Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade?

*Dearly Depotted* · 11-02-2020, 01:33 PM

I would like to know do banana plants do better when they are in direct sun? Compared to being in the shade. The plants I put out in the front & side yards grew really big and fast this year! Compared to the plants in the back yard. The plants that are in the front & side yards have no trees, no shade from the house and no fence either. Now the backyard plants are next to a 6’ tall vinyl fence. Not only that but they are also near my very tall pin oak tree. It’s at least 110 years old and huge! However, it’s not like the backyard doesn’t get any sun at all. Could that be why the plants in the front & side yards did so well compared the backyard? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance....

LaBananaGwr2018 · 11-02-2020, 09:58 PM

It depends how much shade the tree provides but also how close the tree is to the banana plant. If the tree is close then it might be taking food from the bananas. Just a thought

Gabe15 · 11-03-2020, 12:23 AM

Anything less than full sun will slow down the plants. They can still do fine with some shade, but all things being equal more sun is better.

*Dearly Depotted* · 11-06-2020, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe15

Anything less than full sun will slow down the plants. They can still do fine with some shade, but all things being equal more sun is better.

Well, that definitely explained it! Now I know to put more of my plants out front away from the big tree! Thanks!

pitangadiego · 11-06-2020, 10:58 PM

Bananas like lots of sun, full sun, bonus sun. extra sun, begged, borrowed and stolen sun. Any sun, any time, all the time, overtime, double time. Never met a banana that thought shade was a real word.

*Dearly Depotted* · 11-06-2020, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitangadiego

Bananas like lots of sun, full sun, bonus sun. extra sun, begged, borrowed and stolen sun. Any sun, any time, all the time, overtime, double time. Never met a banana that thought shade was a real word.

OMG! Your reply is so funny!

I love it! Thanks for the info!

edwmax · 11-07-2020, 08:04 AM

While Gabe;s and pitangadiego's statementsare correct, just be aware that bananas also don't like high heat and blistering radiant heat of the sun. Here in my area and most areas of the southern, southwestern and midwest partial shading is needed for the blistering sun and heat of the summer.

When you see the banana plant leaves fold down, the plant needs water or misting to cool off the plant.

*Dearly Depotted* · 11-07-2020, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

While Gabe;s and pitangadiego's statementsare correct, just be aware that bananas also don't like high heat and blistering radiant heat of the sun. Here in my area and most areas of the southern, southwestern and midwest partial shading is needed for the blistering sun and heat of the summer.

When you see the banana plant leaves fold down, the plant needs water or misting to cool off the plant.

Thanks for letting me know about giving them a little shade as well! Good to know!

AaronTT · 11-08-2020, 12:17 PM

Also, the variety matters. In general as others mentioned lots of sun is important, but there are varieties of bananas that are under story plants. Those varieties will die if planted in direct sun, and need to be planted under a canopy of broken light.

*Dearly Depotted* · 11-08-2020, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronTT

Also, the variety matters. In general as others mentioned lots of sun is important, but there are varieties of bananas that are under story plants. Those varieties will die if planted in direct sun, and need to be planted under a canopy of broken light.

You know I didn’t know that! So I am very glad to have found that out! I’d hate to kill off anymore plants!

Thanks for the help!

11-02-2020, 01:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 97,654 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? I would like to know do banana plants do better when they are in direct sun? Compared to being in the shade. The plants I put out in the front & side yards grew really big and fast this year! Compared to the plants in the back yard. The plants that are in the front & side yards have no trees, no shade from the house and no fence either. Now the backyard plants are next to a 6’ tall vinyl fence. Not only that but they are also near my very tall pin oak tree. It’s at least 110 years old and huge! However, it’s not like the backyard doesn’t get any sun at all. Could that be why the plants in the front & side yards did so well compared the backyard? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.... __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream! Last edited by Dearly Depotted* : 11-02-2020 at 01:39 PM.*

11-02-2020, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
LaBananaGwr2018 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Zone: 9A/8B Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 143 BananaBucks : 5,536 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 217 Times Was Thanked 131 Times in 102 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 33 Times	Re: Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? It depends how much shade the tree provides but also how close the tree is to the banana plant. If the tree is close then it might be taking food from the bananas. Just a thought

11-03-2020, 12:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,339,530 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,237 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? Anything less than full sun will slow down the plants. They can still do fine with some shade, but all things being equal more sun is better. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

11-06-2020, 10:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,481 BananaBucks : 129,541 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,706 Times in 923 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? Bananas like lots of sun, full sun, bonus sun. extra sun, begged, borrowed and stolen sun. Any sun, any time, all the time, overtime, double time. Never met a banana that thought shade was a real word. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

11-07-2020, 08:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,661 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? While Gabe;s and pitangadiego's statementsare correct, just be aware that bananas also don't like high heat and blistering radiant heat of the sun. Here in my area and most areas of the southern, southwestern and midwest partial shading is needed for the blistering sun and heat of the summer. When you see the banana plant leaves fold down, the plant needs water or misting to cool off the plant. __________________

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

11-08-2020, 12:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
AaronTT Location: Geneva, Florida Zone: 9B, 10 Name: Aaron Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 329 BananaBucks : 13,749 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 232 Times Was Thanked 332 Times in 167 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 46 Times	Re: Do banana plants do so much better in direct sun than shade? Also, the variety matters. In general as others mentioned lots of sun is important, but there are varieties of bananas that are under story plants. Those varieties will die if planted in direct sun, and need to be planted under a canopy of broken light.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
should the fruit itself get more or less direct sun?	bushwack	Main Banana Discussion	5	08-13-2020 12:29 PM
Any banana (edible preferably) who likes shade	nph	Main Banana Discussion	10	05-18-2018 07:14 PM
Sun/Partial Shade or Shade for a Newly Topped Banana?	BananaGrower1	Main Banana Discussion	4	06-28-2013 01:23 PM
shade tolerant fruiting plants?	venturabananas	Other Plants	42	03-14-2012 05:12 PM
Banana for shade in Zone 7b/8a	Gardener972	Main Banana Discussion	4	04-23-2008 01:34 AM