Pruning Banana Plants

Pruning is an important part of proper edible plant care, and in the case of banana plants, it’s particularly easy to do.

NOTE: This is part 8 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow banana plants, we recommend starting from the beginning.

Pruning Tips

  • Only one primary stem of each rhizome should be allowed to fruit. All excess shoots should be removed as soon as they are noticed. This helps channel all of the plant’s energy into fruit production.
  • Once the main stalk is 6-8 months old, permit one sucker to develop as a replacement stalk for the following season.
  • When the fruit is harvested, cut the fruiting stalk back to 30 inches above the ground. Remove the stub several weeks later.
  • The stalk can be cut into small pieces and used as mulch.

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