Agro-climatic Suitability: Banana is a tropical plant which grows best under warm condition and mean rainfall 75 mm per month. Widely adapted, growing at elevations of 0-920 m or more, depending on latitude; mean annual temperatures of 26-30ºC; annual rainfall of 2000 mm or higher for commercial production. With the exception of atoll islands, banana and plantain are ideally suited for traditional Pacific island agro-forestry, for inter-planting in diversified systems, and for plantation-style cultivation in full sun.
Temperature: A suitable banana climate is a mean temperature of 27ºC. For the best temperature conditions for the banana shoot growth is between 26-28ºC and for the fruit growth at 29-30ºC. This is because when the temperature becomes 16ºC to 10ºC it will slow the plant growth and continuously it can kill the plant. Frost also can kill the leaves and symptoms of chilling injury will occur. Otherwise, temperature at or above 37ºC may cause a leaf scorch and this will result in emerging very narrow leaves. Cool weather and prolonged drought retard the growth of banana. In colder areas where banana is used mostly as an ornamental, new plant are obtained and planted each spring season. This includes the failure of the flowering stalks or fruit bunch to emerge from the pseudo-stem that called choking. Beside that, other symptoms such as development of a dull yellow or greenish gray color to ripening fruit, distorted fruit shape, and an increase in fruit rotting.
More effects of temperature on banana as follows:
Temperatures |
Symptoms |
Effects |
37 ºC |
Leaf scorch |
- Emerging of new leaves may have very narrow blades |
28 ºC - 26 ºC |
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- Banana shoot optimum growth |
30 ºC - 29 ºC |
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- Banana fruit optimum growth |
16 ºC - 10 ºC |
Slowed plant growth |
- Kill the plant |
16 ºC - 0 ºC |
Chilling injury to the plant |
- |
0 ºC - -1 ºC |
Chilling damage and irreversible freeze damage |
- Water soaked appearance to all above ground parts of the plant |
-1 ºC - -2 ºC |
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- Kill plants to the ground |
Wind: The wind also is one of the common constraints to the banana especially to the sub tropical production areas. The wind can be detrimental to banana leaves. Stronger winds can tear the leaves and shoot off plants. If the wind is continuous in the area of productions, it can cause severe leaf shredding, drying of the leaves and plant crown distortion rendering the plant less attractive. Strong winds, in conjunction with saturated soil and the weight of a stem of fruit, can result in significant blow down unless guying or other protection is provided. Effects of wind are as follows:
Wind Velocity (km/h) |
Effect to the Banana Plant |
18 - 30 km/h |
Cause the split of lamina leaf |
More than 50 km/h |
Cause serious damage to banana plantation |
54 - 72 km/h |
Cause an upturn and blow down large plantation |
90 - 100 km/h |
Can destroy to the banana plantation |
A windbreak of 5 meter height can protect the plants exceeding up to 20 meter height from the high velocity of wind. An example of a temporary windbreak is Sesbania aculeate that is suitable for banana plant. Beside that, there is a cultivar that also wind tolerant such as the Dwarf Brazilian banana.
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Sesbania aculeate |
"Dwarf" Brazilian banana |
Frost Protection: Bananas flourish best under uniformly warm conditions but can survive 28º F for short periods. If the temperature does not fall below 22º F and the cold period is short, the underground rhizome will usually survive. To keep the plants that are above ground producing, protection against low temperatures is very important. Wrap trunk or cover with blanket if the plants are small and low temperatures are predicted.