, more resistant to diseases and relatively low, up to one and a half meters in height. With proper care, you can achieve the flowering of the plant and the appearance of edible fruits in an ordinary apartment.

If you do not feel like messing around at all, but you want to have such a plant at home, you can purchase the Annona three-bladed banana tree or Azimina, which got its name from the fruit resembling the shape of bananas. Azimina perfectly lends itself to breeding at home and, despite the fact that in nature it reaches twelve meters, a bonsai can be made from the plant.

Tree varieties

Several dozen varieties of fruit pawns are cultivated. Most of them were bred in the USA and Canada.Several varieties are the result of the development of Russian breeders.

Common varieties:

• Davis: a tree 3-5 m high with a wide green crown and numerous large oval fruits, the pulp has excellent taste;
• Martin: the variety is cold-resistant, the trunks are medium-high, the fruits are elongated, juicy, 8–10 cm in size;
• Dessert: large-fruited tall tree, fruit pulp is very sweet, aromatic, bright yellow in color;
• Sochinskaya 11: an early ripe tall variety with large fruits weighing up to 300 g.

Despite the exotic species more typical of the tropics, many varieties of the banana tree can be grown in temperate climates - mainly where the frost-free period is at least six months. These plants are little afraid even of severe frosts, in winter they are able to withstand cold temperatures down to –30 ° C, provided they are short, and in spring the buds calmly tolerate recurrent frosts.

What is a banana from a botanical point of view?

It has long been a stereotype among ordinary people that bananas grow on palms and in the wild. But it is not so.

It may sound strange, but scientifically, the banana is a perennial herb, and its fruits are poly-seeded and thick-skinned berries.

The question immediately arises - where are these seeds? The thing is that they are found in wild fruits that are oval in shape and require cleaning. And those fruits that are sold on supermarket shelves are a product of the work of breeders, a cultural form of this berry created by them. In total, there are more than 40 species and 500 varieties of bananas (Latin name - Musa).

The most common cultivated banana varieties are:

• Lady's finger;
• Gro-Michel;
• Dwarf Cavendish;
• Giant Cavendish;
• Lakatan;
• Valerie;
• Robusta;
• Mysore.

Edible varieties are divided into 2 large groups. The first is bananas, which have a sweet fruit to be eaten raw. The second includes plantains that produce starchy fruits for subsequent culinary processing.

Banana has a structure characteristic of herbaceous plants, namely: strong roots and a stem with leaves, amounting from 6 to 20 pieces. It is the second tallest grass in the world (after bamboo).

Can it grow and multiply in our climate?

Azimina can be bred exclusively in the southern regions of Russia, where there are at least 160 warm sunny days per year. Some of the most relevant areas are:

• Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
• Krasnodar region;
• Caucasus;
• Volgograd and Astrakhan regions;
• Kursk, Voronezh and Samara regions, if, in addition to watering, take care of the tree also in winter.

The most optimal for the banana tree is a temperate climate approaching subtropical.

You can buy 1-2 summer seedlings for about 5,000 rubles.

Are they growing on a tree or not?

What tree do bananas grow on? Good question. After all, if you look from the side - it seems like a banana. However, as already mentioned, the plant itself is herbaceous, that is, it is not a tree, although it grows up to 8 m (taller than many trees). The stem diameter reaches 40 cm.

Banana leaves grow from a short tuberous stem (underground) to form a visible or false stem.

The root system of the plant deepens by 1.5 m, while spreading 4.5-5 m to the sides, like most herbs. The leaves are layered on top of each other, a feature of their structure is a large longitudinal vein running in the center. The color of the leaves depends on the variety, they can be completely green, have maroon spots, and also be two-colored: green on top and crimson below.

Bananas grow in bunches, their number can be up to 100 pieces. The highest productivity is observed at high humidity, although it can lead to the development of fungal diseases.The presence of sunlight is also very important.

Botanical description

Azimina is a genus of flowering dicotyledonous shrubs and short trees. In total, there are more than a dozen plant varieties. The most common is three-lobed azimina (lat.Asimina triloba). It is an upright tree, reaching 10–12 m in height in the wild. Among the cultural forms there are undersized and dwarf forms - 1.5–5 m. The banana tree is externally decorative. The trunks are covered with bluish-green or brown smooth bark, the crowns are narrowly pyramidal. Leaves are large, leathery, hanging on short cuttings, elongated-oval, with solid edges and pointed tops. The leaf plates are fleshy, juicy, reaching 30 cm in length and 12–15 cm in width. The feathery veins are clearly visible on the bright green surface. In windy weather, fragile stems and leaves break easily.

The flowers are monoecious, large - about 4-5 cm in diameter... They are located singly. Red-purple, brown or dark pink buds have the correct bell-shaped shape. The middle is bright yellow, with several elongated stamens. The calyx has three bent, triangular, slightly wrinkled petals. Corolla - also with three, but wider petals. Despite the attractive appearance, the buds do not differ in a pleasant aroma.

The plant blooms in spring, even before the leaves appear. This period lasts 3-4 weeks. In nature, the banana tree is pollinated by large insects or hummingbirds.

Fruits ripen within 5-6 weeks... They are thickened, ovate or oblong - up to 12 cm in length, fleshy, covered with a light green thin skin. Outwardly they resemble papaya. On the branches they sit with tassels of several pieces. The inside is filled with juicy, fragrant cream or light yellow pulp. It can be eaten. The seeds are large, with a dark brown dense shell, located in the pulp in two rows. One fruit contains 10-14 seeds.

Life cycle in nature

The life cycle of a banana is typical for herbaceous plants - false stem development, flowering, fruiting and leaf death.

After the appearance of the first shoots (with seed reproduction), rapid development begins. In nature, bananas grow very quickly - in just 9-10 months, their false stems reach a height of 8 m. At this age, the reproductive period (phase) in the life of the plant begins. A characteristic feature of this stage is the cessation of the formation and growth of new leaves.

Instead, a flowering stem begins to develop inside the false trunk. After 2-3 weeks, a large, purple bud-shaped inflorescence is formed. Bananas are located under its base, which will become fruits in the future. The largest flowers are female, they are at the top. Slightly below are bisexual, and at the very bottom are male flowers, they are the smallest.

Pollination of female flowers is produced by:

• sunbirds;
• tupai (small animals that look like squirrels);
• insects (butterflies, bees, wasps);
• bats (at night).

The latter are attracted by the specific smell of inflorescences. As it develops, a bunch of fruits forms, resembling a brush with many fingers. After ripening, they are literally attacked by the same animals and birds, thanks to which pollination occurred.

When fruiting is completed, the false stem dies off, after which a new one begins to grow.

Flowering and fruiting pawpaw

How the three-lobed azimina blooms photo

Leaves bloom only towards the end of spring, ahead of them flowers that open in mid-April. To prevent the corollas from suffering from recurrent spring frosts, nature protected them with a dense casing. The flower is exotic and very decorative: a dense rounded heart of a milky shade is framed by three inner and three outer petals. Their surface is streaked with veins, the color of the petal is a dark scarlet, purple-violet hue, which makes them look like a tongue. The corolla does not exceed 6 cm in diameter.The flowering period lasts about 20 days, a single corolla lives for 7 days.

Each flower has several pistils, so it is able to set from 3 to 9 fruits. If the purpose of growing is fruiting, at least two plants should be planted on the site for the pollination process. The flowers give off a slight smell reminiscent of rotting meat.

If the inflorescences fall off at the beginning of summer, then they have not been pollinated and will not bear fruit. In the middle of summer, there is a risk of losing part of the existing ovary if it is hot and dry. It takes 160 days to reach removable maturity at an ideal temperature of 18 ° C; it ripens faster in warmth. Fruiting of a banana tree occurs in September-early October.

Pawpaw fruits are similar in shape to papaya: oblong, angular, 5-15 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, weight varies between 50-350 g. Heat and drought negatively affect size and weight. The skin is pale green or yellowish, very thin and easily removable, but extremely afraid of mechanical damage. The fruit is edible and tastes like a cross between banana, mango, feijoa and pineapple. The texture of the pulp is pasty, a shade of butter, exudes a strawberry aroma with cream, Americans compare it to custard. It contains neatly inserted oblong bones of a black-brown shade with a shiny surface, there are 8-14 of them in total.

Due to the fruits, azimina bears many other names: paw-paw (similar to papaya fruit), Nebraska banana, northern banana, dog banana, Mexican banana, poor man's banana.

How do they reproduce?

There are 2 ways bananas propagate:

• using seeds;
• vegetative method.

Vegetative propagation is faster and more reliable than seed propagation. Biologically, the process is as follows: after the plant has borne fruit, its ground part dies off, and the root grows to the side, creating new bushes.

Bananas are propagated by offspring and parts of the rhizome (rhizomes). The most tenacious and productive offspring are formed during the fruiting of the mother plant, during this period they have the maximum supply of nutrients. As for planting with rhizomes, it is best to use segments weighing from 1.5 to 2 kg whole rhizomes dug from old plantations

Planting is best done early in the rainy season.

In nature, bananas are propagated by the seeds inside the fruit. At the same time, the fruit of a wild banana itself is inedible. It can contain from 50 to 100 seeds, sometimes their number reaches 200. Seeds germinate after falling into the ground (for example, when a ripe fruit falls). This takes time, because they are covered with a thick skin. After about 2 months, a green shoot will appear and the plant will begin to develop.

Due to vegetative reproduction, cultivated banana varieties do not renew their gene pool, as a result of which they have little resistance to fungal diseases.

For growing on plantations, soils with a high humus content and good drainage are best. If the drainage is poor, then the risk of infection by the same fungi increases many times. To maintain high yields, it is advisable to use potash and nitrogen fertilizers.

Breeding methods and grafting

Azimina is propagated by seeds, less often by root segments. Information about propagation by cuttings is not true.

Attention! When propagating by the seed method, the so-called. splitting, changing varietal characteristics.

1. Reproduction by seeds. For better germination, stratification is carried out for 3-4 months. Pawpaw seeds germinate for about 7 weeks. When planted in autumn, with an average daily temperature of +10 ° C, the seedlings will sprout in July-August. Seedlings are shaded, watered, reducing irrigation by September. With a decrease in t to +5 ° C, the seedlings are insulated with an agrovolk, mulch.
2. By dividing the root. A small part of it is separated from the taproot and placed in a well with a nutrient substrate. Shoots appear in 30-40 days.

Advice! Grown from azimine seeds bears fruit for 4-6 years, grafted - for 2-3 years.

Paw grafting is carried out with lignified cuttings, the so-called. spinning method. The rootstock is split by 1-1.5 cm, a pointed scion is placed in the split. The cambial layers must match when aligned. The place of accretion is wrapped with a film, protected from moisture with caps.

Attention! Paw grafting is the only method of crop propagation, in which the characteristics inherent in the variety are preserved.

In which countries do they grow?

Banana is one of the oldest plants cultivated by man. As the Russian scientist Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov established in the course of his many years of research, his homeland is Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago. In this section, we'll take a look at where the banana grows and in which countries it is produced the most.

In which countries do bananas grow? Nowadays, they are grown in at least 107 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa, which have a humid and tropical climate. It is used like:

• food product (fresh and dried);
• base for making banana beer and wine;
• raw materials for fiber production;
• ornamental plant.

Of course, the main purpose of banana fruit is for food. The leader in the consumption of these fruits per capita is the small African country of Burundi - here every citizen eats almost 190 kg per year. It is followed by Samoa (85 kg), Comoros (almost 79 kg) and Ecuador (73.8 kg). It is clear that in these countries this culture is one of the main food products. For comparison: every Russian on average annually consumes just over 7 kg of bananas.

The banana crop ranks 4th in the world among cultivated plants, after rice, wheat and corn. This is not least due to its high calorie content - 91 kcal per 100 g of product, which is higher than, for example, potatoes (83 kcal per 100 g). The only drawback is how much the banana grows. Indeed, before flowering begins, you need to wait 8 or more months until the plant itself matures.

The export of bananas, which became possible with the advent of refrigeration at the beginning of the 20th century, eventually turned into a highly profitable business and remains so in our time.

The list of leaders in the production of bananas for 2013 (in million tons) looks like this:

1. India (24.9).
2. China (10.9).
3. Philippines (9.3).
4. Ecuador (7).
5. Brazil (6.9).

One should immediately answer the common question "Do bananas grow in Africa?" As noted, they are native to tropical and humid countries, so yes. However, there are not so many of them here as in Asian and Latin American countries - the leader in the African continent, Tanzania, and that produced 2.5 million tons in 2013.

Growing azimines in the open field

You can count on your fingers exotic fruiting plants that can be grown in the unstable climate of central Russia and Ukraine, Belarus. Cultivation of pawpaw comes with some difficulties, but the unique taste of the fruit and the beauty of exotic flowering definitely deserve it.

Firstly, the trunk and branches of the pawpaw are fragile, they can break under the weight of snow, from strong gusts of wind, and even a modest own harvest can become a heavy burden for a tree. Be sure to install a support for the trunk, harvest fruits in time, remove the snow cap in winter.

Secondly, the breeding process is not easy. Seeds germinate with difficulty, some of the seedlings die, after transplanting into open ground, survival is long. Fruiting begins from the 5-6th year of life, but for now the azimina will serve as a decorative leafy decoration of the site. It's good that the Nebraska banana has lived for about half a century, you will definitely enjoy its fruits. Due to the peculiarity of the structure of the root system, the growth of azimine is extremely rare. It is necessary to adapt to reproduction by vaccination.

Banana fruit - berry

Oddly enough, but the homeland of cultural bananas is not Africa, but India. From which, later, these plants spread throughout almost the entire southern hemisphere. Today bananas are one of the most popular fruit crops. 95 million tons of fruits are grown in the world annually. Bananas are a valuable dietary product. Table fruits contain about 75% water, 22% sugars, 1.3% proteins and about 10 mg /% vitamins. Special mealy bananas are used in many southern countries as a replacement for bread. Modern banana cultivars do not have seeds, which makes them even more valuable, since fruits of wild bananas with numerous large and hard seeds inside are less convenient to eat.

Diseases and pests

The culture at home is not prone to disease, but is affected only by local North American caterpillars. In a continental climate, local pests do not attack plants. As for diseases, the culture is resistant to fungal flora, not prone to viral infections. Only diseases of the root system are possible as a result of excessive watering, mechanical damage.

Azimina has been cultivated for about 100 years, and has about 60 varieties. When growing azimines, gardeners are interested in early varieties obtained by the universities of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Russian selection. Such forms as Sochinskaya 11 and Novokakhovchanka, Autumn Surprise and Dessertnaya are known.

Given the variability of varietal traits, perhaps the next discovery will belong to those who are reading today about the southern fruit that conquered the North Caucasus and Kalmykia, settled in the Samara region and the Urals.

Banana is a herb

Another misconception is that bananas grow on palms. In fact, the banana plant is a herb. It is sometimes difficult to believe in this, given that the height of some plants can reach 13 m, but this is true. Banana is a herbaceous perennial plant with a large underground rhizome and a shortened tuberous stem. A powerful false trunk of a banana is formed by the bases of the leaves, which tightly clasp each other, forming a multilayer hollow tube. The trunk of a banana is so strong that it can support the weight of a 60 kg bunch.

In addition to table varieties of bananas, there are a large number of dwarf decorative forms. Which are used for greening cities in warm countries, and also grown as indoor or greenhouse plants in colder ones.

Learn more about how to grow a banana at home.

Banana. Photo.

Pollination features

To get a harvest of pawpins, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of pollination of this plant. The banana tree has protogenic flowers, that is, the pistil ripens before the anther.

The formation of ovaries is possible only with the help of cross-pollination, for this you need to plant at least 2 plants in the garden, it is best to use different varieties.

For young plants, artificial pollination can also be carried out (transferring pollen from one to another using a cotton swab, a brush), but this method significantly reduces the yield.

Is a banana a herb or a tree? Is a banana a berry or a fruit? Do bananas grow on a palm tree?

Here is what Wikipedia writes about this:

Banana (Latin Musa) is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Banana family (Musaceae), the greatest species diversity of which is observed in the tropics of Southeast Asia and, in particular, in the Malay Archipelago.

Surprisingly, a banana is not a tree at all, and not even a palm tree, despite some similarities, but a grass. And the fruit of this herb is not a fruit, but a berry! One of the differences between grasses and trees is that the stem of the grass does not stiffen. The stem of a banana is quite strong, powerful, which creates the illusion of woodiness, however, in reality, what we see on the surface, scientists call a false stem. This is due to the fact that this false stem is formed by the bases of the leaves, which are tightly adjacent to each other.Inside, it is hollow and contains a real stem, which stretches out during the flowering period and its top rises above the leaves. It is from it, after pollination, that a bunch of berries will hang (sometimes up to two hundred fruits). The banana trunk is very strong, it can support up to 60 kg of weight.

The similarity with grass is also given by the fact that after ripening and harvesting the fruits, the stem can be cut off, after which the banana grass gives a new shoot - and the cycle of leaf growth, fruit ripening is repeated.

Description of the plant

Azimina is a deciduous tree of the Annonov family. It is widely distributed in the USA, China and European countries, where the plant is grown as an ornamental fruit crop. Among gardeners it is better known under the name "banana tree" because of the similarity with fruits with these fruits.

Botanical features:

• standard tree with brown-gray bark, reaches a height of up to 6 m;
• skeletal branches are located in the same plane;
• the wood is very soft and fragile, damage is often observed during the formation of the crop;
• oblong leaves have a glossy finish; in an adult plant, they are usually found at the top;
• flowering is observed from April to May. The purple-brown flowers are bell-shaped, growing up to 5 cm in diameter;
• under favorable conditions at the end of summer, yellowish fruits are formed, collected in clusters of 3-8 pieces. They have an oblong shape, the average weight is 150 g;
• inside the fruit there is a light beige pulp, very sweet in taste.

In the climate of Russia, only three-bladed azimine is grown, which has increased vitality and frost resistance.

The benefits and harms of bananas

Bananas are healthy because they are high in various vitamins. Bananas contain high concentrations of vitamins C, E, beta-carotene. Bananas are very high in vitamins B3, B5, B6, which are necessary for the proper regulation of tissue respiration, metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, in the production of hemoglobin, histamine, to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol and regulate many other functions.

The benefits of bananas are also high in trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, which help to regulate the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, normalizing the heart rate, calming and increasing resistance to stress.

Bananas are useful in the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. They also help to reduce pain in case of ulcers and gastritis. They also cleanse the intestines from toxins and toxins.

Bananas have a beneficial effect on the skin and hair, keeping them healthy and young.

The high content of vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system and resist colds.

However, for all its beneficial properties, banana can be harmful in some cases. For example, it is recommended that you refrain from eating bananas if you have:

• diabetes
• obesity
• ischemia (the heart and other organs experience oxygen starvation and seizures)
• thrombophlebitis
• thick blood (banana can make it even thicker)
• irritable bowel syndrome
• if you have had a stroke, heart attack

It is undesirable to feed children under 1 year of age with bananas, since the child's digestive system is underdeveloped and feeding with bananas can lead to constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. Also, do not feed your baby if you have an allergy. The same applies to the mother of the child if breastfeeding.

Wash bananas thoroughly before eating, as in order to increase the shelf life, bananas are treated with special substances that are toxic and can lead to diseases (up to cancer).

Green bananas (unripe) can also be harmful, creating problems in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. They contain "insoluble" starch, which is indigestible by our intestines - this leads to a feeling of heaviness in the stomach and gas formation. It is better to let these bananas ripen.

Harvesting and storage

From the second half of summer to mid-September, fruits are actively forming on the tree.Harvesting pawpins is carried out only at the stage of technical maturity. If the fruits are not picked in time, they become too soft, which makes storage and transportation difficult.

It is advisable to immediately use the fresh crop for food or process it. Various jams, juices and preserves can be prepared from the fruits. Store azimine only in a dry and cool place. The shelf life should not exceed 1 month, since after that the fruits become soft, taste deteriorates.

How to choose a banana?

• Choose bananas with a rich yellow color.
• A ripe banana is a banana with brown dots, specks. However, it is desirable to eat such bananas right away, they are no longer subject to long-term storage.
• The smell of a ripe and tasty banana is different from the smell of an unripe (albeit yellow) one. An unripe banana has almost no smell.
• The peel should be free of cracked spots, torn off tails.
• It is believed that smaller bananas are tastier, i.e. the less - the tastier (although not always). It is believed that most of the bananas in our stores are fodder varieties that are cheaper, easier to deliver and store. Other experts say taste is not highly dependent on size. As a matter of fact, you can establish empirically.
• Overripe bananas are softened, their peel wrinkles, the stem (tail) dries up.
• Choose less ribbed bananas - they are tastier.
• If you take one or two bananas, it is better to choose a banana from the center of the bunch, as they are tastier than the outer ones.
• Pay attention to the digital markings on the banana label - they can identify a GMO banana. Naturally grown bananas are labeled with codes 4011, 94011. A five-digit code starting with an 8 is a GMO banana.

daju-

Despite the fact that bananas grow in distant hot Africa, for many of us, these fruits have become a favorite delicacy. They make very tasty desserts from them, use them as filling for sweets, cakes and pastries, prepare salads. It seems that we know everything about them, but at the same time, many people have a question: "Is a banana a fruit or a berry?" Most admirers of this delicacy are inclined to the first option, believing that the fruits grow on trees, but this is an erroneous statement.

You can often hear the question: "Is a banana a herb or a fruit?" The question itself is incomprehensible and incorrectly asked. If we consider what it is - a tree, a bush or a herbaceous plant, then we should dwell on the latter option. If you are classifying what exactly a banana is: a fruit, a berry or a vegetable, then you need to choose the second version. Many people believe that fruits grow on palms, but this is a misconception. Some people call these plants "banana trees", although they have nothing to do with trees.

So what is a banana - is it a fruit or a berry? If you look, then fruits can grow on shrubs or trees, but not that herbaceous plant. Only a berry can grow on the grass. Due to its strange appearance, confusion constantly occurs with the banana. Any plant that does not have lignified parts is called a herb. Before us is only a fleshy stem, on which fruits or seeds appear, after which it dies. Many people think that a banana is a fruit or a vegetable, because one plant can bear fruit for up to 100 years, but still it has to die every year and then be reborn.

There is no wood fiber on the so-called "banana tree", what we think of as a trunk is a set of leaves that tightly wrap around a single stem. It is on it at the right time that flowers appear, and then fruits. In a year, only one crop can be harvested from one stem, after which it dies off. The next year, a new stem rises from the rhizome, re-growing and bearing fruit. And yet, for many it is not clear: a banana is a fruit or a berry, since the fruit is very difficult to classify.

People have been cultivating this plant for more than one hundred years, there are whole plantations. The fruit itself is sterile, so it is impossible to grow anything from the seeds that are inside. The dispute over whether a banana is a fruit or a berry can be considered closed, given that its fruits do not grow on shrubs or trees. Only berries can grow on the grass. A fleshy fruit with many seeds inside and a leathery shell - this is exactly what the familiar banana is.

Incompetence and ignorance of some of the features of certain plants led to erroneous concepts that are so difficult to eradicate. For a long time it was believed that a banana is a fruit, and it grows on a palm tree, but the "banana tree" does not exist in nature, there is only a huge grass that resembles it. Considering that only berries can appear on a herbaceous plant, it becomes clear what our favorite banana is.

Planting and leaving

Azimina takes root well in the Caucasus, in the Krasnodar Territory, in the regions of the lower and middle Volga region. For a garden, it is better to choose cold-resistant varieties. If you intend to plant a banana tree in a room, you need to take into account that even its dwarf varieties grow at least 1.5 m in height.

Soil preparation

For planting, well-lit, wind-protected places are chosen. The soil requires light, sandy loam or loamy, moderately fertile, with a pH level of 5–7. Alkaline or heavy clay soils are not suitable for pawpaw. It is good if the site is slightly raised so that spring water and excess rainfall can flow freely from it. High-lying ground sources are undesirable.

Works are carried out at the end of April... With insufficient natural drainage, it is provided with the help of a thick layer of small stones, broken bricks, pouring them into planting holes. River sand is added on top. The soil taken out of the holes is enriched with deciduous humus, compost, wood ash.

Landing

The root system of the seedlings is placed in the ground to a depth of 10–12 cm. Then it is watered abundantly with room water. It is impossible to tamp the soil with your hands or feet during planting. When the soil settles a little and compresses naturally, more soil is added. On top, you can pour a mulching layer of sawdust or peat.

When planting, you need to carefully handle the roots. In a pawpaw, they break easily.

You can try to germinate a seed banana tree. To increase their germination, they must first be stratified: put in sand and stored in a cool place for 3-4 months. You can simply put a bag of seeds in the refrigerator, keeping the temperature at + 5–7 ° C.

The finished material is soaked for a day in hot water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate and buried in the ground in small pots to a depth of 3-4 cm. The surface is covered with a film. The soil is moistened daily. Seedlings appear in a month.

Care

In the first year after planting, the plant has a fairly timely moistening, loosening and maintaining the soil in a clean state. Azimina is unpretentious and does not cause problems in care.

Water the trees twice a week with soft, settled water, using about 5 liters per plant. In hot weather, this is done only in the evening. The banana tree is afraid of moisture stagnation, so watering is reduced during the rainy period.

From the second year, you can start feeding... In mid-April, the soil around the roots should be watered with a manure solution, after 2 weeks, a complex nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer should be applied. Organic and mineral compositions should be alternated. Feeding frequency: 10-15 days. If growth is slow or the soil is poor, you can fertilize more often - every week. Since October, food is stopped.

Garden azimina rises rather slowly: in a year its growth adds no more than 25-30 cm. It is undesirable to transplant from one place to another. The strong roots of the tree are very fragile and can be easily damaged when excavated.

Indoor specimens develop faster... Each year it needs to be transplanted into a larger pot. Clay or wooden "breathing" containers are preferred, in which mold is less likely to grow. The bottom should contain several drainage holes. The transfer is carried out carefully: the plant is transferred into a new pot along with a lump of earth, trying not to damage the brittle roots.

Ambient air temperature required for home paw - 20-25 ° C... Plants do not like an excessively dry or dusty atmosphere. The premises need to be regularly ventilated, and in the spring and summer, the pots should be taken out to the balcony more often.

Flowering and fruiting

The first buds appear on a banana tree at the age of 5-6 years. To obtain fruits, it is necessary to pollinate them by hand, transferring pollen from the stamens to the pistils with a cotton swab, from one flower to another. The faint characteristic smell of rotten meat emitted by the buds attracts little bees. Only flies can curl around them. In addition, azimine is protogenic - the pistils on one tree ripen before the stamens. Planting at least two different varieties side by side helps to increase the likelihood of fruit occurrence.

Houseplants bloom earlier - as soon as they have 7-8 pairs of mature leaves. Dwarf varieties of pazimines, which are grown in rooms, rarely bear fruit.

The ovaries gain weight and grow during the summer, and ripen by September. Their skin gradually brightens and acquires an almost white or yellowish tint instead of green. Ripe fruits are easily torn off the branches, and falling to the ground quickly wrinkle and rot. Collect them directly from the tree. They are not subject to long-term storage. It is better to use the fruits immediately or process them for future use: make jam, jam or compote.

Reproduction

In addition to the seed method of propagation, cuttings are used, rooting segments of annual shoots in the soil mixture. Adventurous root growth can often be found in mature plants.

To preserve varietal qualities and renew the culture, experienced gardeners often use grafting.... This is done in the middle of spring - before the start of the active growing season. Cuttings that did not have time to completely stiffen are sharpened from the bottom edge. The rootstock is split, the edge of the cutting is placed in the crevice, making sure that the combined layers of the plants are combined. The vaccination site is tightly wrapped with polymeric tape. New buds appear in the tree in 15–20 days.

Diseases and pests

Parasites practically do not infect an exotic plant. Perhaps the reason for this lies in the unpleasant odor that its flowers and fruit ovary emit.

Insufficient watering or excess moisture can lead to leaf wilting or root rot. Timely removal of weeds, adherence to the moisture regime and proper loosening of the soil help to avoid diseases - to a depth of 2-3 cm.

Wintering

For the winter, it is advisable to cover the crowns with a cloth, and protect the soil above the roots from the cold with spruce branches. This can be done not for the entire period, but only before the onset of prolonged frosts. For a safe wintering, you can shovel snow to the plants, covering the lower parts of the trunks with it.

In the spring, frozen shoots should be removed. Sanitary pruning is carried out annually in mid-March.

Winter is a dormant period for the banana tree. At this time, garden specimens do not moisturize or fertilize. Indoor rooms can be placed in a shady cool place, watered no more than twice a month. A rested tree will begin to pick up new buds in March.

General information and description

Bananas are called both perennial herbaceous plants from tropical countries, and their fruits, which form abundant bunches. So, bananas are not palms at all, they belong to the Banana family and have nothing to do with representatives of the Palm family. They have one thing in common - they both prefer tropical and subtropical climates.

The banana genus consists of 7 dozen species, among them there are both specimens with edible fruits, actively cultivated in areas with a suitable climate, and decorative varieties, many of which have attracted the attention of gardeners and florists.

Most species grow in the tropics of Southeast Asia, especially in the Malay Archipelago.

It is interesting! In some regions, banana is one of the most important export items. It comes after rice, corn and wheat, slightly inferior to these common crops. According to statistics, the annual world harvest of bananas is more than 100 million tons.

Decorative representatives of the genus can be found on the streets of our country. They adorn the landscape of the Black Sea coast in Crimea, and also grow in the Caucasus and Georgia.

Banana trees are by no means capricious, many of them are able to withstand significant temperature changes. And practice has shown that some do well, growing in small pots or tubs. In addition, a number of dwarf varieties are capable of bearing fruit when kept in an apartment, although bananas do not grow on palms, they can be grown at home.

Ornamental bananas are lush trees with abundant greenery. At one glance, it becomes clear that this is a representative of the flora from the tropics, which means that the plant is able to bring notes of exoticism to any interior. The height of dwarf specimens does not exceed 4 meters, while in nature there are 10-15 meter bananas.

How to keep indoor banana and take care of the exotic?

Banana is a tropical inhabitant and, despite its unpretentiousness, it needs a certain microclimate and minimal care, consisting of basic procedures familiar even to novice growers.

Lighting

Tropics and subtropics - this is where the most suitable climatic conditions for representatives of the banana family. And they grow beautifully where there is a lot of sun, heat and humid air. Therefore, the pet should be placed in a sunny place, best of all, near the south window.

Daylight hours should be 13-14 hours. And if the plant is located on the north side, it should be provided with additional lighting. It will also be required during the winter period.

Soil quality

Bananas work well with a light, slightly acidic or neutral potting mix with a pH of 6-7. You can use a ready-made store substrate intended for palm trees for the tree. True, such products contain a large amount of coconut fibers, so experienced flower growers advise you to prepare the soil mixture with your own hands. For this, the following components are mixed, taken in equal quantities:

• Coarse sand.
• Perlite.
• Compost (you can take peat or manure instead).

Types and varieties of bananas, names and photos

The genus includes about 70 types of bananas, which, depending on the application, are subdivided into 3 varieties:

• Ornamental bananas (inedible);
• Plantains (plane tree);
• Dessert bananas.

Decorative bananas

This group includes plants with very beautiful flowers and mostly inedible fruits. They can be wild or grown for beauty. Inedible bananas are also used to make various textiles, car seat cushions and fishing nets. The most famous types of decorative bananas are:

• Pointed banana (Musa acuminata)

grown because of beautiful leaves up to one meter long with a large central vein and many small ones, along which the leaf blade divides over time, acquiring a resemblance to a bird's feather. Ornamental banana leaves are dark green; specimens with a reddish tint are often found. In greenhouse conditions, the height of the pointed banana plant can reach 3.5 meters, although under indoor conditions it grows no more than 2 meters.The size of the fruits of this type of banana ranges from 5 to 30 centimeters, and their color can be green, yellow and even red. The pointed banana is edible and grows in Southeast Asia, southern China, India and Australia. In countries with colder climates, this type of banana is grown as an ornamental plant.

• Blue Burmese Banana (Musa itinerans)

grows in height from 2.5 to 4 meters. The banana trunk is painted in an unusual violet-green color with a silvery-white coating. The color of the leaf plates is bright green, and their average length reaches 0.7 meters. The dense peel of the banana fruit is blue or purple in color. The fruits of this banana are not edible. In addition to its decorative value, the blue banana is used as one of the components of the diet of Asian elephants. Banana grows in the following countries: China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos. Also this plant can be grown in a pot.

• Banana velvety (velvety, purple, pink) (Musa velutina)

has a false trunk height of no more than 1.5 meters with a diameter of about 7 centimeters. Banana leaves, colored light green, grow up to 1 meter long and 30 centimeters wide. In many specimens, a red border runs along the edge of the leaf plate. The petals of the inflorescences, pleasing with their appearance for up to six months, are painted in a purple-pink color. The pink peel of a banana is quite thick, and their number in a bunch does not exceed 9 pieces. The length of the fruit is 8 cm. When ripe, the skin of the fruit opens, revealing a light pulp with seeds inside.

This type of banana is used for decorative purposes. Can survive a not very cold winter. This banana is also unique in that it will freely bloom and bear fruit almost all year round at home.

• Banana bright red (Indo-Chinese banana) (Musa coccinea)

is a representative of low-growing plants. Its height rarely exceeds one meter. The shiny surface of the narrow bright green leaves of the banana emphasizes the beauty of the inflorescences of a juicy scarlet or red color. The flowering period of a banana lasts about 2 months. Grown as an ornamental plant for beautiful orange-red flowers. The homeland of the Indo-Chinese banana is Southeast Asia.

• Darjeeling banana (Musa sikkimensis)

grows up to 5.5 meters in height with a false trunk diameter of about 45 cm at the base. The color of this decorative banana can have a red tint. The length of gray-green leaves with purple veins often exceeds 1.5-2 meters. Some varieties of Darjeeling banana have red leafy plates. Banana fruits are medium-sized, up to 13 cm in length, with a slightly sweetish taste. This species is quite frost-resistant and can withstand frosts down to -20 degrees. Banana is grown in many European countries.

• Japanese banana, Basho banana or Japanese textile banana (Musa basjoo)

cold-resistant species, reaching a height of 2.5 meters. The surface of the false trunk of a banana is painted in greenish or yellowish shades and is covered with a thin wax-like layer on which black spots are visible. The length of the leaf blades does not exceed 1.5 meters in length and 60 centimeters in width. Banana leaves vary in color from a deep dark green at the base of the leaf to a pale green at the top. The Japanese banana grows in Japan as well as in Russia on the Black Sea coast. It is inedible and is grown mainly for fiber, which is used for the production of clothing, screens, book bindings.

• Banana textile, abaca (Musa textilis)

grown to make strong fibers from leaf sheaths. The height of the false trunk does not exceed 3.5 meters, and the diameter is 20 cm. The narrow green leaves rarely reach a length of more than one meter. Fruits developing on a drooping brush have a triangular appearance and are up to 8 centimeters in size. There are a lot of small seeds inside the pulp.The color changes from green to straw yellow as it ripens. The textile banana is grown in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Central American countries in order to obtain durable fiber, from which baskets, furniture and other utensils are woven.

• Banana Balbis (fruit) (Musa balbisiana)

it is a large plant with a false stem height of up to 8 meters and a diameter of more than 30 centimeters at the base. Its color varies from green to yellow-green. Banana leaves can be more than 3 meters long and about 50-60 centimeters wide. The sheaths of the leaves are painted in bluish shades and are often covered with fine hairs. Fruit sizes reach 10 centimeters in length and 4 cm in width. Banana peel color changes with age from light yellow to dark brown or black. The banana fruit is used as feed for pigs. Unripe fruits are preserved. Male flower buds are eaten as a vegetable. The Balbis banana grows in India, Sri Lanka and the Malay Archipelago.

Platano (plantains)

Plantane (from French plantain) or plane tree (from Spanish plátano) are rather large bananas, which are mostly (in 90%) eaten after heat treatment: they are fried in oil, boiled, baked in batter, steamed or made of which are chips. The peel of the plane tree is also eaten. Although there are types of plane trees that, when fully ripe, become softer, sweeter and edible even without preliminary heat treatment. The color of the skin of a plane tree can be green or yellow (although they are usually sold greenish), a ripe plane tree has a black skin.

Plantains differ from dessert bananas with thicker peels, as well as tough and almost unsweetened flesh with a high starch content. Platano varieties have found application both in the human menu and in agriculture, where they are used as feed for livestock. In many countries of the Caribbean, Africa, India and South America, dishes made from plane trees are served as side dishes for meat and fish, or as a completely independent meal. Usually they are generously flavored with salt, herbs and hot chili peppers.

Types of plane trees intended for heat treatment are divided into 4 groups, in each of which different varieties are distinguished:

• French plane trees: ‘Obino l’Ewai’ (Nigeria), ‘Nendran’ (India), ‘Dominico’ (Colombia) varieties.
• French carob-like plane trees: ‘Batard’ (Cameroon), ‘Mbang Okon’ (Nigeria).
• False carob-like plane trees: ‘Agbagda’ and ‘Orishele’ (Nigeria), ‘Dominico-Harton’ (Colombia).
• Carob-like plane trees: ‘Ishitim’ (Nigeria), ‘Pisang Tandok’ (Malaysia) varieties.

Below is a description of several varieties of plane trees:

• Ground banana (banana da terra)

grows mainly in Brazil. The length of the fruit often reaches 25-27 cm, and the weight is 400-500 grams. The peel is ribbed, thick, and the flesh has an orange tint. In its raw form, the sycamore is slightly astringent in taste, but after cooking it acquires excellent taste characteristics. The leader among plane trees in terms of the content of vitamins of group A and C.

• Plantane Burro (Burro, Orinocо, Horse, Hog)

herbaceous plant of medium height, resistant to cold. The fruits of the plane tree are 13-15 cm long, enclosed in a triangular peel. The pulp is dense, with a lemon flavor, in its raw form it is edible only when overripe, therefore the variety is usually fried or baked.

• Green banana

plant with large fruits up to 20 cm in length. The peel is greenish, slightly rough to the touch, thick. In its raw form, it is inedible due to its highly astringent taste, but it is perfect for preparing all kinds of dishes: chips, vegetable stews, mashed potatoes. This type of plane tree grows in India, where it is in unprecedented demand among buyers in ordinary fruit shops.

Dessert bananas

Dessert varieties of bananas are eaten without heat treatment. In addition, they can be harvested for future use by drying or drying.The most famous species of this group is banana paradise (Musa paradisiaca)... It grows up to 7-9 meters in height. The thick, fleshy leaves of a banana are 2 meters long and are green with brown spots. The ripe fruit reaches up to 20 cm in size with a diameter of about 4-5 cm. Up to 300 banana berries can ripen on one plant, the pulp of which practically does not contain seeds.

Almost all species are artificially cultivated. Among them, the following dessert varieties of bananas are widespread:

• Banana variety Lady Finger or Lady Finger

with a rather thin false trunk, reaching a height of 7-7.5 m. These are small bananas, the length of which does not exceed 12 cm. The skin of this banana variety is colored light yellow with thin red-brown strokes. One bunch of bananas usually contains up to 20 fruits with a creamy pulp. It is widely cultivated in Australia and also distributed in Latin America.

• Banana variety Gros Michel

up to 8-9 meters high and large fruits that have a thick yellow rind. The size of a banana fruit can reach 27 cm and weigh more than 200 grams. Banana pulp with a delicate, creamy consistency. The Gros-Michel banana variety tolerates transportation well. It grows in the countries of Central America and Central Africa.

• Banana variety Dwarf Cavendish (Dwarf Cavendish)

low (1.8-2.4 m) plant with wide leaves. The sizes of banana fruits vary from 15 to 25 cm. Their ripening is indicated by the bright yellow color of the peel with a few small brown specks. Grows in West and South Africa, as well as in the Canary Islands.

• Banana variety Ice Cream (IceCream, Cenizo, Krie)

a rather tall plant with a false trunk height of up to 4.5 meters and elongated fruits of a four or pentahedral shape with sizes up to 23 cm. The color of the peel of an unripe banana has a bluish-silvery hue. As they mature, the color of the skin turns pale yellow. Grown in Hawaii, the Philippines and Central America.

• Banana variety Red Spanish

characterized by an unusual purple-red color not only of the false stem, leaf veins, but also of the peel of an unripe banana. As it ripens, the skin acquires an orange-yellow hue. Plant height can reach 8.5 meters with a trunk diameter of about 45 cm at the base. Fruit sizes are 12-17 cm. These red bananas grow in Spain.

Potential Problems in Banana Growing

There are a number of problems with growing a homemade banana:

• Growth slows down, foliage withers and falls off - an insufficient amount of nutrients affects. You need to feed the plant and, if possible, transplant it into a larger pot.
• The foliage dries up, the young shoots wither - the air is too dry, more thorough moistening is needed.
• The leaves turn pale and decrease in size - the matter is in poor lighting.

The main problems in growing

• Soft leaves indicate a low temperature, unsuitable climate.
• If the plant “did not wake up” in the spring, did not start to grow, it is necessary to feed.
• Darkening of the stem or the appearance of soft areas on it is the worst danger to the plant. The stem begins to die from a large amount of moisture. Urgent action is required - first of all, reduce watering.

Of course, the banana palm is not the easiest plant to care for, but it is very unusual. A tropical plant can be a great addition to the interior of your apartment or garden, as well as surprise guests. The Green Friend will certainly delight you with its exoticism. And if you manage to grow a fruit variety, then the household will also get edible homemade bananas.

Dwarf varieties for home cultivation

Indoor banana (banana palm) - home care

All banana varieties are conventionally divided into 2 categories - decorative and fruit.

Ornamental species are most often grown in residential premises: their fruits are inedible, but they have a variety of colors and shapes. However, they do not grow to huge sizes. It is noteworthy that some amateur gardeners manage to grow fruit varieties at home that can be eaten.

Decorative (dwarf) varieties:

• Velvet Banana - Musa velutina.

A small tree, reaching 130 centimeters in height, usually blooms pink with yellow overflow, flowers. Produces pink-colored fruits with a velvety texture, which are not only practical to pick, but also aesthetically pleasing.

Velvet pink bananas

• Purple banana - Musa violacea.

This variety reaches more than one meter in height. It blooms at any time of the year with bright pink-purple flowers, and the fruits acquire a rich lilac hue.

• Bright red banana - Musa coccinea.

Reaches one hundred centimeters in height and stands out favorably with a beautiful bright red bracts.

• Lavender banana - Musa ornata.

This species is especially appreciated for the delicate shade of flowers and fruits.

So, bananas are not just yellow edible fruits, but also bright flowers that stand out beautifully in tropical forests.

The origin of the word "banana"

There is no exact information about the origin of the Latin definition of Musa. Some researchers believe that the banana was named in memory of the court physician Antonio Musa, who was in the service of Octavian Augustus, the Roman emperor who ruled in the last decades BC. e and the first years of our era. According to another theory, it comes from the Arabic word "موز", which sounds like "muz" - the name of the edible fruit that forms on this plant. The concept of "banana" has passed into the Russian language as a free transliteration of the word "banana" from the dictionaries of almost all European languages. Apparently, this definition was borrowed by Spanish or Portuguese sailors in the late 16th and early 17th centuries from the vocabulary of tribes living in West Africa.

How many calories are in a banana?

Data per 100 grams of product:

• calorie content of a green banana - 89 kcal;
• the calorie content of a ripe banana is 110-120 kcal;
• the calorie content of a ripe banana is 170-180 kcal;
• calorie content of dried banana - 320 kcal.

Since bananas are different in size, the calorie content of 1 banana varies between 70-135 kilocalories:

• 1 small banana weighing up to 80 g and up to 15 cm long contains approximately 72 kcal;
• 1 medium banana weighing up to 117 g and more than 18 cm long contains approximately 105 kcal;
• 1 large banana weighing more than 150 g and more than 22 cm in length contains about 135 kcal.

Energy value of a ripe banana (ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates) (data per 100 g):

• proteins in a banana - 1.5 g (~ 6 kcal);
• fat in banana - 0.5 g (~ 5 kcal);
• carbohydrates in a banana - 21 g (~ 84 kcal).

It's important to note that bananas don't do a good job of reducing hunger, increasing hunger after brief satiety. The reason lies in the significant sugar content, which rises in the blood and, after a while, increases the appetite.

Food served in India on banana leaves

Some tips for growing banana trees

Banana trees also provide a tropical attraction for your patio or pool. In addition to their beautiful appearance, they can offer pleasant shade in hot weather. Before you start growing banana trees, you need to know about their features and how to care for them. First, you need a suitable substrate for this tropical plant.

To do this, you need to drain the soil well with a special mixture with perlite. This ensures good drainage. Do not plant banana trees in heavy soil such as your yard. The roots of the banana tree are upright; make sure the roots are well covered. The rhizome should be covered with soil by 3-5 centimeters.

Of course, the banana tree needs to be fertilized and watered.Use fresh fertilizers, mixtures suitable specifically for these plants. Since bananas need a lot of nutrients for active growth, they need to be fertilized.

After the initial watering, you do not need to water the plant again until the topsoil 2-5 centimeters deep is dry.

Banana trees can only grow in bright light. Ideal for them 12 hours of sunshine. Heat is essential for these tropical plants. The ideal temperature for growing bananas is 20 degrees Celsius. As for the humidity, it should be at the level of 50% and above. Very dry and hot air can destroy the leaves.

If you want to grow a banana tree in a container, make sure they are not too large. Standard sizes are 15 to 20 centimeters. They must have a drainage hole. Do not plant banana trees in containers without them. If you see that the plants are getting cramped, you need to transplant them into a larger container.

Banana plants have a stem and an underground corm. It is essential for the growth and nutrition of a new plant. Only after the trunk has grown and matured (about 10-15 months), useful substances will go through it from the soil, feeding the leaves, and then the apical inflorescences, which will subsequently turn into fruits.

As it is

The berry has a pleasant fruity taste. The edible part of the ripe fruit is creamy and melts in the mouth. It resembles a mix of banana, pineapple, strawberry. It has also been compared to the flavors of melon, papaya and mango.

Traditionally, the berry is consumed as an independent dish. To do this, you need to remove the skin with a knife, remove the seeds. You can simply cut the fruit in two and eat the pulp with a teaspoon. There is also a third option - cut into slices, like a melon or watermelon. Delicate pau-pau pulp goes well with other berries, fruits, meat, nuts. In combination with yoghurt, it is perfect for a diet breakfast. Good American papaya in smoothies and sugary cocktails.

Also, on its basis, they prepare:

• desserts
• pastries
• ice cream
• creams, sauces
• jam

tsibirinka

Cultivated bananas have white flowers, covering the leaves with purple on the outside, and dark red on the inside. Having opened, male flowers usually fall off very quickly, leaving the upper part of the inflorescence naked, with the exception of the apical unopened bud. In wild species, flowering begins at night or in the early morning - in the first case, bats contribute to their pollination, and in the second - birds and small mammals.

Inflorescence of pointed banana (Musa acuminata) When the banana is ready to bloom, a long peduncle develops at the point of growth of the short stem, which passes through the false stem and follows the leaves outward. Flowering occurs 8-10 months after the active growth of the plant. The inflorescence is a brush resembling an elongated lush bud of a purple or green hue, on which large female flowers are located at the base, then smaller bisexual flowers, and at the end there are small male flowers. All flowers are tubular, consist of 3 petals, 3 sepals, usually 6 stamens, one of which is underdeveloped and has no anther. Fruits develop only from female flowers (bisexual flowers are sterile), as each row of fruits develops more and more resembles a hand with many fingers, each of which is a thick-skinned, multi-seeded berry. The size, color and shape of fruits can vary significantly depending on the species or variety, but most often they have an oblong cylindrical or triangular shape, straightened or rounded. Fruit length varies from 3 to 40 cm, thickness - from 2 to 8 cm. Skin color can be yellow, green, red or even silvery. The flesh of the fruit is white, creamy, yellow or orange. In an immature state, it is hard and sticky, but as it matures, it becomes soft and juicy.In cultivated forms, the fruit is often devoid of seeds and is able to reproduce only vegetatively; however, in wild plants, the pulp is filled with a large number of round or pointed hard seeds 3-16 mm long, and by their mass they can prevail over the pulp. Up to 300 fruits with a total weight of 50-60 kg can be located on one axis. Bananas have a biological phenomenon known as negative geotropism - during formation, the fruits are directed downward under the influence of gravity, but as they grow under the influence of hormones, one or more axes begin to grow vertically upward. After the end of fruiting, the ground part of the plant dies off.

Banana paradise. Botanical illustration from the book "Flora de Filipinas" by Francisco Manuel Blanco, 1880-1883

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How bananas are harvested

In most cases, the banana is harvested unripe to ripen during transportation. Fruits do not always have time to ripen, so in supermarkets there are still greenish fruits that, after purchase, reach their condition at home.

Consider the process of harvesting fruit using the example of a banana plantation in Costa Rica:

1. As soon as the ovaries begin to grow on the bunches, they immediately put on a plastic cover - protection from external damage, due to which the fruit will deteriorate even before cutting. In the sheaths, the ovaries develop over 11 weeks. This is not complete ripening of the banana, but sufficient for picking and transportation. The fruits are cut and hung on a special cable car, along which they are sent to the packing place.
2. The work of collecting bananas is simple, only two people can handle it. The first cuts off a bunch of fruits with a cleaver tied to a long stick, the second puts the bunches on his shoulders.
3. The plant from which the fruit was harvested is cut down - it will grow and bear fruit no more. In the same place, a fresh sprout is immediately planted, which grows until the next harvest.
4. At the packing station, the bunches are laid out for 20 minutes in a tank with running water until the juice from the slices no longer stands out - otherwise the presentation will deteriorate.
5. At the packing station, the fruits undergo special control, and usually no more than 6% of the production is screened out. "Brak" is not thrown away, but put into production - for baby food or baking banana bread.
6. The fruits are washed thoroughly. This is what women do.
7. After being removed from the water, the bunches are dried, wrapped in plastic wrap, laid out in branded boxes and sent for sale. Transportation most often goes by sea - it is more convenient and cheaper.

From Costa Rica, the goods travel 10 days to the United States, 20 days to Europe. Therefore, more bananas are put into "European" boxes, because the fruit will dry out slightly during the journey. Depending on the exporting countries, be it Africa, Ecuador or the Canary Islands, the terms of delivery and terms may be different.

Useful properties of a banana

Composition and calorie content

Having studied the above tables, we can conclude that fresh banana is not very fatty, but very nutritious and energetically valuable product. As for plantains, which require heat treatment before consumption, they are rich in the same minerals and vitamins as dessert bananas. Baking such fruits allows you to preserve their useful substances, but frying reduces the amount of vitamins and makes them fatter and more nutritious.

Healing properties

Despite the fact that banana is 75% water, it contains many useful components.For example, this tropical fruit is very rich in potassium and thus helps the body to maintain heart and kidney health, as well as enhance focus and brain function. Scientists claim that a sufficient amount of this mineral in the body prevents the formation of kidney stones, helps to normalize blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack by 27% [11]. Magnesium in combination with vitamins C and B6 also has a positive effect on the work of the heart.

In addition, banana is recommended for diarrhea. The fruit alone will not resolve the situation, but it will definitely help restore the level of potassium that is washed out of the body during an upset stomach [12]. Banana also contains dietary fiber that supports normal bowel function and plays an important role in the prevention of colorectal cancer. By the way, the antioxidants in banana can help reduce damage from free radicals, which scientists believe contribute to the development of cancerous tumors.

Banana is considered an effective aid in the fight against ulcers, as it contains substances that resist the bacteria that cause this disease. It also has an antacid effect (reduces irritation of the mucous membrane, soothes the digestive system) and envelops the walls of the stomach.

Bananas are healthy at any age, but are especially important early in life. So, mashed potatoes from this tropical fruit usually become almost the first meal of the baby after mother's milk. As a rule, banana does not cause allergies and provides the child's body with useful substances. Moreover, according to the observations of British scientists, if children eat one banana every day, their risk of developing asthma is reduced by 34% [12].

Eating this tropical fruit also benefits the eyes. Despite the fact that carrots are usually associated with a positive effect on the eyes, bananas also contribute to the fight against macular degeneration (retinal damage and impaired central vision), due to the presence of vitamin A.

Bananas do not contain very large amounts of calcium, but it still helps to strengthen bones. In addition, certain indigestible carbohydrates increase the body's ability to absorb calcium from other sources.

Finally, bananas are often and for good reason associated with a product for athletes. Minerals and fast carbohydrates saturate the body and energize and energize for an intense workout. In addition, some scientists believe that bananas can help relieve muscle cramps and relieve sore throat. However, this effect has not been scientifically proven.

Similarly, the effect of bananas on human mood has not been proven. The antioxidant dopamine, obtained from banana, does not affect the hormonal background, so you should not associate its ingestion with an improvement in mood. And in the case of the amino acid tryptophan, which is transformed in the body into the neurotransmitter serotonin ("good mood hormone"), its amount in a banana is so insignificant that it can hardly affect mood.

In medicine

Although bananas are not used in the pharmaceutical industry, they undoubtedly have medicinal properties that are widely used in traditional medicine. In tropical countries, where the banana is considered one of the main components of the daily diet, not only the pulp of the fruit is used to treat various diseases, but also the rest of the plant (roots, leaves, flowers, fruit peel). For example, it is believed that the infusion of flowers helps with diabetes, ulcers and bronchitis, the roots - for disorders of the stomach, dysentery, and the leaves - for skin wounds and burns [13]. In our area, the use of banana for medicinal purposes is mainly limited to the use of the fruit and its peel.

Drinks and infusions

With bronchitis, in combination with drug treatment, it is recommended to drink a honey-banana drink. To prepare it, peel and mash 3 ripe bananas, pour 400 ml of boiling water over them, and let the mixture brew for about 30 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to the cooled product and drink half a glass 4 times a day for 5 days.

A chocolate banana drink can help get rid of a sore throat. You need to mash 1 ripe banana and add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to it. Then dissolve the resulting mixture in 1 glass of boiled milk. Take the remedy at bedtime for 5 days.

To combat dry cough, it is advised to knead one ripe banana, add 100 ml of orange juice, 200 ml of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of honey and cinnamon to taste. Use the product for 5-7 days. And if you brew a whole banana with a peel, like tea, adding a little cinnamon, then a cure for insomnia will come out.

Traditional healers claim that 1 mashed banana with a glass of milk can help the body cope with mild allergic reactions. The drink should be consumed 2-3 times a day. And if you add a little honey to this mixture, then you get a good hangover cure.

Finally, banana kvass is considered an aid to the body in case of arrhythmias. For its preparation, 2 cups of chopped banana peel are placed in cheesecloth and 3 liters of boiled water are poured. Then add 1 tablespoon of sour cream, a glass of sugar and leave for 12 days. A thin layer of mold can form on the surface of the liquid, which must be removed immediately. After 12 days, 1 liter of kvass can be poured and filtered through cheesecloth, and in the remaining one add 1 liter of water and a third of a glass of sugar, leaving it to infuse for a few more days. You need to drink kvass for half a glass 2 times a day before meals.

Applications

Banana peels, rarely banana pulp, are used as applications. The inner side of the skin acts as a natural antiseptic and, thanks to tannins and wax, can help stop bleeding. In addition, the oils in its composition help relieve pain and itching. Thus, applying the peel or pulp, carefully scraped off from it with a knife, can be applied to scratches, abrasions, calluses, bruises, burns, insect bites. Popular recipes also suggest applying banana peels to warts on a regular basis. The result should be visible within 3-4 weeks.

In oriental medicine

In Eastern practice, banana is considered a useful product and is used for various purposes. Particular attention is paid to the ripeness of the fruit, because this greatly affects its medicinal properties. For example, with ripening, a protein appears in the banana, which is involved in preventing the development of cancerous tumors. Conversely, unripe bananas contain resistant starch (dietary fiber), which Indian doctors believe can improve diabetes.

Oriental medicine also considers banana to be an effective way to unclog blood vessels. This fruit contains phytosterols that help lower cholesterol levels. According to one of the recipes, pour 50 g of mashed banana with a cup of tea and add 2 teaspoons of honey. This remedy should be drunk in the morning and in the evening.

In addition, in Eastern practice, it is not customary to combine a banana with milk, as is often done in the West. It is believed that such a compound negatively affects the digestion process, can provoke allergies, and can also cause coughs and runny nose, seemingly completely unrelated to this [14].

In scientific research

Since banana has many beneficial properties and is the main part of the diet in many tropical countries, it has long been the object of scientific research. Scientists are looking for ways to make this fruit more resistant to various diseases, as well as studying its potential as a medicinal product.

For example, recently a 10-year humanitarian project by a group of Australian researchers was successfully completed, the goal of which was to bring out bananas rich in provitamin A. blind due to lack of this vitamin in the body. Now the problem will be partly solved, thanks to future harvests of "golden" bananas [15]. In parallel, the mechanisms of the production of carotenoids in bananas are being studied in the United States [16].

Also in the United States is a group of scientists from different countries who are researching a compound found in banana - the protein lectin (BanLec). It was found that this protein can become the basis for drugs against viral diseases (influenza, hepatitis C, HIV, etc.). The first experiments showed that it does not allow viruses to enter the cells of the body, but at the same time it causes side effects in the form of irritation and inflammation. Slightly "improved" by scientists, BanLec will gradually be tested on animals, and then on humans [17].

In addition, British scientists are working on the creation of drugs that will use fiber from banana and broccoli. This agent is aimed at treating patients with Crohn's disease (an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract) [18].

In dietetics

Nutritionists recommend banana for inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes of the duodenum, stomach and mouth. It is included in dietary food for diseases of the pancreas, as well as some diseases of the liver and kidneys.

With regard to diets aimed at weight loss, in this area, the attitude towards banana is ambiguous. Some believe that this fruit is too high in calories and should in no case be included in the diet of a losing weight person. Others, on the contrary, argue that banana, although high in calories, does not contain fat, so it can and should be consumed, but in moderation.

In any case, during the diet, it is preferable to eat unripe bananas, which contain starch that has not yet had time to turn into sugar. The glycemic index of such a fruit is only 30 units, while a ripe banana has about 50. Thus, an unripe fruit will take longer to digest, avoid a sharp jump in sugar and bring a longer richness.

In cooking

In some tropical countries, where banana is the basis of the diet, it is consumed not only raw or in desserts, but also boiled, deep-fried, and baked over coals. Usually, plantains are used to prepare side dishes. Africans add them to cereals, omelets, and even soups, and in China, bananas can be found in vegetable salad. Sauces, casseroles, chips are prepared on the basis of bananas, flour and ketchup are made from them.

By the way, banana can also come in handy while cooking meat. In order to make it softer and more tender, experienced housewives add banana peels to the pan.

When it comes to combining banana with other foods, it pairs well with sweet fruits and nuts. Some nutritionists do not see anything seditious in mixing a banana with dairy products, while others consider such a tandem unacceptable. It is best to eat a banana in between meals, separate from other meals.

Beverages

Banana is used to make a wide variety of drinks, from fresh juices, smoothies and cocktails to tea, coffee, beer and gin. More traditional for us, juices and smoothies, it is recommended to drink every day between meals or after exercise. Victoria's Secret nutritionists and trainers advise making green juice from a banana, two pears, a celery stalk, a handful of spinach, lemon and honey.

Coffee lovers can go beyond adding banana syrup to their drink, but also experiment with fresh fruit.So, you need to cool 350 ml of strong coffee, add 100 g of ice cream, 1 banana, a pinch of cinnamon, a little grated chocolate to it and beat everything in a blender. Then put crushed ice in a glass and pour the drink.

Banana is also used in alcoholic beverages. For example, in Uganda, they make a national drink from it. waragi (homemade gin). Waragi is usually drunk from barrels through special long straws.

Banana can also be used to make a sweet wine-based cocktail. To do this, take 1 banana, 2 limes, 100 g of chocolate ice cream, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar in a glass of white nutmeg wine and add ice after mixing.

In cosmetology

Numerous studies show that banana is useful not only for the health of internal organs and systems, but also effective when applied externally. This fruit is actively used in the development of cosmetics for skin and hair care. World cosmetic giants annually purchase tons of bananas for the manufacture of various creams, masks, lotions, etc.

Banana is believed to help moisturize facial skin, help eliminate wrinkles, and contribute to fighting acne. The recipe for a moisturizing mask is simple: Mix half a ripe mashed banana with 1 tablespoon of yogurt and 1 tablespoon of vitamin E oil. Apply to a clean face and rinse after 30 minutes. In order to make the skin more elastic and elastic, you should mix the pulp, cut from the banana peel, and 1 yolk. This mask is kept for 5 minutes and then washed off. To treat acne, simply rub the affected area with the inside of the peel and rinse with water after a few minutes.

In hair care, banana has a nourishing, moisturizing and strengthening effect. To achieve the effect and in order to avoid difficulties, it is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations:

• do not knead the banana with a fork, but beat with a blender until a homogeneous mass is obtained, otherwise the lumps will not wash out well;
• before rinsing off the mask with water, apply to the hair and lather with shampoo, otherwise the hair may remain sticky;
• do not keep the mask on your hair for more than 20-30 minutes (do not let it dry).

For recipes, you just need to beat a raw egg with 4 tablespoons of mashed banana to make the formula. For a moisturizing effect, mix 3 tablespoons each of banana and avocado puree, a raw egg and 2 tablespoons of unrefined olive oil. In the fight against hair loss, it is advised to combine 4 tablespoons of mashed banana with 1 tablespoon of sea salt, and add a little olive oil for a thinner consistency. This mask is rubbed into the roots without applying to the entire length of the hair.

Unconventional use

The banana fruit itself is usually used quite traditionally, although sometimes banana peels are used instead of leather shoe polish or as a cosmetic, but banana leaves find a much wider range of uses.

Firstly, they are used as decoration during various Buddhist ceremonies and rituals. They also serve as plates for traditional dishes in India. Secondly, banana leaves are used to make a kind of umbrellas, as well as a kind of wrapping paper for food. Thirdly, even a special type of plant is grown - a textile banana. Its strong false trunk of leaves is used to make fishing nets, sea ropes and rafts. Finally, in parts of India, banana leaves are still used in place of toilet paper.

Interesting Facts

The territories where bananas grow are located in the same climatic zone, encircling the entire globe, and received the playful name of the "banana belt". In many of these countries, banana is not inferior in importance to our bread, but Uganda and Burundi are considered the leaders in the consumption of this fruit, where, according to statistics, each person eats about 200 kg per year.

But in the Philippines, bananas are not only eaten, but also make good money on them. The Gokusen variety was bred by taking the best of 100 other varieties, so this fruit is more aromatic and sweeter than others. It is grown at an altitude of 500 m above sea level on ecologically clean land. One fruit weighs about 200 grams and costs $ 6.

Naturally, growing and consuming bananas for thousands of years, the inhabitants of tropical countries could not help but introduce the image of this fruit into their culture and language. For example, if in our country, when everything is going well, they say "like clockwork", then in India they will say "it goes like a banana skin." There are also many African proverbs, in which, for example, a banana or its leaves are compared to a person: "the old banana leaf was once young and green too" or "a woman who gave birth to a child is like a banana tree that broke under the weight of its fruits" ...

If in tropical countries the banana has long been treated favorably, then this cannot be said about Europe. For example, in Germany in the 30s. In the twentieth century, an exotic fruit was labeled “unpatriotic”. The point is that the money used to import bananas was channeled to other needs. To hide this, doctors all over the country were forced, following orders, to talk about the terrible danger of the banana. And on the fruit shops were posters "Patriots eat German apples."

Nowadays, bananas are actively sold all over the world, and marketers do not get tired of coming up with new ways to increase sales. So, in one of the US supermarkets, you can buy overripe bananas with the attached recipe for banana bread. And in Korea, they came up with a package containing seven bananas of varying degrees of ripeness (from still green to ready to eat right now). The idea is that the fruits ripen gradually and by purchasing such a set, the client receives a ripe banana every day.

The banana finds its reflection in world culture. Monuments are dedicated to him (in the USA, Australia, Canada, Norway), museums are opened (in Australia, USA, Germany), and on April 10 people celebrate a day dedicated to this fruit. In addition, songs were sung about bananas (for example, "We have no bananas" by Louis Prima or "Green bananas" by Jake Owen), children's poems were written about them, they were often depicted in still lifes. And more recently, artists have appeared, like the Dutchman Stefan Bruchet, who turn banana fruits into real works of art.

Dangerous properties of banana and contraindications

Like any other food product, with a general positive effect on the body, in some situations, a banana can produce the opposite effect. This does not mean that it must be completely excluded from the diet, but under certain conditions, the consumption of this fruit should be limited.

• Banana actively removes fluid from the body, as a result of which there is a thickening of blood and a decrease in its flow to organs and parts of the body. Therefore, people suffering from varicose veins, men who have problems with erections, and patients with thrombophlebitis should not get carried away with eating bananas.
• Taking beta-blockers for cardiac diseases significantly increases the level of potassium in the body, so you should not eat large amounts of bananas rich in this mineral, especially for unhealthy kidneys.
• Bananas in large quantities are not recommended for irritable bowel syndrome as they can cause bloating.
• Uncontrolled consumption of bananas is contraindicated in obese people.
• People with diabetes need to be careful when choosing bananas. It is best to consume slightly unripe fruits, because when ripe, the complex carbohydrates they contain (starch and fiber) are transformed into carbohydrates with a high glycemic index.

Botanical description

Banana is the fruit of a large perennial herb of the genus banana (Latin musa) of the banana family (Latin musaceae).Although in everyday life and in cooking we are accustomed to thinking of bananas as just fruits, botanists classify them as berries. It is these non-standard berries that are among the world's top most important crops, along with wheat, rice, corn and potatoes. According to statistics, people around the world eat about one hundred billion bananas per year [1].

origin of name

As for the scientific term Musa, there are two versions of its origin. According to the first, it was borrowed from the Arabic language, in which the word mauz (Arabic موز) means banana. According to the second version, the Latin name was given in honor of the Greek Renaissance botanist Antonio Muse. As for the word banana itself, it sounds the same in most modern European languages. Probably, originally the Portuguese or Spaniards adopted it from the West African language Wolof, in which it is pronounced like that - banana[2].

History

Numerous researchers of the origin of the banana agree that the Malay Archipelago and Oceania were the birthplace of this fruit. Scientists believe that people began to grow bananas there for human consumption in the 5th millennium BC. And some even argue that the banana was cultivated in Papua New Guinea (Oceania) as early as the 8th millennium BC. [3]

Until now, disputes about the period of the appearance of bananas in Africa do not subside. So, some researchers are convinced that bananas have been grown in Madagascar for about 3 thousand years. However, more substantial evidence suggests that these fruits appeared on the African island only in 400-600 AD, thanks to the Asian colonialists. Around the same time, bananas spread throughout the Middle East, and in China they appeared a little earlier - around 200 AD, although they managed to gain wide popularity only in the twentieth century [4].

Thanks to Portuguese sailors who discovered sweet yellow fruits in Africa, banana plantations appeared in the Canary Islands, and from there the road opened for these fruits to the countries of the Caribbean, Central and South America. As for the North American continent, yellow fruits were added to the diet of local residents only in the second half of the 19th century.

The same fate befell the banana in Europe. Until the beginning of the Victorian era, bananas were not in great demand, although they were already known in the Old World (according to legend, their great taste struck Alexander the Great, who brought them from India). A new wave of interest in bananas arose in the 19th century in Hamburg, Germany, where this overseas fruit was brought by sailors, and swept across Europe. The French especially liked the new delicacy. Moreover, in Paris, the banana has become an integral symbol of salon life.

As for Russia, the active import of bananas began under Nikita Khrushchev. Naturally, there is no need to talk about the widespread availability of these fruits, but in big cities they appeared on the shelves from time to time. However, in the 60s. the USSR's relations with one of the two main suppliers of tropical fruits, China, worsened. And another supplier state, Vietnam, was engulfed in war, so the import of bananas practically stopped. In the 70s. Leonid Brezhnev established the import of fruit from Africa and Latin America.

Interestingly, unlike our time, when a yellow sweet banana can be purchased almost anywhere in the world, before it was not possible to enjoy the sweet variety of this tropical fruit everywhere. Not in all countries where bananas were grown, they were suitable for eating raw. And the taste could be noticeably different.

However, in the 19th century, it was a lucky coincidence that the sweet banana fruit spread throughout the world.At the beginning of the century, the French botanist and chemist Jean-François Pouillat brought a banana variety from Martinique to Jamaica, which was later named Gros Michel [5]. This sweet tropical fruit quickly gained popularity among the locals, and with the arrival of the first cooling chambers, Jamaica launched the first large shipments of bananas to other countries. Thus, Gros Michel gradually gained worldwide fame.

Varieties

The species and varietal diversity of bananas is amazing. In addition to plants producing edible fruits, there are also decorative and wild bananas. Directly edible banana varieties are conventionally divided into dessert (with sweet pulp) and plantains (with a hard, starchy core). The former are usually eaten raw or dried, while the latter require heat treatment or are used as feed for livestock.

Interestingly, almost all varieties of edible bananas grown today are varieties of the same cultigen - a cultivated plant that has no analogue in the wild. Sometimes wild bananas have a visual resemblance to the familiar yellow crescent moons, but inside they are speckled with seeds, and a tiny amount of pulp has an unpleasant taste.

As for the bananas eaten, almost all existing varieties are variations of a human-bred hybrid. The work of breeders made it possible to achieve good taste characteristics and the required level of resistance to diseases and pests. Considering that the plant reproduces vegetatively, then, in fact, all bananas growing today have the same progenitor.

Nevertheless, even such painstaking work is not a guarantee of safety for fruits. For example, the already mentioned Gros Michel variety, the undisputed leader of world supplies, was almost completely destroyed in the middle of the twentieth century by a disease called "Panamanian fungus". After that, scientists bred a new variety - Cavendishwhich can now be found on store shelves all over the world.

Among the unusual bananas, in addition to the wild one already described, also stand out red cavendish, which, in addition to the skin of the corresponding color, has a creamy taste with raspberry notes. A blue banana can be found on the island of Java, and bananas grow in Florida and Hawaii. Ae Ae, which in appearance (alternation of dark green and light green stripes) are more like zucchini [6]. In addition, in many countries of the world, including ours, the so-called "baby banana". As the name suggests, these are small bananas (up to 12 cm), with a thin skin and creamy flesh. As a rule, they are sweeter than ordinary fruits.

Growing features

Contrary to popular belief, the banana fruit does not grow on a palm tree, but on the herb of the same name, which, by the way, along with bamboo, is considered the tallest herb in the world. The leaves overlapping each other in a spiral, from which the false trunk is formed, sometimes reach 12 meters in height. The color of the leaves varies depending on the type and variety of banana (completely green, two-color - purple-green or spotted - with brown blotches). While developing, the banana sheds old leaves, and new shoots appear inside the false trunk.

The flowering period of a banana begins 8-10 months after planting. From under the ground, a peduncle sprouts through the trunk, forming a complex inflorescence of three tiers of flowers: on top are female flowers that form fruits, below are bisexual, and even below are male ones. Pollination occurs thanks to bats, birds and small mammals. Several hundred bananas usually develop from one inflorescence. The color, shape and taste of the fruit depend on the variety.

The natural habitat for bananas is the territories located in the tropical and subtropical zones.Plants need high humidity, and the optimum temperature ranges from 25 to 36 ° C. In addition, bananas grow best in acidic soil, rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

On the territory of Russia, bananas are cultivated only in the vicinity of Sochi, but low winter temperatures do not allow the fruits to fully ripen. As a rule, at temperatures around 16 ° C, the growth of a tropical fruit slows down, and at 10 ° C, it stops. Long stay in unfavorable conditions can lead the plant to death.

Despite the unsuitable Russian climate, a banana with edible fruits can be grown right in your house or even in an apartment, if you follow certain conditions:

1. 1 you need to choose seedlings of dwarf varieties (for example, Musa Super Cavendish Dwarf or Musa Cavendish Dwarf), which reach a height of no more than 1.5-2 meters;
2. 2 the best location for a tropical plant is the brightest spot;
3. 3 banana needs abundant watering and high humidity, if it is not fully provided in the apartment, then the leaves should be regularly sprayed.

In addition, it is recommended to feed the banana every 2 weeks, as well as transplant it on time. An indication that a plant is ripe for a larger container is usually the roots that become visible from the drainage holes. As a rule, a banana begins to bear fruit when it has reached a size suitable for pots with a volume of 30-50 liters.

Selection and storage

Bananas are usually harvested unripe and then transported in refrigerated chambers around the world. However, the beauty of this fruit is that it ripens even when it is already plucked from the branch. When choosing bananas, you should start from your goal. If you plan to eat or use the fruit in the next 1-2 days, you can use bananas with brown dots on the peel. These fruits are already ripe and ready to eat. However, brown or black spots indicate over-ripeness and the beginning of the process of rotting of the fruit.

Naturally, you should check that the banana peel is firm, without visible damage. Too soft core or light brown spots on it are a sign of overripe. If you need bananas for future use, then you can take fruits with a greenish peel. You can also use them in this form, but they have a more viscous and less sweet taste, so it is better to let them ripen.

When it comes to storing bananas, a temperature of 7-10 ° C is suitable for ripe fruits, and 12-14 ° C for ripe ones. Bananas are not advised to keep in the refrigerator, because at low temperatures the peel quickly turns black (although this has no particular effect on taste). By the way, the advice common on the Internet - to wrap banana tails in cling film for its longer storage - turns out to be not very effective in practice.

Diseases and pests

The result of the long and painstaking work of breeders was the breeding of the Cavendish variety, which has excellent taste characteristics, brings good yields and perfectly tolerates transportation. However, for all its advantages, there are certain disadvantages that become key when it comes to the viability of the variety. First of all, this is the inability of the plant to develop defense mechanisms against diseases.

The fact is that edible banana fruits can only be obtained from plants that have been propagated vegetatively (planting a shoot). But in this case, the banana stops evolving and adapting to the environment, and, on the one hand, we always get the same high-quality and tasty harvest, and on the other, we are susceptible to disease.

The Gro Michel variety bred by breeders fell into the same trap. In the middle of the twentieth century, he was attacked by the so-called "Panama disease" TR1 (fungus Tropical Race 1), which led to the termination of large-scale cultivation of Gros Michel.Working on the cultivation of the Cavendish variety, the researchers took into account the peculiarities of the disease and made the "new" fruit resistant to it. However, the organisms that infect the fruit continued to develop. As a result, the mutated species of Panama disease TR4 jeopardized the future fate of Cavendish.

However, the banana is not yet threatened with complete extinction. Scientists continue to research and try to introduce into the new cultivar one of the genes of the Indonesian wild banana, which is excellent for coping with the current TR diseases. However, this process is slightly slowed down by the fact that seeds are needed for selective selection, and they are extremely rare in edible bananas.

In addition to Panama disease, the banana is susceptible to attacks by roundworms and black weevils. Problems can also arise from the bacterial disease moko or the sigatoka fungus, but banana growers have learned to cope with these misfortunes thanks to chemical means.

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Azimine banana tree varieties: three-lobed, triloba and others

There are about six dozen varieties of pawpaw today. Almost all of them were bred in countries such as Canada and the United States, which, however, is not at all surprising, because North America is the historical homeland of this exotic plant for us. Almost all varieties that are currently grown in Russia are of North American origin.

Davies - fruits of this variety are of fairly high quality; they have a pleasant yellow pulp and a sweet taste.

Martin - a distinctive feature of this variety is its high cold resistance.

Azimina three-bladed - deciduous tree. This is the most winter-hardy species from the Annonov family. The banana tree azimina triloba is the only fruit plant in the temperate zone, distributed up to the Great Lakes, and therefore is of the greatest interest for cultivation in our country.

Overlease - this variety has characteristics similar to the Davis variety.

Azimina dessert - the plant is medium-sized, its fruits are mid-season, reaching up to 270 grams in weight. The yellow pulp of the fruit takes up to 95% - it has a very pleasant mild taste.

Domestic variety "Sochinskaya 11" - vigorous plant, fruits - early ripening. The fruits of this variety are large in size, in weight they can reach 350 grams. The pulp of the fruit is colored yellow-orange. Her taste is extremely pleasant.

Azimina Trilob from the Anonov family - the rarest plant. The banana tree azimina triloba is native to the southern and eastern coasts of the United States. This deciduous tree with an unusually beautiful bark and a pyramidal, rather wide crown, with large leaves up to 30 cm long, is able to withstand severe frosts of 30 degrees. Flower buds are covered with a thin protective shell that protects them from the harmful effects of spring frosts. The tree blooms with large, hanging bells, up to 3 - 4 cm in diameter. The flowers are painted reddish or purple. Flowering begins even before the leaves bloom and lasts for about three weeks.

The tree should be planted in a place protected from strong winds. The near-trunk circle is sown with lawn grass. In the spring months, feed with a handful of urea. In the summer, do not forget to apply any combined fertilizer several times. Wrapping the trunk with a sugar bag, a piece of polypropylene, will help to avoid the root collar heating in the spring. For the winter, the tree is covered with spunbond, agrofibre.

Properties of pawpaw - harm and benefit

Useful properties of pawl

The pawpaw fruits, which are also called Mexican bananas, contain vitamins C and A, which have antioxidant and anti-aging properties, so the pulp of the fruit is used not only for food, but also for preparing face masks. In addition to vitamins, fruits contain mineral salts of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and potassium, amino acids, sugars, fats, pectin and fiber. Azimine has a unique antimicrobial and antitumor effect: acetogenin contained in fruits helps prevent the development of certain types of cancer cells and stops the growth of already formed cancers. Azimine extract has a firming effect on the immune system, increasing its protective function, protecting the body's cells from free radicals and the negative effects of stressful situations.

In the photo: Ripe pawpaw fruit - very useful

Care for azimine in the open field

How to care for an azimine in the garden

How to water

Although in the natural environment the azimina prefers to grow along the banks of water bodies, the stagnation of moisture in the area negatively affects the root system. In the garden, it is watered only in extreme heat. Every 10-12 days, under each tree, depending on age, we bring from 4 to 7 ten-liter buckets of water. From the end of August, we gradually reduce watering, by mid-October we completely exclude it.

Top dressing and mulching

Never dig up the soil in the pawpaw's trunk circle, it can be loosened at the surface as much as possible, going 2-3 cm deep.Mulch will help to maintain soil moisture and save time, saving the gardener from the need to loosen the soil surface after each watering. In the spring, gently loosen the soil and pour a layer of compost or humus into the trunk circle (under an adult tree, you will need 2-3 buckets with a volume of 10 liters). Add any nitrogen mineral fertilizer (ammonium sulfate, carbamide) to the mixture every 2-3 years.

The tree reacts positively to feeding, it is allowed to use organic matter and mineral fertilizers, alternating them. If the landing pit is filled during planting, there will be enough food for the first couple of years. Then every spring (around mid-April) feed with a nitrogenous fertilizer. For this, a solution of infusion of chicken droppings, mullein, dandelion leaves or nettle greens is well suited. Throughout the season, feed with organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers for fruit trees (Master, Kemira Lux, Agros, Zdraven, Good Strength, etc.). In the frequency and proportions, be guided by the manufacturer's recommendations.

Pruning

Pruning pawpaws in the spring. The plant bears fruit mainly on last year's shoots, so pruning for replacement is necessary: ​​half of the shoots with flower buds are cut off by ¼ or 1/3 (for fruiting), the rest, the so-called growth buds, are shortened to 2-3 buds. For sanitary purposes, we cut off dry, frozen and damaged branches. Formative pruning is not required.

Banana composition, vitamins and minerals. Why are bananas good for you?

Bananas are classified as low-fat, but nutritious and energetically valuable foods. The pulp of its raw fruits consists of a quarter of carbohydrates and sugars, and a third of dry matter. It contains starch, fiber, pectins, proteins and various essential oils that give the fruit its characteristic aroma. The composition of banana pulp contains minerals and vitamins useful and necessary for the human body: potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, sodium, copper, zinc, as well as vitamins B, E, C and PP... Due to its unique chemical composition, the plant has found application in medicine.

Using

Trees have a slender, dense crown that changes color over the course of the code. In spring, the plant is covered with large unusual flowers. In summer, it gleams with large dark green leaves, and in autumn it acquires a rich golden color.

Pazimine fruits are rich in amino acids, trace elements, vitamins, sugars.They are used to strengthen the immune system, eliminate toxins and restore the digestive tract. Scientists have found that some components of the fruit inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The drugs help to reduce even those formations that are insensitive to chemotherapy. Since fresh fruits are stored for only a few days, preserves, jams, compotes, candied candied fruits are prepared from them.

The seeds of the plant are used as an effective emetic. They are insisted on alcohol and then taken as needed. A decoction of the leaves is an effective diuretic.

About pests and diseases of bananas

Representatives of this genus are quite strong plants with good immunity. But, at home, they can get sick and most often this happens due to waterlogging of the soil, stagnation of water in it, as well as with an excess or deficiency of useful elements.

Alarming signs of disease are darkening and drying of the edges of the leaf blades. This means that the banana root system has rotted. If the foliage turns yellow, then the plant does not have enough fertilizer.

Pests infrequently attack these tropical guests, however, bananas can also be attacked by common aphids, weevils and spider mites. It is possible to rid specimens of parasites with the help of pesticides; the most popular drug in this group is Aktara.

Features of caring for a banana in winter

When to cut trees and how to cover up cuts on fruit trees

During the onset of cold weather, you need to take care of the plant's insulation.

The root part should be covered with dried sawdust, and the ground part should be covered with a cardboard box. Then you can wrap everything with cling film and fix it so that the structure does not fall apart.

The main thing is to protect the roots from freezing. The main difference between winter care and the usual one is a decrease in the intensity of watering the plant.

How to grow a homemade banana?

Growing bananas is not a particularly difficult task, it is enough to have a desire, prepare everything you need and be patient. And you can do this in one of the ways.

Planting a banana from seeds

You can grow your own exotic from seed, only it is important to take into account some features and nuances:

• It is recommended to “wake up” the seeds by cutting their hard shell with a sharp blade or knife. The incision is made on one side to speed up the germination process.
• Then the seeds are placed in warm water for a day.
• Small pots with a diameter of 8-10 cm are prepared, they are covered with ½ volume with a light soil substrate containing organic compost.
• The seeds are laid out on the surface and sprinkled with a thin layer of soil.
• The planting is spilled abundantly, and the excess moisture that has emerged from the bottom is removed.

The containers are placed in a warm place, it is important to maintain soil moisture. And it is also advisable to cover the planting with film or glass, airing it in order to exclude the accumulation of condensation and rotting of seed material. Seed germination occurs in 14-21 days, but there are also slower species that may take more than 8 weeks.

When the sprouts reach 10-12 cm in height, they should be transplanted into larger containers. When transplanting, it is better to use transshipment, with this method the plant "moves" with the old earthen clod and its delicate roots are not damaged.

Banana root rooting>

Considering that a banana is not a palm tree, but a large herbaceous plant growing from an earthen bulb, which gradually grows in, gives multiple shoots. One of the small shoots can be carefully broken off with a small part of the root and planted in a separate container.

But, in order not to harm the mother copy and achieve success, some features should be taken into account:

• The shoots are torn off only after all the fruits have ripened.
• You cannot take all the shoots, at least one of them must remain with the mother palm. Otherwise, the plant will die.

How to grow your own banana palm from a scion? You can follow a certain algorithm:

• A container is being prepared, at the bottom of which the drainage material is placed, and on top, a light soil substrate. There must be ventilation holes in the pot.
• The shoot is placed in the soil, sprinkled and the soil is compacted a little, but not much.

The cuttings require certain conditions and care: bright lighting, air temperature within +20 - +30 degrees and humidity from 60 to 90%. If you do everything right, you can soon get a new young banana palm.

Where do bananas grow?

Bananas grow in tropical and subtropical countries: in South Asia, Latin America, Malaysia, northeastern Australia, as well as on some islands in Japan. The banana plant is grown commercially in Bhutan and Pakistan, China and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Maldives and Nepal, Thailand and Brazil. On the territory of Russia, bananas grow naturally near Sochi, however, due to the fact that winter temperatures often fall below zero degrees, the fruits do not ripen. Moreover, under prolonged unfavorable conditions, some of the plants may die.

Growing bananas. How do bananas grow?

The most comfortable conditions for growing bananas are daytime temperatures ranging from 26-35 ° C and night temperatures ranging from 22 to 28 ° C. When the ambient temperature drops to 10 ° C, growth stops completely. A strictly defined humidity has no less influence during the entire life cycle of a plant. Prolonged dry periods can lead to plant death. The best places to organize a banana plantation are fertile acidic soils, rich in micro and macro elements.

To control weeds that interfere with the normal growth of cultivated plants, not only herbicides are used, but also mulching of the root zone with finely chopped fallen leaves. A good result is the use of geese, which willingly eat juicy green weeds, but are absolutely indifferent to the banana. To restore soil fertility, banana fertilizing with mineral additives is used. Depending on the condition of the soil, nitrogen, phosphorus or potash fertilizers are used.

From the moment a banana is planted to the end of fruiting, it usually takes 10 to 19 months. So that the plant does not break from the severity of ripening fruits, props are installed under the brushes during the ripening of the banana. Bananas are harvested when the harvest is no more than 75% ripe. In this state, it is cooled and transported to the consumer. Ripe bananas, stored in a special gas-air mixture at a temperature of no more than 14 ° C, retain their presentation and taste for 50 days.

How the banana tree blooms

It will take 8-10 months for a banana to start blooming. At this time, peduncles make their way from the tuber, which pass through the entire length of the trunk. At the time of flowering, something is thrown out that strongly resembles a large bud of purple or green color.

How the banana tree blooms

At the bottom of this "bud" flowers are formed, arranged in several tiers and divided into male, female and bisexual flowers. They all have the same flowering structure: three petals and sepals.

How to grow a banana tree from a banana?

Some growers claim that fruit varieties of bananas are sterile and multiply vegetatively, so it is useless to look for banana tree seeds in purchased fruits. Others show good seed production results. In order to get a houseplant from a purchased fruit, you need:

1. Pick a healthy yellow banana and place it in a plastic bag.
2. After the peel has completely darkened, peel the fruit and cut it lengthwise.
3. The seeds will be located along the entire berry as small, dark, dense formations.If they are not there, then you will have to buy new planting material.
4. A banana tree can only be grown from round seeds.
5. The planting material is separated from the pulp and washed.
6. The resulting seeds are soaked in warm water for 48-76 hours.
7. Then they are dried and placed in a special substrate for germination.

How to plant a banana tree?

Before planting a banana indoor tree, you need to know one nuance. The thing is that the seed shell is very dense, therefore, for better germination, it must be slightly damaged with sandpaper or a sharp sewing needle. You should not be too zealous, so as not to spoil the core itself. The prepared planting material is placed in:

• inert substrate of sphagnum moss or coconut fibers;
• a mixture of coarse river sand and peat in a ratio of 3: 1.

The main stages of work:

1. The prepared mixture is disinfected with steam and potassium permanganate solution.
2. The usual drainage is lined at the bottom of the pot and a layer of substrate 5-6 cm high is laid.
3. Each seed is pressed into the soil and watered abundantly.
4. The banana tree plant will only grow in tropical conditions. To do this, it is imperative to cover the plantings with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.
5. The first shoots should be expected no earlier than in 2-3 months. after landing.
6. If mold forms on the film due to high humidity, the surface must be treated with potassium permanganate.

Dwarf species for growing at home

For cultivation at home, you should choose decorative mini-trees. It should be understood that even dwarf varieties reach a height of 1.5-2.5 m. Unlike wild and plantation-grown "relatives", this, of course, is not much. But in a small apartment, such plants can hardly be considered "dwarf".

Dwarf bananas are good for growing in a greenhouse, winter garden, while lower super dwarf ones are suitable for a house or apartment.

At home, bananas are planted, which give a crop, while the height of the false trunk reaches 2-2.5 m. These include several varieties.

• "Dwarf Cavendish". A compact plant that grows up to 1.5-2 m. When suitable conditions are created, it will delight with a harvest of dessert bananas, the length of each is 12-25 cm. Fruits have a well-known appearance to everyone - a bright yellow skin with dark spots. There is also a variety of varieties - "Cavendish super dwarf".

• "Kiev dwarf". Another cold-hardy variety that produces edible fruits. Plant height reaches 1.7 m, and if this seems excessive to you, pay attention to the related variety "Superdwarf". The height of the latter is not more than 1 m.

Ornamental varieties do not produce edible fruits, but they grow slightly less than the described varieties - on average, their height is 1-1.5 m. These include several varieties.

• "Velvety". The plant forms a false trunk 1.5 m high and 7 cm in diameter. The leaves are rich green in color and have a red edging, elongated. A velvety banana blooms literally all year, this period can last for several months. The inflorescences are replaced by small fruits, which acquire a pinkish skin as they ripen. In the period of technical maturity, the peel opens, revealing a creamy pulp with seeds. This variety can survive short term temperature drops.

• "Bright red". A small in height banana variety, usually grows no more than 1 m, has bright green leaves and rich red inflorescences, which makes it noticeable and elegant. The flowering period lasts up to 2-3 months.

• "Lavender". Small (up to 1.5 m plant) with bright green leaves. This variety becomes especially attractive during fruiting - beautiful lavender or purple fruits are formed in place of the inflorescences. True, they are completely tasteless.

Among the varieties popular for home cultivation, one can also name the "Dwarf Bloody Banana", which received a similar name due to the color of the leaves - the upper part is traditionally green, the lower one is crimson.

Among miniature varieties, one can distinguish those plants that have an interesting leaf appearance and those that are especially attractive during flowering and fruiting. The latter include the "Pink Velvet" variety. The plant is notable for its short stature (1.2-1.5 m) and beautiful pink inflorescences and fruits. The latter are quite aromatic, but contain a lot of seeds and taste unpleasant.

The variety "Scarlet Banana" also demonstrates special beauty during flowering. The combination of bright green narrowed leaves and fragrant scarlet inflorescences will leave few people indifferent.

A plant of the Manna variety also produces beautiful scarlet inflorescences, while the height of the “tree” does not exceed 1.2 m.

You can choose not dwarf varieties, but ordinary, but very slow-growing. For example, "Banana yellow". It pleases with attractive yellow inflorescences that do not fall off for up to several months. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to get a harvest, it is too difficult to recreate suitable conditions in a private house and apartment.

You can use seeds for growing at home. In contrast to the vegetative method, the plant obtained in this way will be more resistant and strong, but its growth will take longer, and it will not be possible to grow edible fruits.

If you want to grow edible fruits, consider the vegetative propagation of the plant. To do this, after the trunk of a banana dies off, the "bud" should be removed from the ground, from which a new sprout will develop, and divided into 2 parts. One part is sent to the old place of growth, the second is rooted in a new pot.

You can see how to grow a banana at home in the next video.

How to grow a banana tree at home?

The very technology of how to grow a banana tree after seed germination includes several simple steps:

1. Maintaining the optimum air temperature. During the day, it should be within + 28 ... + 30 ° С, and at night it should not fall below + 22 ° С.
2. If all the conditions are met, the first shoots will appear after 60 days.
3. The shoots are transplanted into a mixture of sod land with sand, humus and ash.
4. A drainage layer, river sand and ready-made soil mixture are lined at the bottom of the prepared pot.
5. The shoot is buried in the ground by about 2 cm, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly.
6. The houseplant banana tree has an interesting feature. The oxygen supply is important to its roots, therefore, small stones or a net should be placed between the pot and the pan for better ventilation.

How long does a banana tree grow?

After each fruiting cycle, the banana tree plant sheds leaves and flower stalks with a bunch of fruits collected in a brush. That is, annually in nature, this grass renews its ground part. The rhizome, under favorable conditions, has a long life span of at least 4-5 decades. Indoor varieties grow more modestly. The average age of a decorative banana in a pot does not exceed 20 years.

Banana tree - home care

Sometimes even experienced flower growers do not have the necessary knowledge of how to grow a banana tree at home. The tropical plant is extremely whimsical to the conditions of detention. However, if you follow all the recommendations, you can get a large exotic with outstanding decorative qualities at home. The basic requirements of a banana tree for keeping conditions are:

1. Lighting. The culture is very light-requiring. It is better to place the pots on the southern windows, and additionally illuminate them with fluorescent lamps in winter and autumn.
2. Air temperature. It should simulate the climate of the tropics all year round, fluctuating within + 28 ° C. Some varieties are able to withstand short-term temperature drops up to + 16 ° С.
3. Humidity.The plant needs to be sprayed or wiped with a damp cloth every day. A wet pebble tray can be used to maintain optimum humidity. Banana grass loves a regular warm shower.
4. Watering should be abundant. It is always best to keep the topsoil slightly moist. In the fall, the irrigation regime is adjusted depending on the temperature.
5. The banana tree is regularly fed throughout the growing season with mineral dressings for tropical crops at least twice a month.
6. No pruning is required for the houseplant.
7. As the root system grows, the culture is necessarily transplanted into a more spacious pot.

Banana tree disease

The main plant diseases are associated with improper care:

1. When waterlogged, gray rot may appear on the roots. The affected areas should be removed and the house plant banana tree transplanted into new soil.
2. The slowdown in growth rates may be due to a lack of moisture and sunlight.
3. The edges of the sheet plates dry at low air humidity, especially near heaters.
4. Of the pests, the banana tree can be attacked by spider mites, scale insects, thrips and aphids. To combat them, it is worth spraying the plant and its neighbors with special insecticides, for example, "Aktellik" or "Fitoverm". Regular warm showers can be considered prevention of infection.

Transplanting a banana tree

An important step in the process of growing a banana tree is a timely transplant. In a cramped pot, the culture stops growing and developing. Experts advise to carry out the procedure annually in early spring:

1. The banana tree plant has a strong and fast growing root system that fills the entire pot space in a short time. The new planter should be 1-2 cm wider and deeper than the previous one.
2. Drainage from crushed stone or expanded clay must be poured at the bottom.
3. A plant is placed on a thin layer of substrate using the transfer method and sprinkled with the remnants of the soil mixture.
4. It is better to bury the root collar a little into the ground.
5. After transplanting, the soil must be abundantly moistened.

Banana tree - reproduction by children

In addition to the seed method of growing, the home banana tree can also be vegetatively divided. The lateral processes, which are also called babies, are separated from the adult plant during the spring transplant:

1. Only sharp sterile instruments are used for the procedure.
2. The young shoot, together with a part of the rhizome, is cut off from the mother plant.
3. The cut is necessarily processed with activated carbon.
4. The new plant is planted in a small pot with a drainage layer and a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions.

Interesting Facts

The first European mention of American papaya is found in Spanish documents. During the development of American lands in the early 16th century, travelers ate pau-pau fruits, which they liked very much.

US President George Washington highly appreciated the creamy taste of pawl. He was served chilled berries for dessert. In America, a festival dedicated to this plant has been celebrated for many years. Ohio Pawpaw Festival tells about the history of this tree, its excellent taste, growing prospects. The event takes place outdoors, on the shores of a picturesque lake. Visitors can taste the best varieties of berries, buy fruits and seedlings.

Growing a banana tree on your site is an exciting activity for amateur gardeners. The process will bring a lot of pleasure, and guests will appreciate the delicate pulp of an exotic treat.